It's interesting the parallel with Zelena and Rumple with that reveal of her origin. Both were given up by their parent to give that parent their best chance.
The Jolly Roger- Yahoo!!! I absolutely love, love, love this episode, and I am so happy to have watched your reaction for it!!!!! Thank you so very much, Sofie!!! First... Any questions regarding why Hook remembers the missing year when his crew do not, will be answered in time. And now... The tiny details within this episode are phenomenal! From us seeing Regina's fear that she may have killed Emma in her training scene on the bridge overlooking the bridge, to seeing how Regina and Emma both recognize that Killian is lying about something, even though they are still unaware as to what he's not telling them. And more... Emma can see that Killian is afraid to tell her the truth about what he's hiding from her, which makes her feel very real sympathy for him. And you can see this on her face in the ending after Killian states that he knows what she means when she tells him she's tired of living trapped in the past. :) Now, in regards to the men I usually gravitate towards falling in love with or crushing on in TV shows and in movies... I always tend to gravitate towards those who are more gentle, softer, and the not so dark and dangerous kinds of guys. Especially when these characters fall into a relationship with another of the show's or movie's main characters. Guys like who Hook was back when he is first introduced to us in season two's episode... The Crocodile. In any other show or movie before Hook was introduced, a character similar to Neal's personality would be the kind of character I fall for and prefer to see get together with the girl. However, Killian for me is a very rare exception. At least until Hook's redemption arc had begun in the second episode within season two's two part finale, titled... And Straight on 'Til Morning. To me... Hook/Killian is a very special character that I just love everything about. Especially now that he's changing and trying so hard to become a hero. And he's not just trying to be good for Emma like most fans of this show tend to think about him. He's trying to be so for himself as well. And he is growing more and more into the gentle and kind man that I do typically fall for. There are many sides to Killian, which is one of the many reasons why I just love him so much. And I will say that ever since falling in love with Hook's overall character throughout all of Once Upon a Time, I've begun to fall in love with the men in shows and movies who are broken, and who struggle to see the real good in themselves. Such as Killian most certainly struggles with very deeply. And I have just loved Hook ever since his introduction in The Crocodile, and have considered him my absolute favorite character right from the very beginning. So, I absolutely love the idea of Emma and Killian together, far over how I felt towards the idea of Emma being with Neal. Anyways... Thank you very much for such a great and fantastic reaction from you for this episode, that I have been so excited for, Sophie! I really enjoyed watching The Jolly Roger over again with you. I was especially excited for one of my all time favorite twists in the ending of this episode, when Ariel in Storybrooke turns out to be Zelena all along! Hands down... This scene between Hook and Zelena is my favorite part of the episode! Although, I really do love every bit of the episode too! Especially every scene in which Hook is focused on as this episode's main character. And this ending with Zelena is one of the biggest twists in this show we've had in a long time. It's absolutely brilliant! Now... Many fans of this show feel Killian is only trying to be a good man just for Emma... and possibly a little for Henry too. They're very wrong. Emma has just shown Killian that he can be a good man, and that he's more than the pirate and villain he used to be. Killian wants to be a good man for himself like I mentioned above. And with this being said... I will go more into this momentarily... In regards to Hook not telling everyone of Zelena's threat towards Henry and Emma's parents... Should Hook have told them the truth? Yes, of course he should have. In spite of Zelena's threat. Although, he is definitely worried about Zelena finding out if he were to do so, and the consequences that might come from him doing so, of course. And knowing Hook like I do and his mindset at this point within the show, I believe Hook is afraid to tell them. Not so much because he's worried about people being angry with him or about Zelena's retaliation, but because he's mostly afraid that if Zelena were to kill Henry or Emma's parents because he went against Zelena's demands, etc... then their deaths would be his fault and Hook can no longer bare the guilt that would absolutely plague him should anyone die because of his wrongful actions during the missing year. He already feels guilty enough about his actions that nearly cost Prince Eric his life. And until this moment, Killian has been plagued by the guilt of Eric's death, having believed that Eric really had died because of his decision to save the Jolly Roger from Black Beard, over saving Eric from Black Beard. A part of Hook may be selfish to some people for keeping his secret, but I feel like he needs time to sort everything out in his mind before he decides what to do about his predicament.
And now... Ariel is definitely right that Hook is a good man, like she tells him as they were trekking through the woods and again aboard the Jolly Roger. Unfortunately, Hook doesn't believe so about himself and believes he has nothing without the Jolly Roger, and without being the ruthless pirate he used to be. So, he bitterly tells her he hasn't changed at all, and then chooses the Jolly Roger over saving Eric, and throws Black Beard overboard upon making him walk the plank. And Ariel slaps him for it, then tells him he has no heart, which in spite of his decision, it's clear such isn't true either. We see in Hook's face how much Ariel's words hurt him and how much his guilt has already begun to plague him. Next... I also love the scene between Hook and Emma in the beginning when Emma comes to him to ask him to look after Henry. He's so kind to Emma and happily agrees to look after her son for her while Emma goes with Regina to be trained in her magic. Hook has definitely grown fond of Henry too, and their relationship is so sweet. And then... Emma drops the news that she plans to leave Storybrooke with Henry to return to New York once they defeat Zelena, which Killian immediately protests to. He begs her to see sense and then tells her that as much as she might want to return to her old life, he's proof that she won't be able to, as Hook himself tried to go back to being a pirate again, yet couldn't no matter how much he tried to. And upon seeing his backstory during the missing year revealed, we now know why. And what's interesting... We now know Hook found the Jolly Roger and got her back during the missing year, yet his ship is once again missing, as Killian reveals to Smee that she's nowhere in Storybrooke. So, the question is... What's happened to the Jolly Roger now? :) By the way... We learned back in the fifth episode of this season... Good Form, that the Jolly Roger is the ship that once belonged to his brother back when it had been called the Jewel of the Realm. And when his brother died, Killian took it for himself and renamed it the Jolly Roger. So, we knew that Hook's ship was the Jolly Roger beforehand. And that this is how Hook came to be in possession of his ship. Next... I love that Emma asks Regina to train her in her magic, and the scene between them doing so is great too. I love how Regina breaks the bridge in order to force Emma to find the magic within her. And she does! Yet instead of retying the ropes like Regina expected her to, Emma raises the broken planks and floats back up to Regina on them. Marvelous! Emma is absolutely powerful and she's only just begun to develop her magic. Absolutely brilliant! I also love when Regina teases Emma about her and Hook yearning for one another, as she states she's seen Hook's yearning looks and doey eyes for her, and suspects that Emma has begun to feel the same for him, which Emma quickly denies. But I do think there's definitely something there that she's denying too. :) Oh... And I think it's funny how Hook teaches Henry how to cheat at dice with loaded dice in the beginning too, just before David and Mary Margaret come to him for help for Ariel. So cheeky. :) And lastly... I really enjoy the scenes with David, Mary Margaret, and Henry, after they take over looking after him for Hook. It's funny that David tries to be more fun for Henry than Hook by letting Henry drive. And it's funny how David tells Regina in the end that she needs to throw out some money for the mailboxes and street that they wrecked while doing so. I like how shocked Regina is that David had let Henry drive and let her anger towards David burst out, until she quickly hides why she is frustrated with David upon seeing Henry's confusion. Overall... Fabulous episode! I absolutely love this episode so much, because it's so centered around Hook. And Colin O'Donoghue as Hook/Killian is just absolutely phenomenal in it. :) Thank you again, so much, my dear friend!! I can't wait for your next reactions for the final episodes of season three!!! :) Thank you, Sofie! Sincerely, Heidi
Wow...I didn't think I could find someone who wrote comments longer than mine!@ _______________ @ *SPOILER WARNING* Even as a fierce anti-Craptain Swan I can't not respect the amount of love you have for Killian,but I can't agree with it. I know he's not 100% Evil and surely there are several characters who have been far worse than him,including some that I love(like Rumple),but what always rubs me the wrong way about him is that he's not simply a Bad Guy who's redeeming himself: he's a guy who keeps going back and forth between being Evil&Good(and if you've seen the whole show you know the worst is still to come..with Hook&Emma *both* being *extremely toxic* to each other!)until he magically becomes A SAINT from 1 episode to the next and then stays like that for the rest of the show. That is *not* a good written character development! Personally I think Regina is everything Hook is *but better* because _her_ character development is far more consistent,doesn't start for romantic love but for familiar love,which feels more genuine and selfless,and while CS is a ship identical to countless others I've seen in other shows,like Spike x Buffy,Zane x Rikki,Brandon x Zoey etc. etc. etc. Swan Queen is different and new even just for the fact that it's an LGBT couple _in a worldwide famous fairytale_ in a world that _still thinks_ homosexuality is not"something for children"! The world doesn't _need_ a couple like CS,we have _plenty_ of those already,but a couple like SQ in a fairytale is something we still have to achieve and it would have been *wonderful* if they were the 1st(and I say this being a straight man)!This scene right here 27:45 would have been the *PERFECT* ending for this family and it would have solved *ALL* their problems at once!While CS still lets Henry's moms divided and gives him an even _more_ complicated family to deal with!!@.@ Not that it's necessarily bad to have a big,complicated family,but c'mon...sometimes Ockham's Razor is the best way to go!;-P #OnceUponaWastedPotential
The thing I thought was really weird about their history was finding out that Cora almost married Prince Leopold. And knowing Regina did marry Leopold...Dont you think that Cora and Leopold would have remembered each other when he came to propose to Regina in the first season? They sure acted like they didnt know each other....
perhaps because it had been around 18-20 years and Cora was a Princess/ woman of standing he assumed it was just a random woman with the same name? But young Cora and older Cora looked very similar idk
Regarding why Princess Eva would be there in the Kingdom visiting Prince Leopold at this time... I suspect that maybe it's because his wedding to Cora is just two days away like Cora mentions at one point in this episode, and it's likely that Leopold and his parents, the King and Queen of their kingdom, would have invited all the other Royals throughout the kingdom to come for the wedding and celebration. Eva would have been invited for the wedding along with her parents too. Now... Zelena has chosen to allow her hate and jealousy to consume her, so I can only feel bad for her to a small degree too. However, I really love Zelena in her interaction with Regina in the beginning of this episode. I love her snarkiness, and these two actresses that I love, play off one another so well. Zelena isn't quite as good with Rumple in their scenes together. Although, she is certainly eerie and dark. I really hate the moment when Rumple begins to make love with her, even if it was so he could try to steal the dagger. Any relationship with him and Zelena is just wrong. And disgusting. Because we know from back in season two's episode... The Miller's Daughter, he had a relationship with Cora too. Both of their relationships just weird me out. However, with all this being said... I like Regina's plan to talk with Cora to try to learn about why Cora had given Zelena up. I love the moment young Cora in ghost form attacks Mary Margaret and that Regina fights her mother to protect Mary Margaret. I think the reasoning behind the creators using young Cora as the ghost, instead of the older Cora played by Barbara Hershey, is more because Regina was summoning her mother to find out why Cora had given Zelena away. And because it was Cora in her younger years when she did so, maybe the creators and writers felt that seeing young Cora in her younger years would parallel to her backstory throughout this episode better. Maybe Barbara Hershey couldn't come back for this episode, but I don't know. As for the moments I love most within this episode... I especially love the talk between Regina and Mary Margaret in the end once all was well again, just as I love all of their scenes throughout this episode together. The ending is a beautiful moment between these two and it shows how far their friendship, as well as the relationship between stepmother and stepdaughter has come. This is definitely a moment we as fans of this beautiful show have been waiting for. And it's easily my favorite moment within this episode too. I especially love how Mary Margaret assures Regina that she is still capable of feeling love even without her heart in her chest, because Regina loves so deeply and with her whole soul. And Regina absolutely does. So beautiful! :) And in regards to Regina being able to feel emotion in spite of having no heart in her chest... I really love how this shows just how different Regina is from Cora. First... I feel like perhaps it's a matter of time that causes someone to become emotionless like Cora had become. Perhaps, the longer the heart remains outside of a person's body, their emotions will eventually fade away all together. And second... I also feel that maybe it is a matter of will. Because Regina wants to continue to feel, and she is able to do so. And she is very strong willed. It's like Mary Margaret says... Regina loves with her whole soul. Whereas, Cora rips out her own heart because she didn't want to feel any emotion any longer, so she would be able to get everything she ever wanted and not feel any weaknesses. I also really love the entire séance scene between Regina, David, Mary Margaret, Emma, and Hook too. I like the idea that to summon Cora's spirit, Regina needs the candle used to kill her mother, as well as her mother's killer... Mary Margaret. However, I love how Regina has finally forgiven her. As for another of my favorite moments... I absolutely love, love, love the moments with Hook and Emma. Hook is definitely feeling guilty over the trouble he's in with Zelena. He's angry, and he is struggling to keep from lashing out, especially at Emma. However, he's still very good with Emma nonetheless and wants to protect her. Which you can see while they're still at Regina's just as they're about to leave, as Hook starts to lay his hand over the small of Emma's back to help escort her out, until he almost immediately pulls back to stop himself from even touching her. He is keeping her at a distance because he needs to protect her. These little moments most people fail to notice when watching these episodes because they're so small and to some people... maybe unnecessary, are for me, quite amazing. And they show that these actors truly do care about giving us their best acting in order to share all there is know about their characters. Absolutely wonderful!!! And their moment together at Granny's Diner before Belle charges in and interrupts them is cute, sweet, sad, and funny. The moment with Emma transporting a cup of hot chocolate with cinnamon over to Hook... "Boom! Granny's to go!" I love it!! If only Belle hadn't have interrupted them. I suspect that Hook would have confessed to Emma then if Emma would have had the chance to help him. And another of my absolute favorite moments, is when Regina comes to Robin in forest at the end, to kiss him at last upon hearing and listening to Mary Margaret's beautiful advice. At last, they are together!! And they are definitely another of my favorite True Love couples throughout this show!! I feel so badly for Robin when Rumple threatens to kill his son, and of course it's understandable that he gives up Regina's heart to save him. And I'm so grateful that Regina understands this and doesn't get angry with him. Of course, she's understanding, because she knows she would do anything for Henry too, like Robin would do anything to protect his son. And I love that Regina assures Robin that she does understand his sacrifice. So beautiful. That is True Love right there. I also feel badly for Rumple in this moment, because we can see that he doesn't want to hurt a child. Zelena is controlling him, and forcing him to act against his will. And she's probably commanded him to do whatever he must do, in order to get him to get her whatever she wants and needs. And lastly... Like I mentioned before, I love that the ingredients for the time travel spell are courage, a resilient heart, a brain, and innocence, which is a nod to The Wizard of Oz, as they are the four things that represent Dorothy (her innocence), the Scarecrow (his brain), the Tin Man (his heart), and the Cowardly Lion (his courage). And Zelena's ingredients... For innocence, she's planning to steal away Mary Margaret's and David's baby born of True Love. For courage, she's taken the hilt of David's sword. For a heart, she's now taken Regina's most resilient heart. And for the brains, she plans to take a symbol of Rumple's brain. Absolutely brilliant! Thank you again, Sofie! I can't wait for your reactions for these final episodes!! You now have four episodes left... The final two being a two part finale, which I am so, so excited for!!!! Four of my favorite episodes this season for sure! Sincerely, Heidi
*SPOILER WARNING* Pretty much every relationship that comes from Regina's family is so sick.Co(b)ra x the Gardener,Co(b)ra x Leopold,Co(b)ra x Rumple,Co(b)ra x Henry,Leopold x Regina,Zelena x Rumple, Regina x Sidney,Regina x Graham,Hood that cheats on Marian to be with Regina...that family just doesn't know how to build a non-sick relationship!X-SSS Luckily they spared us Rumple x Regina _at least!!_ "And they are definitely another of my favorite True Love couples throughout this show!!"Except Robin Hood's True Love is supposed to be Marian,not the Queen from"Snow White"!!!🤬Unlike with Craptain Swan,the reason I hate the Adultery Queen is not much because it's a toxic ship,but because it had to *DESTROY* a classical True Love fairy-tale couple in order to exist!!!As I said in my other comment...why making all this mess instead of just putting together Emma&Regina?!?! It would have been much more simple for everyone!!!AND if they HAD to destroy a classical fairy-tale couple to find Regina a boyfriend 😒💢 it could at least have been her&Eric,since in the original fairy-tale of"The Little Mermaid"the Prince actually *does* marry another woman and the Little Mermaid *does* die!!! It was *so simple!!!* If only they picked the _right_ fairy-tale...!!!X-# The scene with Rumple threatening Roland is a masterpiece. I never made the connection Dorothy-Innocence-Baby before...!!😮
Putting these 2 episodes together actually created an interesting parallel here. I mean, Snow's beautiful speech at the end about Regina having to fight every day against the darkness and Regina doesn't believing that her happy ending is possible is exactly the way I see Hook's journey. They're very alike in this whole "heart filled with darkness" thing. The only thing I didn't agree was Snow saying she told a secret like her mom did -- sweetie, c'mon, you were a CHILD! Regina was the one who couldn't handle it in a mature way for her age (NOTE: not questioning her reasons and feelings, but please consider there was a KID right in front of you! lol). Snow shouldn't blame herself that much about it, especially because Regina never apologized for making Emma (her daughter) an "orphan" for 28 years, you know?! Again, not saying anything bad about the characters, I just think Snow shouldn't blame herself THIS MUCH about that particular situation considering all the things that happened after that. But it was such a emotional and good moment between those 2 characters!
Hi, Sofie! I like your genuine reactions, as always! I wanna suggest you to watch "Alice" (2009), it's a two series show, and i really think you'll love it as long as you like OUAT. I'd be happy to see your reaction!
Although... After Zelena leaves him alone at the docks, Hook does go right to the Charmings' loft with the intention of speaking with David and Mary Margaret upon believing they would have been back by the time he got there, while he believes Emma would have still been out being trained in magic by Regina. So, I fully believe that he might have planned to at least tell them the truth, until he finds Emma and Regina there instead. Plus... If he were to tell either of them that Henry is now in danger because of his mistakes he made during the past year... Emma might be able to understand and come to forgive him in time for everything. But right now, a part of Emma already resents Hook for dragging her and Henry from their lives in New York and she wants nothing more than to return to New York with Henry, and to return to her fake life. So, she probably wouldn't take Hook's mistakes and confession very well. And Regina certainly wouldn't either because her son is now in danger because of him as far as she would see it. So, I really do understand why Hook doesn't tell anyone. And his guilt is certainly plaguing him very deeply. I hope all this makes sense. And that this explanation might help you to understand Hook's mindset. Yes... It's true that Hook has most definitely wronged Ariel within this episode, and he's known as much from the moment he made the wrong choice by choosing his ship over helping Ariel, as he knows it into the present day. Sadly, Hook is deeply plagued by guilt because of his decision to take back his ship from Black Beard in order to prove himself to be the most dastardly of pirates to sail the high seas. After all, Zelena taunts him how she recognizes his guilt that has been plaguing him ever since that day. You have to understand... Killian is broken hearted because he is so deeply in love with Emma, and during the missing year, he never believed he would ever see Emma again because she no longer remembered him, and she was lost to him. It definitely isn't Milah he's so broken by any longer. It's all about Emma for him now. They had been separated by the curse and realms. So, during the missing year... Killian only had his old life as the infamous Captain Hook to return to, because it is the only life he's known for over two hundred years. Being a pirate and his villainous reputation was all he had. And he needed to defend his reputation if he had any hope of surviving in their world anymore. I believe this is why he chooses his ship over saving Prince Eric. In order to prove to Black Beard, Black Beard's crew, as well as his own that he is still the villainous Captain Hook he used to be at all costs. Otherwise, none of the other men would follow him or respect him as their Captain any longer. They would have most likely tried to kill him even. And sacrificing the good inside of him that he's been trying to be for so long now ever since Emma's helped him to find the good in him again... has broken him even more than he already was upon losing Emma to Pan's curse. And sadly, Killian didn't think he could do anything to make up for what he had done, except allow Ariel to go free since it was all he could do to even attempt to make amends. It's so sad. And you can absolutely see the pain and despair in Hook's eyes when Ariel slaps him and reminds him of the monster he also believes himself to be in both the past and present. All of this proves that Killian isn't just trying to be good simply for Emma. But because he wants to be good for himself. Because he is a good man in spite of his mistakes. Now... I absolutely love, love, love the entire scene between Hook and Zelena in the end as Hook runs after the woman he believes to be Ariel in order to beg her forgiveness and to apologize to her for failing to help her! I so did not see this twist coming, and it is absolutely brilliant! Poor Killian. Zelena is so deliciously wicked. And she's scary. And I love her for it!! I absolutely love how she uses Killian swearing on his love for Emma so she could curse his lips. And I love that Killian reveals that she doesn't have the power to kill Emma without her powers being removed upon realizing that Zelena hasn't hurt Emma because she can't, which is why she has cursed his lips now. In order to force him to kiss Emma and remove her powers for her. What a brilliant plan! Of course Hook refuses to agree to do so and states he would tell Emma. Sadly, Zelena has now threatened Emma's family though. Which definitely puts Hook in a tight spot. And it's clear his guilt is killing him even more inside. We see this both inside Emma's apartment in the end, as well as outside of Granny's Diner while Hook watches Emma from afar, longing to be with her and yet knowing he can't be. Next... I love the overall backstory with Hook and the real Ariel, Smee, and then Black Beard too. It begins with Hook, Smee, and a few of Hook's crew robbing soldiers of their treasure with a brilliant trick. And we see that Hook is missing Emma, when Smee and his crew buy a bar wench for Hook for the night, yet he gives her more money to walk away and to lie to his crew about having slept with him so that they'll think he went through with it. To help keep his reputation intact, even though sleeping with wenches is no longer the kind of man he is. This moment shows just how good Hook has really come to be and that he's an honorable man. Then... Ariel appears behind him and knocks Hook to the ground before she places a knife to his throat, believing that it was Hook who kidnapped Prince Eric aboard the Jolly Roger. However, Hook recognizes the initials carved into the hilt of the blade and discovers that Black Beard somehow got hold of his ship, so Hook vows to get the Jolly Roger back. Regarding how Black Beard became in control of the Jolly Roger... It's because he somehow found the Jolly Roger before Hook could find her upon the ship's return to the Enchanted Forest after Pan's curse transported her there. If you remember back in episode twelve... New York City Serenade, Hook tells David that he is leaving them to go off to find his ship, knowing that the Jolly Roger was out there somewhere. Sadly, Black Beard clearly finds her first. The duel between Hook and Black Beard is amazing! I always have so much fun watching it, and of course Hook proves himself to be the better swordsman and to know his ship better than Black Beard. Sadly, Black Beard knows exactly how to goad Hook to fall into his own trap, as he forces Hook to choose between helping Ariel to save Prince Eric by giving up the Jolly Roger, or to prove himself to still be the ruthless pirate he used to be, yet isn't any longer by his refusal. Black Beard is a legendary and infamous pirate in numerous stories and tales just like Captain Hook is. So, it makes sense he would be a character brought into Once Upon a Time too. And the funny thing about his character... is that Black Beard actually looks a lot more like what Captain Hook normally looks like in every other movie with Hook as a character.
Bleeding Through- Thank you so much for another fun reaction for Once Upon a Time, Sofie! I certainly enjoy this episode. However, this episode in my opinion, is definitely one of the weaker episodes from this season. And I only say this, because I'm not really much of a fan of Cora. Which I've mentioned a number of times now. I'm especially not a fan of young Cora. Rose McGowan plays young Cora really well, but I have never really liked her much as an actress in anything. And young Cora is horrible in the past, just like she is in the present day (in season two and onward) too. Cora is a great villainess because she's so vile, and because both Rose McGowan and Barbara Hershey plays her so well. But Cora is not a villain I love, or love to hate, like I love and love to hate the Evil Queen, Rumple, Captain Hook, Pan, and now Zelena too. I just pretty much hate her because she is so cruel, even to her own daughters and her husband, Prince Henry. However, with this being said... I deeply love the results that come from the major present storyline and backstory throughout this episode. Meaning, the absolutely beautiful moments between Regina and Mary Margaret, and between Regina and Robin Hood. Which I will come back to shortly... I definitely love the overall Storybrooke storyline far more than I like the backstory for this episode. However, it all makes sense as to why Zelena has turned out to be who she is, and why Cora is as she is too. Their actions are inexcusable and wrong in so many ways, but I understand them both better now because of the events within this episode's backstory. So, this episode is really good for these reasons. I do slightly feel sorry for young Cora after watching this episode, because it was absolutely vile of Jonathan to trick her so cruelly. But in my opinion... Cora wasn't forced to give up Zelena. Just like you said too, in your commentary. Cora willingly chose to give her oldest daughter away, because Cora was selfish and wanted a better life for herself, not for her child. She stated... "I have to give you up so that I can have my best chance." Or something like that. If she really loved Zelena at all, she would have wanted her to have her best chance, just like Emma wants for Henry, and Snow and David wants for Emma. It would have been a hard life for a miller's daughter... a very poor woman, to raise a child all on her own. But if she truly loved her child, she could have done it. Poor people even back in those days had children all the time. Just like everyone in any time has. Cora was greedy and selfish through and through. Even before she ripped out her own heart so she wouldn't risk love getting in the way of what she wanted. She only ever cared about herself. She's always chosen her own self and power over Regina too. So, in all honesty... I really can't feel too bad for Cora. In this circumstance, Zelena is the innocent, and I feel far more badly for her. Especially because she was an adorable innocent baby. I really, really hate that the writers of this episode, wrote for our characters that they put so much blame on Princess Eva and Prince Leopold for Cora's decision to give Zelena up. Because this is not true at all. Cora was one hundred percent selfish and chose to give Zelena up so she could have a better life for herself. Eva and Leopold didn't demand that Cora give up the baby. They weren't present for Zelena's birth, and therefore, they had no say it what came of Zelena. So, for Snow, David, Emma, Regina, and Hook to be written to say that it was because of Eva that Zelena was given up by Cora... Or for Snow to say that she's sad to learn that her mother was not as good a woman that she believed her to be... Absolutely ridiculous! I've noticed that the writers have written in a few details throughout this show that don't make any real sense, and that just makes me mad to hear when the characters are written to make these points. It's just like Henry's argument as to why magic is so bad, back in season two's episode... Welcome to Storybrooke, when he attempted to blow up all magic using dynamite. Regarding Zelena having powerful magic such as she does, and her having power even as a baby... Cora does have magic, and has had magic all along. It just wasn't until she meets Rumplestiltskin that she was able to use her power. And she doesn't meet him until shortly before Regina is born, a short time after the events we see within the backstory of this episode. So, Zelena would have gained her power from her mother, just like Regina has. Why is Zelena even more powerful than Regina? Maybe it's because she is so desperate for the love she never got from her mother or anyone. Maybe it's simply because her rage and jealousy fuels her, and is more of a motive for her to be the most powerful being. I don't really know. There is also the possibility that magic is simply given to the beings that the universe, fate, or destiny deems worthy of having such power, and this may be why Zelena has magic. In the Harry Potter movies, it's known that a number of the witches and wizards in that world have magic, even when both of their parents don't. Maybe this is the case here. I don't really know, and it's never deeply explained here in Once Upon a Time. So, these are just a few reasons I can think of. Next... Of course, Princess Eva (Snow's mother) was absolutely wrong to act as she did too. I think she told Prince Leopold (Snow's father) about Cora being pregnant and her plan to steal treasure from him to give to Jonathan, for her own gain. Not out of any desire to protect Prince Leopold. I think she certainly felt badly for him that Cora was using him. But Eva was a spoiled, selfish brat when she was young. However, as we see in season two's episode... The Queen is Dead, she clearly turned her life around upon learning from her own mistakes too. And she became a wonderful, selfless woman and Queen to her people she loved very much. And she raised her daughter Snow White beautifully up until the day she died.
