OUAF Top 35 Countdown Part 2

by Zach Van Norman (@TheZachVan) with contributions from Ashley Benson (@MitigatedText)

Our countdown of the top 35 moments of Once Upon A Time continues! To celebrate the spring premiere of this season, I've assembled a list of the top 35 moments of the show to count down the days until we enter the Underworld with our heroes. Let's look back at the unforgettable moments of our favorite fairy tale!
Click here for Part 1

#1: Emma Breaks the Curse,
​"A Land Without Magic"

The Savior (Jennifer Morrison) rescues her son (Jared Gilmore) from the sleeping death. 
Image Credit: ABC Studios

After Regina's poisoned apple turnover cursed Henry, Emma brought him to Storybrooke General Hospital in hopes that he could be revived. Unfortunately Dr. Whale could not diagnosis his condition, and Emma realized that it was "like magic." Something within her changed, and when she grabbed Henry's storybook she was treated to a flashback of her earliest memories: her mother saying goodbye and her father fighting the Queen's guards before telling her to "find [them]" and putting her in the magic wardrobe.

Finally, at long last, the Savior believed. Image Credit: ABC Studios

Regina entered immediately after, and Emma threw her into a storage closet, slamming her against a cabinet and demanding to know the truth. Regina, thinking of Henry, succumbed to defeat and admitted that everything Henry had been saying about the curse was correct. Emma demanded she use magic to save him, but there was nothing Regina could do: she had used the last of her magic to create the turnover, and only one other person in town knew about magic.

"Mr. Gold." "Actually, he goes by Rumplestiltskin." Image Credits: ABC Studios

Emma and Regina went to Gold's shop, where he disclosed that the only way to save Henry lay with their "friend in the basement." Regina knew who he meant, but they kept the truth from Emma. Gold produced Charming's sword and told Emma she would need it on her mission. 

The Savior and the Mayor went to the library, where Regina revealed a secret elevator and sent Emma below to find the solution to their problem. There, in the caves below Storybrooke, Emma came face to face with a dragonized Maleficent, whose belly held the bottle of true love needed to save Henry. Emma lived up to her family name as she battled the beast and defeated her by throwing her father's saber into Maleficent's belly and reducing her to ash.

Image Credits: ABC Studios

A stunned Emma claimed the egg with the potion and returned to the surface, giving it to Gold before he disappeared as she made her way out of the elevator shaft to find Regina tied up, the victim of Gold's continued machinations. As the Swan and the Queen debated going after Gold, they received a call from the hospital and raced to the emergency room, but it was too late: Henry had flat-lined.

Her spirit broken, Emma went to her son's bedside and brushed his hair aside. Leaning in close, she whispered to Henry and placed her lips on his forehead. The true love of a mother for her son did the trick, reviving him and finally breaking the curse.

"I love you, Henry." Image Credits: ABC Studios

"I love you too. You saved me!" Image Credits: ABC Studios

Emma breaking the curse resolved two concurrent storylines simultaneously. It brought the first season's flashback story full-circle, showing the aftermath of Prince Charming's awakening of Snow White and setting the foundation for what would happen up to the point that Regina cast the curse. It did the same for the present-day story, which began with Emma as a non-believer wanting to deny her son's existence and ended with her accepting the truth (and her destiny) and admitting she loved her little boy. It was an incredible emotional payoff, a moment of heartbreak and joy, and so it takes the #1 spot of our Once Upon A Time​ Top 35 Moments.

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#2: Charming Family Reunion, "Broken"

Charming (Josh Dallas) and Snow (Ginnifer Goodwin) hug their daughter Emma (Jennifer Morrison) as Red (Meghan Ory) and Granny (Beverley Elliott) look on. Image Credit: ABC Studios

The second season premiere began with the purple cloud of magic dissipating around the First Couple of Storybrooke as they wondered what was happening. After a group hug with the dwarves, Red wondered what they would do next, and Snow declared she would find her daughter. But it was too late: Emma found them first, and acknowledged what she had been denying for so long. Snow White walked over, held Emma's face, and clung to her as Charming walked over and joined them.

"So it's true." Image Credits: ABC Studios

"You found us." Image Credits: ABC Studios

Finally, after 28 years, the Charmings were reunited...

Together again. Image Credit: ABC Studios

...and Henry soon broke the silence with an honest yet hilarious question.

"Grandpa?" Image Credits: ABC Studios

The Charming family reunion was a moment we had waited for an entire season to see, the culmination of the Emma's journey and an emotional payoff that hit every mark to leave the audience in tears. It wasn't dialogue, but rather Mark Isham's score that spoke for the characters, expressing their emotions in a way that words could not. It was a perfect beginning to the season, a moment which comes in at #2 on our list.

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​#3: Goodbye Storybrooke, "Going Home"

Storybrooke's most prominent residents gather to bid farewell to Emma (Jennifer Morrison) and Henry (Jared Gilmore). Image Credit: ABC Studios

With Pan's curse threatening Storybrooke in the season three mid-season finale, Emma and Henry were able to save themselves but had to leave their home, seemingly forever, while their family and friends were whisked back to the Enchanted Forest. As Pan's curse made its way towards them, Emma and Henry's family and closest friends gathered at the town line to say goodbye.

Parting is such sweet sorrow. Image Credit: ABC Studios

"Now go. There isn't much time left and the curse will be here any minute." Image Credit: ABC Studios:​

Emma hugged her parents while Henry told Regina that she wasn't just a villain, she was his mom, and the two of them shared a hug before Regina broke more news to Emma: stopping Pan's curse meant undoing the creation of Storybrooke, meaning that the town wouldn't ever have existed and their memories of the past years would be erased. Regina offered a mea culpa to her past wrongdoings and told Emma she would replace their Storybrooke memories with happier ones: Emma would never have given Henry up, and they'd have always been together.

As Regina gave Henry one last hug, Emma's emotions caught up with her when she realized she wouldn't remember her parents anymore. Recognizing her daughter's pain, Snow walked up and held her face, kissing her on the forehead as the sunlight fell upon them in what may be the most beautiful shot ever filmed for this show.

Baby mine, don't you cry. Image Credits: ABC Studios

Emma and Henry got in the yellow bug and drove away, escaping the curse as Regina used her magic to reverse what she had done nearly 30 years ago. The purple cloud engulfed Storybrooke, taking its denizens and Henry's storybook with it. And as Emma and Henry's memories were replaced to the tune of Mark Isham's incredible score, the town faded from existence.

Image Credits: ABC Studios

The beauty and power of this scene is nearly indescribable, a moment that was firing on all cylinders from the acting to the music to the photography, elevating every aspect of production and bringing the words of Eddy Kitsis and Adam Horowitz to great, glorious life. Mark Isham outdid himself with his musical score for this scene; it mixed the devastation of the plot with the hope for the future, blending happy and sad in a most striking way. The cinematography was gorgeous and the aforementioned moment when the sun cascaded into the frame as Snow kissed Emma's forehead was simply magical. Everything about this finale was perfect, and it takes the #3 spot on our countdown.

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#4: We Need to Talk about Henry, "Manhattan"

Emma (Jennifer Morrison) tries to shield Henry (Jared Gilmore) from the truth while his father (Michael Raymond-James) and grandfather (Robert Carlyle) look on. Image Credit: ABC Studios

Emma and Henry's trip to Manhattan with Mr. Gold had major surprises in store for everyone, even our heroes back in Storybrooke. Emma chased Gold's son after they found his apartment and learned that her mark was none other than her first love Neal, setting her on a whirlwind of emotion and making her question if their relationship had been a lie or part of some sick, twisted plan, and whether he ever cared about her at all. He told her the truth about everything at a local pub, but when he mentioned the possibility that fate brought them together for a greater purpose, for something good, she lied to keep him from learning that they had a son together. 

Emma tried to keep her cool while Gold broke into Neal's apartment and looked around, but he noticed her reaction to the dreamcatcher in the window and realized she was hiding something. A tense face-off led to Neal erupting into his apartment demanding that his father leave Emma alone, and while he and Emma tried to hide their connection, they slipped up and Gold demanded to know how they knew each other. Henry came in from the bedroom and the moment we'd all been waiting for arrived.

​"Is this... my son?"
Image Credit: ABC Studios

​"My dad was a fireman. He died."
​Image Credit: ABC Studios

"That's what you.... told me...." Image Credit: ABC Studios

Henry's confusion forced Emma to face the consequences of her lie directly, and she could no longer keep the truth from her son.

"Is this my son?"  Image Credit: ABC Studios

"Yes." Image Credits: ABC Studios

​Image Credit: ABC Studios

This reveal was one of the most impacting scenes of the entire show, in what could be argued as the best episode of the second season. The adjustment to Emma and Gold's dynamic hit hard for them as well as for Neal; it was one of the best scenes in the series thanks to Jennifer Morrison, Jared Gilmore, Robert Carlyle and Michael Raymond-James' performances. This was the moment when Henry's family tree began to branch out and changed the course of the story, giving Henry a unique position in the show's hierarchy as the Savior's son and the Dark One's grandson. and so it makes our list at #4.

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​#5: Lost Lullabies, "Lady of the Lake"

​Image Credits: ABC Studios

Emma and Snow's sojourn in the Enchanted Forest was full of many mother/daughter bonding moments, but none so powerful or heart-wrenching as their visit to Emma's former nursery. They intended to use the magic wardrobe as a portal back to Storybrooke, though thanks to Cora's machinations they had to burn it and stop her from getting to our world. Before Cora revealed herself, Emma and Snow surveyed the damage to the nursery, leading Snow on a trip down memory lane as she reminisced about her plans to raise Emma.

"I was going to teach you how to walk in here... how to talk... how to dress for your first ball..."
​Image Credits: ABC Studios

"We never got to do any of it. We never got to be a family."
​Image Credit: ABC Studios

After Emma burned the wardrobe and Cora had departed, the Savior finally opened up to her mother about how she felt. Her admission that she had been angry at her mother without knowing her for so long was a major development for her character: rather than keep her walls up, she broke them down and admitted how she felt. Her resentment quickly turned to understanding as she realized that her mother had given up on dreams of motherhood for her to have a life away from the curse. Emma broke down and explained that she wasn't used to being a priority for anyone, giving Snow her first chance to comfort her daughter.

"I'm not used to someone putting me first." "Well get used to it."
​Image Credits: ABC Studios

Snow put up a brave front to give Emma an emotional boost, but her facade broke as she closed the nursery door and envisioned her baby's room as she had wanted it, shedding tears that had been frozen for 28 years.

Image Credits: ABC Studios

This poignant moment was the first time we felt the full weight of what the Charmings had lost together. Much of the first season was spent waiting for Emma to break the curse and enjoying the inclusion of various fairy tale characters in the story, but because of their cursed state we couldn't get any insight into how the characters felt about their circumstances and stolen lives. This scene changed all of that, showing us Emma's lingering resentment and Snow's devastation while Mark Isham's haunting score pulled our heartstrings even harder.  The power of this scene cannot be understated, which makes it the #5 moment on our countdown.

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#6: Snow and Regina's Evolution,
"The Evil Queen"/"New York City Serenade"/"Bleeding Through"/Smash the Mirror"

Snow White (GInnifer Goodwin) and Regina (Lana Parrilla) change their ways.
​Image Credits: ABC Studios

#6 in our countdown is a departure from the previous entries in that we're combining four scenes from four episodes into one moment. It goes against the logic and intent of this series to do so, it's true, but Snow and Regina's relationship is the foundation of the show, the main story off which all the others branched out, and the change between them has been so profound that one moment alone doesn't do it justice. And so we present the evolution of Snow White and the Evil Queen.

"The Evil Queen" put Snow and Regina together in a new situation: exile. A glamoured Regina was saved from her own guards by Snow, who tended to her injuries at a forest encampment. As they made their way through the woods, they discussed their past, and Snow revealed that despite everything she'd been through, she still held hope that Regina would one day call off her quest for revenge and they could be friends. Regina was moved and asked if Snow thought they could be a family again, to which Snow replied in the affirmative.

For one quick second it seemed that Regina would reveal her true identity and reconcile with her step-daughter, but it was not to be: they came upon the bodies of villagers Regina had slaughtered and Snow could only see evil in the regal. Regina pushed the issue but it was too late, and she inadvertently revealed who she was before running away from Snow's bow and abandoning her own hopes for a reunion, assuming the mantle of the Evil Queen and reasserted her commitment to vengeance.

Snow (Goodwin) unknowingly talks to Regina (Parrilla) as they travel through the forest.
​Image Credits: ABC Studios

Many years (and episodes) later in "New York City Serenade," Snow White and Regina found themselves returned to the Enchanted Forest after the latter undid the Dark Curse that created Storybrooke. Regina took a detour en route to her (and the Charmings') castle to bury her heart in the woods; her farewell to Henry at the town hall was causing her more pain than she could bear, and she wanted to be rid of it.

Snow intervened and empathized with Regina's pain, as she had just said goodbye to Emma for the second time as well as to Henry, but offered reassurance that having her heart would lead Regina to the one thing Henry wanted her to have: happiness. Though Regina was Snow's stepmother, it was Snow who offered a kind of parental consent, the same she would do for her daughter, offering a touching role reversal for her dynamic with Regina.

Snow (Goodwin) comforts Regina (Parrilla) after their return to the Enchanted Forest.
​Image Credits: ABC Studios

In "Bleeding Through," after Zelena arrived in the Enchanted Forest, our heroes cast another Dark Curse to return to our world but Zelena tossed in a forgetting potion and took their memories. She told them the truth in Storybrooke, and they partnered up to discover what had happened to them in the Forest as well as with Cora and Zelena in the past. As part of that journey, Regina held a seance and made contact with Cora's spirit, which took over Snow's body and shared memories of why she had given up Zelena.

In the aftermath, Snow and Regina had a heart-to-heart, where they both acknowledged that their history was complicated, and Regina found humor in the fact that Snow was just like her mother Eva. And as Regina continued to lose hope for a happy ending, Snow grabbed her hand in comfort, telling her that she saw how far she had come in her daily struggle against darkness, and reiterated her belief that Regina would one day find happiness. 

Regina (Parrilla) and Mary Margaret (Goodwin) discuss their complicated history.
​Image Credits: ABC Studios

Later in the story, the Snow Queen toyed with Emma's emotions and sent her into isolation, and the Hero Brigade searched for her ("Smash the Mirror Part 2"). Snow and Regina walked and talked together, discussing the Marian situation and its effect on Regina and Robin Hood's romance. Oddly enough, they bonded over their shared experiences of sleeping with married men, and though Snow offered Regina more reassurance, this time she emphasized that Regina had to believe in her happy ending just as much as Snow did. Robin called almost immediately, asking Regina to join him to investigate his discovery of a new page from the storybook, and Regina owed Snow a quarter for being right.

Mary Margaret (Goodwin) and Regina (Parrilla) discuss hope for the future. Image Credits: ABC Studios

These are the kinds of moments that are at the very heart of the show, moments where characters can breathe and reflect on their situation, sharing how they feel instead of reacting to a new threat from the outside and never slowing down. These are the kinds of moments that the audience loves most, moments that we need to see more.

These four scenes deepened the bond between Snow and Regina, and watching them turn from friends to mortal enemies to friends has been one of the best developments of characters or storylines of the series. Ginnifer Goodwin and Lana Parrilla have shown their incredible acting range and brought layers of depth and feeling to these women, making them relatable, and realistic, and forever changing the Snow White/Evil Queen dynamic. and so these moments take the #6 spot on our countdown.

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#7: Emma tells Ashley to Punch Back, "The Price of Gold"

Emma (Jennifer Morrison) delivers a message of strength. Image Credit: ABC Studios

Emma Swan has personified female empowerment from the get-go, and in the season one episode "The Price of Gold," she had a conversation with cursed Storybrooke resident Ashley where she gave the following advice:

"People are going to tell you who you are your whole life. You just have to punch back and say, 'No, this is who I am.' You want people to look at you differently? Make them. You want to change things? You're going to have to go out there and change them yourself because there are no fairy godmothers in this world."

These words were incredibly powerful and inspired Ashley to take charge of her life, and it was one of the things that endeared Once Upon A Time to so many fans at the very beginning. But beyond Ashley, these words reached through the television screen and changed many viewers' lives by giving them hope and the belief that they can make their lives better. The profound impact that this moment had on the viewers elevated the show to something beyond television, and it takes the #7 spot on the countdown.

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#8: Mary Margaret Gives Henry the Storybook, "Going Home"

Henry (Jared Gilmore) shares his hopelessness with Mary Margaret (Ginnifer Goodwin).
​Image Credit: ABC Studios

Henry's storybook was the catalyst that set Once Upon A Time in motion, a MacGuffin (of sorts) which ignited Henry's belief in magic and sent him on a hero's journey to find Emma. We quickly learned that his teacher (and grandmother) Mary Margaret had given it to him, and in the mid-season finale "Going Home" we finally saw that moment play out.

Family bonding. Image Credits: ABC Studios

It began with Henry tucking a family tree into his peechee before Mary Margaret arrived to question Henry about his missing homework and told him that things would get better if he believed it, and that life is unpredictable. He immediately asserted that everything in Storybrooke was predictable except him, that his birth mother didn't love him and Regina didn't either, and that he didn't belong in town.

​Mary Margaret assured him he was loved, and showed him the storybook, telling him that the book appeared "like magic," and that it somehow arrived. Was it given to her? Did she forget about it? She didn't know, but what she saw inside was hope. He retorted that it was just a bunch of fairy tales, leading to one of the best quotes of the series.

"And what exactly do you think fairy tales are? They are a reminder that our lives will get better if we just hold on to hope. Your happy ending may not be what you expect, but that is what will make it so special." Image Credits: ABC Studios

Henry asked Mary Margaret if he could borrow the book, and instead she gifted it to him, assuring him that "believing in even the possibility of a happy ending is a powerful thing." As she left the table, he turned the page to see Snow White and Prince Charming on their wedding day, and he called out her name. The book's magic had done its job, showing him her true identity as he looked up.

Henry sees the truth. Image Credits: ABC Studios

After she walked away, he saw the picture of Snow White holding a baby named Emma, and the rest is history.

At last, we knew how Henry's journey had started, and why he had started believing in magic. This was Henry and Mary Margaret's only scene by themselves up to that point (and since), but it was a pivotal moment in the show's history. Once Upon A Time began here, and this crucial scene takes the #8 spot on our list.

"Emma." Image Credits: ABC Studios

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#9: What's a Story?, "Hat Trick"

Jefferson (Sebastian Stan)  has no time for incredulity. Image Credit: ABC Studios

#9 on our list isJefferson's speech about stories, lands, and imagination. Sebastian Stan's nuanced performance was incredibly powerful in execution and made Jefferson a stand-out character on the show. This was a defining moment for the series, a speech that spoke not only to Emma, but to the audience as well, asking us to believe in magic in our own lives, and we were all the better for having heard it.

Jefferson: "Stories. Stories? What's a story? When you were in high school, did you learn about the Civil War?... How? Did you read about it? Perchance, in a book? How is that any less real than any other book?... And storybooks are based on what? Imagination. Where's that come from? It has to come from somewhere. You know what the issue is with this world? Everyone wants some magical solution to their problem and everyone refuses to believe in magic."

Emma: "Here's the thing, Jefferson. This is it. This is the real world."

Jefferson: "A real world. How arrogant are you to think that yours is the only one? There are infinite more. You have to open your mind. They touch one another. pressing up in a long line of lands, each just as real as the last. All have their own rules. Some have magic, some don't. And some... need magic. Like this one.

"And that's where you come in."

Emma (Jennifer Morrison) wants to believe Jefferson (Stan). Image Credits: ABC Studios

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#10: Ruby is the Wolf, "Red-Handed"

Granny (Beverley Elliott) can offer no comfort to Red (Meghan Ory) when she realizes the truth.
Image Credit: ABC Studios

Virtually every character on Once Upon A Time has a tragic element to their story, but no one's is more tragic than that of Red, aka Ruby. Her story has been bleak, lonely, and devastating, offering little comfort against the horrors she has experienced. The backstory of her tale began in the season one episode "Red-Handed," when her suitor Peter appeared at her window and the two of them traded good-natured jokes about each other. It was a tender scene that showed Red only had eyes for one man, a major contrast to her cursed personality as Ruby. 

Peter (Jesse Hutch) and the wolf. Image Credits: ABC Studios

Later, Red met Snow in the barn and they formed a bond that would be the foundation of their friendship. They went to the local well to fetch a pail of water, only to discover the remains of several dead villagers. Aghast, they tracked mysterious footprints through the forest to Red's window at Granny's cottage, concluding that since Peter had visited Red the night before, he must be the killer, and they formed a plan to stop him.

Red (Ory) and Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin) discover a slaughter and track the killer through the woods. Image Credits: ABC Studios

Red and Peter went to the forest and she chained him to a tree, while Snow pretended to be a sleeping Red at Granny's cottage. Granny uncovered the deception and panicked when Snow told her where Red and Peter had gone. It was then that the audience learned that it was Red who was the wolf, not Peter, who pleaded with his lycan-ized girlfriend not to attack him. Granny and Snow raced through the woods and discovered they were too late: Peter was dead. They used Red's cloak to restore her to human form and told her the grim truth.

Snow White (Goodwin) and Granny (Elliott) break the bad news to Red (Ory).
​Image Credits: ABC Studios

"He wasn't the wolf." Image Credit: ABC Studios

This scene would have been tragic no matter what, but it was Meghan Ory's incredible performance that elevated this moment to one of the best scenes of the show. Red's grief was palpable as she collapsed into her loved ones' arms, horrified and inconsolable with the knowledge of what she had done. Jane Espenson's screenplay was a brilliant combination of the fairy tales Little Red Riding Hood, Snow-White and Rose-Red, and Peter and the Wolf, resulting in an episode that will remain in our hearts forever and a moment which takes the #10 position on our list.

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#11: Rumple Loses Control, "Skin Deep"

Rumplestiltskin (Robert Carlyle) unleashed. Image Credit: ABC Studios

The story of Rumple and Belle took our #20 spot on the countdown, but this moment was something unique and so we placed it at the #12 position. Regina's lie to Rumple that Belle had died due to her association with him sent him over the edge and, alone in his castle, he finally broke down and showed how he truly felt about her as he destroyed his possessions with a furious anguish.

Image Credits: ABC Studios

What can be said about Robert Carlyle's performance that hasn't been said already? It was absolutely amazing, and played out opposite the present-day storyline where a grief-stricken Mr. Gold used his cane to bludgeon Belle's father. It was dark, emotional, powerful and captivating, a moment in the show's history that we will never forget.

It's not just a cup anymore. Image Credit: ABC Studios

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#12: The Swan Necklace, "Tallahassee"

Neal (Michael Raymond-James) presents Emma with the swan necklace. Image Credit: ABC Studios

The sixth episode of Season Two, "Tallahassee," was the first episode that included a flashback to Emma's past. We didn't know much about her life at this point and it was a bit of a surprise to see her steal the same car she'd been driving around Storybrooke in season one, and it was hilarious when we (and she) learned that she had stolen a stolen car! She was clued in to that fact by Neal, and their relationship became the driving force behind the flashback.

After their initial meeting (wherein he also got them out of incarceration by lying to the cop who pulled them over), the two of them became a couple and worked together as thieves to survive. The next part of the story took place months after they met, as they put their Bonnie and Clyde act to work to steal from a convenience store. ​As Neal distracted the clerk, Emma put food in her bag, until another patron arrived and saw Neal put Apollo candy bars in his pocket. They were nearly caught, but Emma faked that she was going into labor and the two of them made it out with food.​ When they got to the car, Neal presented Emma with ​the swan necklace.

Easter egg: The name Henry appears on a keychain next to Neal (Raymond-James)

The scene in the convenience store, and in the car in particular, showed how fun and sweet Emma and Neal's partnership had been. The look on Emma's face when she saw the necklace was priceless, showing how truly happy she was. The necklace had been an integral part of Emma's character and costume, and seeing its origin is why this moment takes the #12 spot on our list. While we later learned that she kept it as a reminder not to trust people again, she would eventually accept it as a loving reminder of Neal's part in her life.

Above: Emma (Jennifer Morrison) is thrilled by Neal's (Raymond-James) gift. Image Credits: ABC Studios

#SwanFire. Image Credit: ABC Studios

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#13: Emma and Regina's Walkway Rumble, "The Cricket Game"

Emma (Jennifer Morrison) and Regina (Lana Parrilla) face off about Henry. Image Credit: ABC Studios

After Emma used magic to see Pongo's memories in the dreamcatcher, she was left with little choice but to hold Regina responsible for Archie's apparent murder. (After all, Cora had glamoured herself to impersonate her daughter - not much room for interpretation!) Emma and her parents went to Regina's house and confronted her, but the mayor was innocent and knew that something else was going on. She blamed Gold, not knowing her dearest mommie was back in town, and tearfully told Emma that she would not allow the Savior to poison Henry against her. (An interesting word choice, since she'd already done that herself.)

Above left: The Charmings (Ginnifer Goodwin, Morrison, Josh Dallas) confront Regina (Parrilla, above right) about the apparent murder of Dr. Archie Hopper. Image Credits: ABC Studios

As the confrontation moved from the porch to the walkway, Regina said Henry was her son, and Emma's anger finally boiled over as she shouted, "He's not, he's mine! And after this you're not getting anywhere near him!" Regina was having none of it, blocking the Blue Fairy's dust and throwing it to the ground before blasting Emma down the walkway with magic, letting her know exactly what was not​ going to happen.

"You will not take my son from me!" Image Credits: ABC Studios

In the aftermath Emma told Regina that Henry would never believe her about Archie, and Regina, obviously hurt, poofed herself away in a cloud of magic.

"We know who you are, and who you will always be." Image Credit: ABC Studios

Image Credit: ABC Studios

"The Cricket Game" is one of the best episodes in the entire series. It had great performances, great music, and a perfect juxtaposition of flashback vs present-story storylines. The flashback gave us an emotionally-powerful history lesson with Regina and the Charmings as she rejected Snow's offer at freedom and redemption, adding another layer to Snow and Regina's relationship. But it was the present-day confrontation at Regina's house elevated this episode to a spectacular level. a fight that harkened back to the pilot and therefore had added significance, thanks in part to the switch in colors on Regina and Emma's costumes.

Red has many symbolic meanings in stories, and power is one of them. In the pilot it was Emma who was in power: she was the Savior who would break Regina's curse and the birth mother to Regina's son, she had the power to end life as Regina knew it. But in "The Cricket Game," Regina was the one empowered both because she was telling the truth about her innocence, and because her magic was stronger. These two scenarios also played out according to who was wearing red: Emma came in peace in the pilot, and their first meeting ended with tension but without getting physical. "The Cricket Game" was the complete opposite of that because Regina was angry, and the situation escalated to a physical level quickly, keeping in line with her demeanor.

Much praise can be lavished on this episode, but the bottom line is that "The Cricket Game" had creative genius on many levels, and so it takes the #13 spot on our countdown.

Magic (and red) is power. Image Credits: ABC Studios

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#14: Emma's First Magic,
"Queen of Hearts"

Love is strength: Emma (Jennifer Morrison) blasts Cora (Barbara Hershey) away with magic.
​Image Credit: ABC Studios

The first half of Season Two revolved around Snow and Emma's efforts to get home after falling into a portal to the Enchanted Forest, a fight which quickly came to include Regina's mother Cora. Cora proved herself a formidable foe, raising an army of half-dead soldiers to pursue Snow and Emma and partnering with Captain Hook to thwart every effort the mother/daughter duo made to get to Storybrooke. The fight in the Enchanted Forest led up to a confrontation on the barren Lake Nostos where Cora nearly took Snow's heart before Emma intervened. She pushed her mother out of the way and Cora's hand went to her heart, but it was in vain: Emma's heart could not be taken. And in that moment, Emma realized the power of love, and blasted Cora back with her very first wave of magic.

We the audience were so captivated by Emma's journey towards breaking the Dark Curse that many of us never wondered whether she could use magic. That's what made her first use of magic so fulfilling: it wasn't something small, it was a grandstand display against the most evil woman around. Not only that, but this moment was a play on the title of the episode: Cora is the Queen of Hearts, yet she could not take Emma's, which suggests that Cora's title has been usurped. To cap it off, Snow White embraced her daughter with a look of joyful pride, offering her the type of moment with her daughter that they'd both missed out on. This scene was thrilling, it was exciting, it was EVERYTHING, and it's also the #14 pick for our countdown!

"Love is weakness." "No. It's strength." Emma (Morrison) sets Cora (Hershey) straight about love.
​Image Credits: ABC Studios

A mother's pride. Image Credit: ABC Studios

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#15: Belle Banishes Gold,
"Heroes and Villains"

Mr. Gold (Robert Carlyle) pleads with his wife Belle (Emilie de Ravin) for forgiveness.

"Heroes and Villains" was an enthralling mid-season finale that introduced the Queens of Darkness through a flashback story involving Rumplestiltskin, Belle, and a gauntlet from Camelot. This gauntlet was able to locate a person's greatest weakness (the thing they love most) and after the Queens of Darkness kidnapped Belle, Rumple traded the gauntlet in exchange for Belle's life. When it later reappeared in Storybrooke, Belle knew something was wrong, and she used the gauntlet to discover that the dagger he had given her so she would trust him was really a fake.

Belle's heart was broken with the realization that he loved power more than her, and she used that power against him to save everyone else. He poofed them to the town line, where she admitted that she had seen the signs of his betrayal but ignored them. He tried to apologize, but it was too late, for she had seen that there was no love in his heart. And as punishment, she told him that he was only a beast, and banished him away from Storybrooke and all who lived there.

An excuse as old as time. Image Credits: ABC Studios

Rumplestiltskin and Belle have been through a lot as a couple, testing their relationship in ways on par with Snow White and Prince Charming. The difference in these two couples is that while the Charmings have nearly always faced a foe causing problems from the outside, the Golds have faced nothing but internal conflict brought on by Rumple's choices of power over love. This was the worst betrayal yet between the couple, and Gold paid the price for his deception (and frankly, he deserved it). Robert Carlyle and Emilie de Ravin were captivating as they played out one of Rumple and Belle's best scenes, a scene which takes the #15 position on our countdown.

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#16: Emma's First Ball, "Snow Drifts"

A fairy tale princess at last! Image Credit: ABC Studios

"Snow Drifts," the episode in which our #16 pick took place, was already mentioned on the countdown here, at #27, and we promised that Emma's princess dress was coming soon. Well, here it is! As Emma and Hook sought to mend the timeline, they attended the ball celebrating the engagement of Prince James and Princess Abigail, and it had everything we'd hoped for: spectacular costumes from designer Eduardo Castro and his team, ornate set decoration from Mark Lane, and couples dancing to the beautiful music from composer Mark Isham. Regina interrupted the happy occasion with her arrival, but for a while Emma was able to enjoy the party in peace, a peaceful moment that she had earned time and time again.

"The Savior can't come this far and not play princess for a day!" Image Credit: ABC Studios

It was simply delightful that Emma's first princess dress was her signature color of red. It was equally delightful to watch her attend her first ball, though as happy an occasion as it was, there was a degree of sadness to it as well: these events would have been part of her upbringing had she remained with her parents, and her attendance was another reminder of what she had lost because of the curse. Regardless, it was ultimately a joyful experience for Emma as she waltzed with Hook under their hilarious pseudonyms Princess Leia and Prince Charles. It was a classic fairy tale moment for CaptainSwan and the audience, one we won't soon forget.

The Princess and the Pirate. Image Credits: ABC Studios

Emma (Morrison) and Hook (O'Donoghue) (or is it Princess Leia and Prince Charles?) dance the waltz. Image Credit: ABC Studios

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#17: Regina Adopts Henry, "Save Henry"

Regina (Lana Parrilla) meets her Prince Charming. Image Credit: ABC Studios

During the mission to save Henry from Neverland, we were treated to one of the sweetest flashback stories of the show: Regina's adoption of Henry. She hoped to fill the hole in her heart with the love of a child, and thanks to Mr. Gold and Sidney Glass, she (unknowingly) found it in the form of her step-great-grandson. Unfortunately for her, baby Henry became upset whenever she held him.

Mary Margaret's (Ginnifer Goodwin) touch calms her "sweet" grandson, but the same cannot be said for Regina (Parrilla). Image Credits: ABC Studios

"Please give me a chance." Image Credit: ABC Studios

After realizing that her new son's birth mother was the daughter of her long-time foe, Regina wanted to give him back to the adoption agency, but her love for him won out and she took him home. Using the only strength she knew (magic), Regina went to her crypt and brewed a potion that would make her forget her troubles and live worry-free. She told Henry the story of her life in the form of a fairy tale as she worked, drank the potion, and finally found the peace she so desperately needed.

Ever since the pilot we wondered how Regina came to be Henry's adoptive mother, and this episode answered the question with a beautiful flashback, the fairest of them all. We saw the softer side of Regina, the motherly side of her, the side which we had never seen before, and though she had mistreated him in the past, this episode made it clear that she loved him with all her heart. For the writers to have the Evil Queen tell her own fairy tale was brilliant, a reversal of tradition where the story is told from the hero's point of view. Lana Parrilla showed the range of emotion we've come to expect from her portrayal, making Henry's adoption the #17 choice for our countdown.

"Once upon a time.there was a queen, and she cast a glorious curse that gave her everything she wanted... or so she thought. She despaired when she learned that revenge was not enough: she was lonely. And so she searched the land for little boy to be her prince. And then, she found him! And though they lived happily, it was not ever after. " Image Credit: ABC Studios

​"There was still an evil out there lurking. The Queen was worried for her prince's safety, and while she knew she could vanquish any threat to the boy, she also knew she couldn't raise him worrying. No. She needed to put her own troubles aside and put her child first. And so, the Queen procured an ancient potion of forgetting." Image Credits: ABC Studios

"It's all right. If the Queen drinks the potion, she won't forget her child. She'll only forget her worries. Her troubles. Her fears. And with those gone, she and her prince can indeed finally live happily ever after." Image Credit: ABC Studios

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#18: Snow White Takes a Bite,
​"An Apple Red as Blood"

Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin) and the Evil Queen (Lana Parrilla) have a heart-to-heart. Image Credit: ABC Studios

Once Upon A Time began with Prince Charming awakening his maiden fair with true love's kiss, and as the first season progressed, we were introduced to the backstory that got them there. Finally, near the end of the season, we bore witness to the classic moment when Snow White bit the poisoned apple.

"The choice is yours. It must be taken willingly." Regina (Parrilla) offers Snow White (Goodwin) a deal to save Charming. Image Credit: ABC Studios

This scene differed greatly from its animated counterpart. Rather than an innocent girl caught off-guard by an old hag offering promises of fulfilled wishes, we see a heroic and empowered princess making the decision to sacrifice herself to save the man she loves. And the setting was not a cottage, but a hilltop grave of the Evil Queen's lost love Daniel, (though the cottage was present in the shape of Daniel's headstone).

It was an appropriate location for Regina to seek Snow White's demise and a scene made more harrowing with the knowledge that there were two tragedies playing out at once: they stood at the place where they had met and where Daniel's death was memorialized. His passing had created Regina's vengeance and forever changed the once-loving relationship between these two women, and despite Regina's quest for retribution, it was clear that the two of them had regret for the friendship they had lost. This twist on the classic tale had a intensity that captivated the audience thanks to stellar performances from Ginnifer Goodwin and Lana Parrilla, and it takes the #18 position on our countdown.

Sweet revenge. Image Credit: ABC Studios

The Sleeping Death. Image Credit: ABC Studios