So this episode's backstory focuses on Cinderalla (which is one of the very few times we see her the entire series). I love how they changed up her story, and basically here the start to integrate Rumplestiltskin and his deal making into all these classic stories to change them up. What they did here was made him the one to send her to the ball, but for a price. This is where one of the series signature lines comes in "All magic, comes with a price"
Cinderalla makes it to the ball and Snow and Charming are guests at her wedding. There is a scene during the wedding where Snow and Cinderella talk during a quick dance. This is what I love about the show, putting two characters, in this case princesses together, having dialogue together that maybe would not have.
It was here at the ball where Rumple shows up and reveals his 'price' for the deal they had made prior, where she said she would give him anything. He reveals he wants her first born child. Cinderella, Snow, and Charming manage to entrap Rumple using a quill with squid ink, and this is how he gets to his prison. But because Cinderella had already made the deal with Rumple, and he didn't get the baby because she tricked him, there was still a price to pay, he husband Prince Thomas went missing. This deal carried over even after the curse was cast into our world, that she wouldn't see Thomas again until his deal was met.
This is where Emma meets Ashley Boyd (Cinderella), who is trying to run away with her baby while pregnant because she made a deal with Mr. Gold that he would have her baby. Why he wants the baby? I don't know, probably to take the thing people care about the most, this will also become a little more clear in a later episode when we see Rumple's backstory. This is where Emma tells Ashley she doesn't have to give up the baby and can do what she want. This is also where my favorite quote of the entire series is spoken.
Quote of the Episode: Emma Swan: "People are going to tell you who you are your whole life. You just got 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."
Emma finds Ashley and sets everything straight with Mr. Gold. What he does, is let Ashley keep the baby, if Emma makes a deal with him. The deal was that she owes her a favor, and he holds onto this deal well into the second season.
Meanwhile, Regina finds Emma in Granny's diner and tells her she knows Emma has been spending time with Henry, and that she isn't worried because she did some digging and realized Emma doesn't stay too long in one place, and she says "in order for something to grow it needs roots, and you don't have any". So slowly the rivalry between Emma and Regina continues to grow. The episode finishes with Regina leaving a 'city council meeting' from a hotel bedroom with Sheriff Graham, shortly after he appoints Emma as town deputy.
What I think they should have done, was either made Cinderella basically be Abigail/Kathryn, or have switched actresses if the one who played Abigail/Kathryn was more available if that was the issue. Or even have had Cinderella be Kathryn, but they probably needed to use Midas and his daughter to give more to the Charming story. But regardless, would have liked to have see them do much more with Cinderella as she is such an iconic/classic character.
