I liked the theme and implications of this episode, as expressed in David’s speech. Most of these characters have spent as much time (or more) in Storybrooke as they have in HEAL. Their Storybrooke identities have become just as much a part of them as their HEAL identities. They are both.
Well, I still think that Cora’s creating a ‘You can’t leave spell’ for Regina is pointing the way for that.
That’s an interesting point…since Cora’s spell was “you can’t leave without the King” and we could view the current spell as “You can’t leave without Emma”. Emma’s magical qualities opened the portal and Snow left with her.
Just watching this episode again and there are hints at something during the scenes with Regina and Rumplestiltskin. We are told that Rumple taught Cora magic a long time ago. Rumple also says that he knew Regina long ago: “I held you in my arms. You were younger. More… portable.” He also says, “There is much history between your family and me.”
Based on the above and the evidence below, I am going to make a couple of wild-assed guesses.
WAG #1: Cora is not Regina’s bio-mom.
[ul][li]When Regina says to Rumple that people say she looks like her mother did when she was younger, Rumple makes a point of saying “I don’t see it.”[/li][li]Rumple also comments on young Regina’s gentle spirit: “Hard to believe you’re from the same family.” Maybe because she’s not?[/li][li]Rumplestiltskin in the fairy tale demands the firstborn child of the woman he helps, so we know he sees children as a commodity to trade.[/ul][/li]
WAG #2: or maybe Cora is her mom and Rumplestiltskin is Regina’s bio-dad
[ul][li]Rumple’s “hard to believe you’re from the same family” line could be referring to himself as well as Cora as Regina’s family.[/li][li]Rumple says to young Regina that the two of them (Regina and himself) are finally where they belong… together.[/li][li]Of course we have seen that later on in HEAL and in Storybrooke, there is no love lost between Rumple and Regina, but then Rumple is not very sentimental about anyone but Belle. [/ul][/li]
Okay, not very hard evidence for either of the above, but I won’t be surprised at all if it is revealed that Regina’s parentage is in question.