'Once Upon a Time': Not much rejoicing in 'The Queen is Dead'

By Jevon Phillips

March 4, 2013 12 AM PT

Bailee Madison is back as Lil’ Snow White in “The Queen is Dead” episode of “Once Upon a Time.” We finally see what fuels the good inside of Mary Margaret, more of Mr. Gold and his newfound son in New York and two very different queens.

In the fairy tale land that was, Snow White’s mom, Queen Eva (Rena Sofer -- so good), had to teach Snow a lesson about being a humble ruler after Snow berates her mother’s assistant/servant Johanna for trying on her tiara. While teaching that lesson, though, Queen Eva falls deathly ill.

All of this happens on Snow White’s birthday.

It’s a day that, even in the present and in another world, Mary Margaret does not enjoy. Despite whatever David does, she refuses to celebrate it. She also doesn’t want gifts, but a package is left on her doorstep. It’s the tiara she once wore, given to her by Johanna. Mary Margaret goes out to find her.

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Charming, meanwhile, heads to work at the sheriff’s station, only to be ambushed by Hook. The captain looks for and finds his mystical hook, and continues his pursuit of Rumpelstiltskin.

Snow meets up with Johanna in the town’s communal garden. Johanna had planted flowers for Snow’s mother -- on Mary Margaret’ s birthday and the anniversary of her mother’s death. But in the background, there was movement.

Snow follows the rustling and sees Regina and Cora together, digging up what they thought was Rumpelstiltskin’s dagger. While digging, Regina and Cora spell out their plan to find the dagger and take control of the dark one to make him do whatever they desire. Like killing Snow White and Emma and David and ... whomever else they wanted.

Snow finds David knocked out on the floor, but Hook’s crimes are soon forgotten as they realize that they have to stall Regina and Cora until Emma and Gold get back. Snow has a plan: Talk some sense into Regina. It’s definitely just a stalling tactic, because that hasn’t worked in the past.

Speaking of stalling ... Emma, Henry, Neil and Mr. Gold walk around New York while Henry gets to know his long lost dad, Neil. Mr. Gold is not really getting to know his long-lost son, though. Gold wants Emma to get Baelfire/Neil to come back to Storybrooke. She’s fulfilled her part of the bargain and is no longer in debt to Mr. Gold, but thinks maybe it would be best for Henry. As they return to Neil’s apartment to prepare for a trip to the museum, Hook arrives. He waits for Neil and Henry to go up the stairs, then storms in. Hook gives no warning, walks in, pushes Emma to the ground and out of the way and stabs Mr. Gold in the chest. No villainous speechifying, just a hook to the chest, a reference to the crocodile and repeating the phrase tick-tock. Presumably he was talking about the poison he’d just put in Gold’s chest. We’re not sure because Emma knocks him out with a trash can. They need to get back to Storybrooke fast.

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Mary Margaret meets with Regina at Granny’s, under the pretense that she had spoken to Henry and had information to share. Mary Margaret lays it all out to Regina: She knows that Regina and Cora are working together to find the dagger. Mary Margaret tells Regina that they -- she, David, others -- will also look for it and deny them the chance to use it. Mary Margaret also tells Regina that Cora doesn’t care about her or Henry, and only wants power. She needs to choose the right side. Regina says that she’s on the right side, and says, “What do you know about mothers anyway?” Low. Blow.

Back to the past. After being advised by Johanna, Lil Snow White travels to find the Blue Fairy and ask her to grant a wish. The Blue Fairy finds her. The fairy gives Snow a candle, saying that it would keep her mom alive, but that Snow would have to pick someone else to die in her place. Horrible decision to have to make. Not nice, Blue Fairy.

Mary Margaret seeks her out again in Storybrooke. Mother Superior/The Blue Fairy agrees to help after Mary Margaret utters a very “Star Wars”-like line: “Please Mother Superior, you’re our only hope.”

Back in New York, Emma persuades Rumpel to tell them where the dagger is. Hook’s stabbing poisoned Rumpelstilskin, and the only way he’ll live is to get back to Storybrooke. Emma tells him that Regina and Cora are after his dagger, but that Mary Margaret and David need to get it first. He tells Emma where it is. Now, they need a fast way home. They can’t fly, and a car won’t do. They will use Hook’s magical ship, and Baelfire just happens to know how to steer it. He makes mention of having found his way to Neverland before, but we don’t get to hear any kind of lengthy explanation.

Mother Superior can’t break into Mr. Gold’s shop. Mary Margaret tells her to use dark magic like when she gave her the candle. Mother Superior looks confused -- she never did any favors like that! Emma calls, giving Mary Margaret and David the location of the knife -- it was hidden in the clock tower -- but as the duo grab it, Regina and Cora suddenly appear. The evil ones demand that Mary Margaret give them the knife, but she refuses. Evil plan B: Cora conjures Johanna, then Regina takes her heart. Wow. It’s the heart for the dagger.

It puts Snow in a quandary. Back when she was little, Snow bravely went to her mother’s funeral after deciding not to take anyone’s life in exchange for her mother’s, and letting her die. When Snow leaves the viewing chamber, Cora shows her true colors. She masqueraded as the Blue Fairy, giving Lil’ Snow the death candle that she refused to use. Back in the now, Cora comes clean, saying that she did it all to make her little Regina become queen -- and it worked. This time, Snow decides on life, and gives the dagger to Cora, saving Johanna. That save was extremely brief, though. As Mary Margaret and Johanna touch, Cora flings Johanna out of the clock tower, killing her. She and Regina teleport away, leaving a grieving Snow. For a second, it seemed that Regina might turn back to the good side since she realized her mother’s malice. No such luck.

Back in New York, Emma and Neal talk about Neal possibly coming back to Storybrooke to be closer to Henry. As they borrow a friend’s car to get to the ship, that friend appears. Emma, meet Tamara, Neal’s fiancee. That complicates things.

The promo for next week says “One of their own will perish.” Let the speculation begin!

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