‘Once Upon a Time’ season 2, episode 16 preview: The rise of Rose McGowan

We’ve already shown you that at the start of Sunday night’s new “Once Upon a Time” season 2 episode “The Miller’s Daughter,” we meet a younger version of Cora (played by Rose McGowan) in just about as helpless of a situation as possible: she is the daughter of a lowly miller, and is treated by dirt by all of the land … including a young version of Snow White’s mother Queen Ava.

So how in the world does she become the powerful “Queen of Hearts” that we end up seeing in the series’ present? This is what the entire episode will revolve around, and it really should now come as much of a surprise given the title the Rumpelstiltskin is involved.

However, what we didn’t necessarily see coming here was his bizarre sort of romantic history with the character. Is Rumple really trying to do Belle dirty? Not exactly. Remember, this was after his wife left him, and long before he ever even met Emilie de Ravin’s character in the timeline of the fairytale world. Of course, this does not mean that this was an ethical hookup between the two by any means, as Cora was actually preparing for a wedding at the time of the tryst.

While Cora seems to be pleased with whatever help Rumple gives her in ascending from miller’s daughter into the world of nobility, she realizes that there are still obstacles (as in many of them) in the way of her opportunity to one day rule. It is going to take quite a bit of bloodshed in order for her to get just what she wants … but the good news here is that she seems to be certainly up to the task.

What intrigues you the most about this video? If you want to watch some more footage from this episode, you can do so over here.

Photo: ABC