Once Upon a Time REACTION - S02E16 - The Miller's Daughter

Thank you so much for another episode reaction for Once Upon a Time... The Miller's Daughter! There are many twists and even a little emotion that comes from this episode. Whether or not we knew before this episode how long Cora was without her heart in her chest... I didn't know for sure. Back in episode nine, The Queen of Hearts... Hook travels to Wonderland to rip out Cora's heart on Regina's behest, but when he attempts to use his hook to rip it out, Cora states asks him if he foolish enough to believe she actually kept her heart where everyone else does, revealing that her heart was not in her chest then. However, we didn't know at what point in time she took out her own heart. Now... it's revealed that Cora was heartless before Regina was even born, which explains why Cora was able to be so cold and cruel towards her daughter and her husband Prince Henry, which we also learned in this episode that Cora never loved him at all. She only married him for power and so he could raise her up from being a miller's daughter. This episode was cleverly written, but because I hate Cora, I didn't feel too much emotion like most people do. However, I felt terrible for Regina when she loses her mother after having been the one to unknowingly kill her, as well as upon seeing the guilt and fear on Mary Margaret's face when she struggled with the choice Gold placed in front of her, and in seeing the consequences of that choice she made. I love this part of the storyline, despite how heartbreaking it was for both Regina and Mary Margaret. I also love the brief moment between Gold and Belle when he tells Belle on the phone that she was a hero, and a woman who loved him despite the monster he was. Quite beautiful. However, that being said... I didn't really care much for Cora's backstory and her lust for the power of the dagger. Her lust for power and darkness. And I hated that she had a relationship with Gold. I have trouble believing that a part of her could love Rumplestiltskin because she always lusted for higher power and was able to choose all of that over love. Even if she did have to rip her heart out in order to do so. "Love is weakness"... just like Cora said to Emma at Lake Nostos in Queen of Hearts, like Cora instilled into Regina her whole life, and like the King said to young Cora in this episode. Overall... this episode was well written and the casting for young Cora was perfect really. However, Cora has always been a villain I have loved to hate. She's a great villain, but as a whole character, I've never liked her because she's so cruel, especially towards her own daughter. And I just don't care much for her overall storylines or backstory. Thank you again! I'm looking forward to your next reaction, so until then...

Heidi Elizabeth Marcum