[s2e16] The Miller's Daughter Now

Because the heart was "cursed" by the candle, returning it to Cora doesn't save her; it transfers Gold's impending death to her. Cora dies in Regina’s arms, briefly experiencing love for her daughter one last time before passing away.

Critics from The A.V. Club and IGN praised Rose McGowan's performance as young Cora and the emotional weight of the Rumple/Cora backstory. [S2E16] The Miller's Daughter

Mary Margaret (Snow White) discovers that the only way to save Gold—and stop Cora—is to use the . The candle can save one person but requires another life in exchange. Mary Margaret, manipulated by the situation and her desire to protect her family, uses the candle on Cora’s heart (which is stored in the vault) and then tricks Regina into putting the heart back into Cora’s body. Because the heart was "cursed" by the candle,

The flashback reveals a young, impoverished Cora working as a miller's daughter. After being humiliated by Princess Eva (Snow White's mother), Cora lies to King Xavier, claiming she can spin straw into gold. Club and IGN praised Rose McGowan's performance as

This guide covers , a pivotal episode of the fantasy drama series Once Upon a Time , which first aired on March 10, 2013. This episode serves as the definitive origin story for Cora (the Queen of Hearts) and explores the tragic roots of her relationship with Rumplestiltskin. Episode Overview Season/Episode: Season 2, Episode 16 Original Air Date: March 10, 2013 Director: Ralph Hemecker Writer: Jane Espenson Plot Summary In the Enchanted Forest (The Past)

Locked in a tower to prove her claim or face death, she is visited by . He offers to spin the gold in exchange for her firstborn child. However, Cora convinces him to teach her the magic instead. As they work together, they fall in love and plan to run away, changing their contract so the child will be theirs .

The episode was a hit, drawing approximately 7.37 million viewers during its initial broadcast as tracked by TV by the Numbers . Where to Watch Streaming: You can watch the full series on Disney+.