Ep 16. The Miller's Daughter

In Once Upon a Time season 2 episode 16, titled "The Miller's Daughter," viewers are transported back to the past, where we learn about the life of Cora, Regina's mother, before she became the Queen of Hearts.

As a young woman, Cora is desperate to escape her life as a miller's daughter and marry into a higher social class. She sees her opportunity when the King arrives in their town and announces a ball for all eligible maidens in the kingdom. With the help of her magic, Cora transforms herself into a beautiful lady and catches the eye of Prince Henry, Regina's father.

Cora and Henry fall deeply in love, but their happiness is short-lived when Cora discovers that he is engaged to Regina's mother, the woman who she believes stole her chance at true love. Devastated, Cora turns to Rumplestiltskin for help and strikes a deal that will allow her to marry the Prince, but at a great cost.

Meanwhile, in present-day Storybrooke, Mary Margaret and David continue to struggle with the knowledge that they have a daughter who is living in another realm. Emma, who is still reeling from the news that Neal is alive and is also Henry's father, is determined to find a way to bring him back to Storybrooke.

As the episode unfolds, we see how Cora's actions in the past come back to haunt her and have far-reaching consequences for both her and those she loves. The consequences of her actions are felt keenly by Regina, who is forced to confront some painful truths about her mother's past and the role that she played in her own life.

As with all Once Upon a Time episodes, "The Miller's Daughter" is filled with magic, intrigue, and unexpected twists and turns. It is a powerful exploration of the sacrifices that people are willing to make in the name of love and the long-lasting effects that those sacrifices can have on the lives of those around them.