Once Upon A Time

[lovesmurfs]

OK here's a theory...
When Regina goes to see the Mad Hatter in FTL she asks him to use his hat again. During last night episode Regina tells Daniel something about how much her mother like tea. What if Regina somehow had the MH send her Mom to Wonderland (she becomes the Queen of Heart)...we know he can already remove people's hearts. The only problem is that her father went too to she had to go and save him.

Or....Cora makes a deal with Rumple to spin gold, etc. so that she can marry Henry, in exchange for her firstborn child. First born child (a girl) is taken and sent to Wonderland and becomes the Queen of Hearts. I still felt as though it was sibling rivalry when Regina was in Wonderland.

 

[beattyfamily]

Okay.

I was merely adding that info as "BtT" was a fairly popular movie and the reference might have helped others realize where they have seen her.

Sorry, you quoted me, as if talking to me. So I replied....

 

[MissMichigan]

I really liked this episode. Love this show so much.

Ok so, Regina's mother is the Miller's daughter, not Regina herself like many here were speculating? If so, Regina has an older sibling somewhere (perhaps wonderland as a PP theorized) that was taken by Rumple.

August...the whole Pinocchio theory holds water, for sure. However something in last night's episode gave me a bit of doubt. When Emma thought he had told Regina he said something along of the lines of "I would never hurt you", but said it in a way that gave the impression she was really important to him. This would make sense in two possible ways. One being that she is the end to the curse, and so he thinks she's important and wants to make sure the curse ends. OR, she actually is important to HIM, personally, and there is a connection yet to be revealed.

I actually really liked the way Regina came to hate Snow. It wasn't some big huge dramatic event. Just a simple, innocent, accidental betrayal that led to the loss of her true love. Nothing major or over the top, but typical life. It made everything seem more "real", I guess.

 

[LKFan]

Or....Cora makes a deal with Rumple to spin gold, etc. so that she can marry Henry, in exchange for her firstborn child. First born child (a girl) is taken and sent to Wonderland and becomes the Queen of Hearts. I still felt as though it was sibling rivalry when Regina was in Wonderland.

But Henry seems so weak (both last night and in a previous episode when Regina took his heart). Why would Cora want to marry him? Did he have wealth and was that what she bargained with to have a better life?

How many episodes will Barbara Hershey be in? Will their marriage and her back story be something that we learn about?

A few things that I noticed when I watched the episode a second time last night...

When Henry is in bed and Regina checks on him, you can see two games on his bookshelf - Scrabble and Stratego. I don't know if there is any significance but when I Googled Stratego, I found this description of how to play the game. Kind of interesting.

If a piece is moved onto a square occupied by an opposing piece, their identities are revealed, the weaker piece is removed from the board, If the weaker piece was the attacker the piece will just be removed from the board, if the attacker is the stronger piece it will take out from the game the weaker piece and the stronger piece will take his place. If the engaging pieces are of equal rank, they are both removed. Pieces may not move onto a square already occupied by another piece without attacking.


The Daily Mirror costs 75 cents/issue. If gas is 15 cents/gallon, that's an expensive newspaper.

Did anyone else notice that we never see August's hands - he always has gloves on. I'm guessing this has something to do with his identity, especially if he is Pinocchio.

Finally, just after Cora crumbled Daniel's heart, she lectured Regina that "Love is an illusion. It fades." And then goes onto say that power is stronger than love. I was wondering if the illusion statement might give insight into Cora's identity. I was also thinking she was the Queen if Hearts. It would make sense for the QoH to be able to take hearts from people. Regina would inherit that ability if they were related.

 

[ChrizJen]

I loved last night's apisode!! In fact, the last two seemed to be the first ones in a while that actually answered a couple of questions and brought up some new questions for me!

We had an interesting theory after watching both last week's and this week's episodes back to back...

What if everyone who leaves Storybrook goes through the rabbit hole?!?!
We were thinking that maybe Regina (or Gold, or both) sent Catherine to Wonderland through the hat, and then Gold was able to get her back through the hat to Storybrook...
When Emma was upset with Gold towards the end for not being able to help get Mary Margaret, he said something along the lines of, Don't worry, I still have some magic up my sleeve...So he obviously had something to do with getting her back.
We thought maybe Jefferson made it back to Wonderland, and Catherine came back to Storybrook in his place...Or something along those lines.
But it still doesn't answer the question about the DNA/heart...Maybe Regina just tampered with the results of the DNA test.

 

[Praise2Him]

Did anyone else notice that we never see August's hands - he always has gloves on. I'm guessing this has something to do with his identity, especially if he is Pinocchio.

My daughter mentioned the glove thing too!

Also, I noticed that when he had trouble walking he said he had shin splints & I immediately thought of "splinter" "wood" etc. Another clue for Pinnochio?

 

[monkeybug]

I like the idea that the Queen of hearts in Wonderland is Reginia's mother. Maybe Regina took her power by taking her heart? Or maybe she just got it in one of her deals with Rumple.

I wonder if it's possible that Regina's sibling was Snows mother? They do sort of resemble each other, and in the classic fairy tale I think the girl spinning straw into gold (Millers daughter right?) pricks her finger and at the sight of the bright red blood in the snow wishes for a daughter with skin as white as snow and red lips...or something. I might be mixing my fairytales.

ETA-
I looked it up, and I was mixing/combining my fairy tales! I still think it's possible that Snow is related to Regina though. In the classic tale of Snow White the Queen (who can't have a child) pricks her finger while sewing and wishes for a child with lips as red as blood, skin as fair as snow, and black hair. I'm guessing the Queen makes a deal with Rumple and he brings her a child...maybe he get's that child from Regina's lost sibling?

 

[gometros]

My daughter mentioned the glove thing too!

Also, I noticed that when he had trouble walking he said he had shin splints & I immediately thought of "splinter" "wood" etc. Another clue for Pinnochio?

I have a funny feeling that there is a hint as to when he had trouble walking. They were near where the heart was buried. Don't know what to make of it, but I don't think the timing was a coincidence.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Did anyone else notice that we never see August's hands - he always has gloves on. I'm guessing this has something to do with his identity, especially if he is Pinocchio.

Not so sure about this. I didn't go back through all interactions with August, but he shows his hands pretty well when Henry is drowning his sorrows in hot chocolate with cinnamon.

 

[Grandmouse]

The details in this show are just amazing. I noticed that when MM was leaving the jail last night and she was wearing her blue coat, that the coat has princess styling seams.

 

[maelstrom]

August told Emma that he doesn't lie. If he isn't Pinocchio, the show's writers are having some fun dropping clues that he is.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

It was my theory that he grimaced like that because they were getting too close to the town barrier.

 

[beattyfamily]

August has told Emma he doesn't lie twice now. But we know he does because of the lemur story he told Red.

He also talks about having Faith alot too.

Then there's the hint of shin splints by the lake.

So I'm leaning toward Pinocchio.

I know some think he's Balefire especially after seeing pics from the next episode with the dagger and August and Mr. Gold.

Some think he's Peter Pan.

I can't wait to find out!!! I'm so bummed we have to wait 3 weeks! I'm going to go insane.

 

[BKMETV]

Or....Cora makes a deal with Rumple to spin gold, etc. so that she can marry Henry, in exchange for her firstborn child. First born child (a girl) is taken and sent to Wonderland and becomes the Queen of Hearts. I still felt as though it was sibling rivalry when Regina was in Wonderland.

oooh...like that one too!

 

[beattyfamily]

‘The Return’ - Press Release:

Mr. Gold attempts to uncover the true identity of August, Emma confronts Regina about her involvement in Kathryn’s disappearance, and David tries to apologize and reconcile with Mary Margaret. Meanwhile, in the fairytale land that was, Rumplestiltskin agrees to comply and do whatever it takes if his son can find a way for him to safely give up his powers and turn back into the loving man he used to be.

 

[beattyfamily]

The picture in the book from "Hat Trick" was from a scene last night when she reaches for the delicate flower!!!

 

[lovesmurfs]

‘The Return’ - Press Release:

Mr. Gold attempts to uncover the true identity of August, Emma confronts Regina about her involvement in Kathryn’s disappearance, and David tries to apologize and reconcile with Mary Margaret. Meanwhile, in the fairytale land that was, Rumplestiltskin agrees to comply and do whatever it takes if his son can find a way for him to safely give up his powers and turn back into the loving man he used to be.

Eeek...so is August really Baelfire?????

The picture in the book from "Hat Trick" was from a scene last night when she reaches for the delicate flower!!!

GREAT find!!!!

 

[lizabu]

If the heart matched Katherine then can someone live without at heart? and could Daniel still be "alive" somewhere. Perhaps a trade... Belle for Daniel could be in the future?

We've seen Regina remove the Woodsman's heart and he lived but when she crushed it in her hands as Cora did to Daniel Graham died.

I have to agree, I didn't care for this episode. I didn't see the connection or love between Regina and Daniel. I also didn't think see a connection or motherly relationship between Regina and young Snow. Was she supposed to be a sweet character that tugged at our hearts and then turned evil when Snow betrayed her? If so, that transition wasn't well done.

So, obviously Regina marries the King, kills him and then goes after Snow before she takes her father's heart to create the curse to get back at Snow. What happened to her mom? Does Regina kill her too? And when did Regina get her power - when she became evil?

My theory is Cora goes on to become the Queen of Hearts. We know she is hungry for power and we know she can remove hearts. Maybe an opportunity to be a powerful Queen pops up and she ditches Henry and Regina to marry a King and rule her own Kingdom.

Although I still love the show, and I enjoyed the show last night, I was disappointed in the 'big reveal' of why Regina hates Snow so much. I also didn't really like the scene where MM is being asked questions by the DA. Dumb.

But that isn't enough for me to get bored or give up on this show!

I was let down too. I expected Regina to have a decent reason to hate Snow. It seems like they really built it up and there wasn't much of a payoff.

 

[LKFan]

My theory is Cora goes on to become the Queen of Hearts. We know she is hungry for power and we know she can remove hearts. Maybe an opportunity to be a powerful Queen pops up and she ditches Henry and Regina to marry a King and rule her own Kingdom.

She didn't ditch Henry but somehow put him in the box. I assumed it was his heart that was in the box but others on this board thought it was a mini version of him in the box. Either way, it remains that the mushroom was able to bring him back to full size or back to life. Who are in the other boxes in the vault? Can the shroom bring them back to life?

On a side note, when Regina killed her father, didn't she stab him? She didn't just grab in and take his heart as she did for the Huntsman/Graham. I wonder why she didn't just grab his heart.

I was let down too. I expected Regina to have a decent reason to hate Snow. It seems like they really built it up and there wasn't much of a payoff.

And at the end, when Regina held the ring, she spoke to Daniel to the tune of finally getting her. Do you think that Daniel would have sought revenge on SW? Shouldn't it have been revenge against Cora?

 

[LKFan]

I have a funny feeling that there is a hint as to when he had trouble walking. They were near where the heart was buried. Don't know what to make of it, but I don't think the timing was a coincidence.

There are several spoiler pictures with pictures of Pinocchio in FT times. The spoiler pictures show the puppet next to the river (or some form of water). http://onceuponatime.wikia.com/wiki/The_Stranger/Gallery. Notice, in that spoiler gallery, they also have a picture of a sawed off tree trunk.