I know, I know, this old stuff. The way I see it, classics like ABC's Once Upon a Time never get old. This is a timeless show for many of the reasons Harry Potter is considered a classic today. However, I'm not here to talk about what makes this show a classic, but rather talk about one of my favorite characters of the show: Regina Mills (aka The Evil Queen).
One of the reasons I love her character is because of the transformation she goes through from season 1 to season 7 (not a big fan of the final season, but it really adds to her arc).Today, I am not going to focus on the entire arc, but the arc she goes through in season 2, because this is the season where she really teeter-totters between hero and villain.
Season 1, Regina was hell-bent on kicking Emma out of Storybrooke so she won't take Henry away from her and won't break the curse. At the same time, she wants to keep destroying Snow (Mary-Margaret) and David's relationship. In the end, she fails, despite getting very close to succeeding. Thank you, Henry! As devastating as her loss was at the season 1 finale, this pushes Regina into the bottom of a very deep hole, kind of her own belly of the whale trope. Though, I feel she goes through two of these.
Often times, we see heroes easily climb out of the belly of the beast situation like Luke, Leia, Han, and Chewie in A New Hope. True, they had to fight a bunch of Stormtroopers to escape the Death Star, but compared to Regin's climb out, their escape looks like child's play in comparison. Now, I'm not saying our galactic heroes' struggles weren't valid and worth their merit.
However, we need to keep in mind that Regina had been the villain for a very long time, always relying on unhealthy and unsafe means of dealing with her struggles. In season 2, we see her struggle with her dark and light side heavily, especially in the first few episodes. First couple, she flickers from the wallpaper trick on David to threatening everyone in Storybrooke, if Henry doesn't go with her. She even pretends to not know who Jefferson is in front of Emma, hoping this could be some tool she could use against Emma later down the road.
Henry, finally reminds her that love has to be earned and real love is allowing the people you care for to be happy and be themselves. Regina is reminded of how Cora had kept her like a prisoner in the king's castle and not letting Regina be herself. Regina finally tries to do better for Henry by letting him stay with David. That doesn't mean her struggles are over. She goes to Archie to help her not use magic and does snap at Emma after Emma and Snow return home. Regina quickly apologizes and tries to do better.
Sadly, the other residents don't make it easy. Change needs help and support. Henry believes in her and so does Emma. As for the rest, they are quick to blame her when evidence points to Regina killing Archie. Emma and Henry only believe this when this see the evidence through Pongo's memory. (I know Henry didn't, but I'm sure Emma confirmed this with him.)
In a later episode, Mary Margaret states at the hospital that she doesn't want to imagine what could happen if Cora finds Regina first, after learning of Regina's innocence and Cora has found a way to Storybrooke. Mary-Margaret is right. Cora pushes Regina back down the slippery slope she had been trying to climb. Regina, at her most vulnerable, and feels utterly alone, is left with no choice but to Cora, believing her mother is truly there to help her.
Regina returns to villainy, alongside her mother, but Snow knows putting doubt into Regina's head could help not just the heroes, but Regina herself to start waking up. Cora cares for Regina, but not in the way Regina might want it. The fall worsens after Snow kills Cora, and both Snow and Regina are back at each other's throats, well more Regina's back at it.
Now completely alone, Regina resorts to her evil, old ways, feeling it is the only option left for her. She puts her own needs and interests above everyone else, but then again I can't blame her. David and Snow discuss about returning back to the Enchanted Forest, and plan to make Regina's life miserable. Her support system isn't strong. Henry won't approve her moves and Emma, while understanding, doesn't either. These two have remained supportive, but their faith in Regina can only hold for so long especially how protective and insecure she reveals herself in becoming.
In result of pushing everyone away, as Emma assured her could happen, she is left alone and once more in the belly of the whale. She is captured and helpless at the hands of Craig and Tamara, and Hook has no interest in helping her. In the end, the heroes with guns ablaze save Regina. Afterall, she is family and a Storybrooke resident who doesn't deserve to die at the hands of outsiders who wish to destroy them all. As the famous saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Being saved several times, and especially when she no longer had a way to climb out, Emma, Snow, David, and Neal (who took a bullet and landed in the Enchanted Forest) came to her aid. Even, the Blue Fairy healed Regina. Though, Regina still remains bitter, she is grateful and slowly is able to make her climb out and become a hero.
This is why I have made this a character analysis rather than a simple, straightforward hero or villain one. She had oscillated for most of season 2, but with all the growing pains, slips, and getting back up, helped her finally start on the true path of redemption.
While these are my thoughts and take on Regina's season 2 arch, I would love hear yours. Please share them in the comments below.
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