KingOfHearts

So, I was rewatching A Curious Thing. In retrospect, the Snowing-casting-the-Curse twist was really, really dumb. The writers did some serious backflips to make it possible. They invented a whole "heart-splitting" device and "walls between the worlds" rule just to make it work. Zelena casting the curse, although predictable, would have aided the plot in ways the story desperately needed. If Zelena had cast the curse... * She would have been a more intimidating character. It would have put her close to the Evil Queen Zone. * She was jealous of Regina casting the curse. Wouldn't she want to cast it herself to get even? * The "caster keeps their memory" rule would have remained untouched. * It would have given Zelena a reason why she hadn't succeeded in the Enchanted Forest. Perhaps she could have casted the dark curse because she needed Emma for her spell. Then Walsh could have pushed her to go to Storybrooke using reverse psychology, and Zelena could have been the one to give Hook the memory potion. * She could have given fake memories to Snow about knowing her as a midwife in the Enchanted Forest. Snow's gullibility would have had a logical reason. * Zelena would have needed the thing she loved most. She could have loved Glinda as a sister and friend and used her instead of just banishing her, or even her father could have sufficed. It wouldn't take much to write something like that in. The writers tend to write in their big reveals and twists, then plan later. They'll bend over backwards and create plot holes just to get their twists in there.

O is for Oz!

K is for Kansas!

The decision is going to have to eventually come down to moving to the Enchanted Forest or not. They can probably organize some escape plan now if a Pan's Curse scenario were to happen again. At least get a couple of memory potions brewed from Rumple or Blue. She can't really bring Henry back to New York with her now that he has his memories back. Sure she could legally, but I doubt Henry would want to be taken away from his hometown, mother and grandparents to live a normal life in NY. She'd kick the hornet's nest with Regina, and we all know that wouldn't end well. If she ever leaves Storybrooke, it's just her and the pirate. She really can't go without a very sticky situation. This. The fact Emma didn't even entertain that thought showed she was just trying to run away from it completely.

H is for Hangman's Island, the island Ariel found Eric on.

D is for Dark Hollow.

I fear having a baby will assassinate Snow's character even further. Ruby better step up her babysitter skills! I agree, but they've been disinterested even before 3B. Even when Snow and Emma talked in Snow's bedroom, Snow really didn't bring anything to the table. Her only remark was that Emma only liked New York because she forgot about her family. That's not enough. Snow, in her lifetime, has gone through a lot of the same stuff Emma has. She too has been on the run and homeless, with no family to comfort her. (Until she met the dwarves and Red) Surely she has some nuggets of wisdom there. Charming has tried to warm up to Emma, but Snow has continually scared Emma off before Charming could get any closer to her. Hook: "She's a bit demanding, isn't she? I was talking about the midwife." One of my favorite lines of the season. Pretty much describes Snow in the Snow/Charming/Emma dynamic. Bandit Snow could offer Emma so much if she were still around.

Emma didn't put her parents into her thought process, either. I agree they haven't given her any good reasons to stay, but it really never came up. It frustrates me how much Prince Neal is just a replacement for her in their lives. Snow had to literally burn at the stake to get Emma's attention. Neither Emma or her parents had each other in their game plans. It seems like Emma has to almost die now to get her parents' attention in return.

I totally agree. I used to watch her on Reba, where she played the same kind of ditzy character. It was funny when I found her playing a similar character on Once.

We're led to believe her reason for thinking NY was her home was because she missed it. She's still under the mentality that Neal gave her. She thought it was her home. It only changed in the finale because she missed her parents instead. It was her perception. That was the reason the writers gave us. They waited out until the finale to say, "This is the real reason Emma wanted to go back to New York!"

The sad part is she decided to stay without even putting Henry into the equation. It was never about Henry for her. Her reasons (though few) for wanting to leave were actually pretty selfish. She basically just said she'd rather play video games and sit on the couch. She never mentioned anything about Henry's safety or his well-being, nor anything regarding her family. She just kept saying "life in New York was good" over and over. Then in the finale, we're told it's because she missed New York and that "home is the place you miss". Really? I totally get wanting to stay in New York. I do. But the writing execution just felt so repetitious and simplistic.

Good deeds are signs of a good heart, but good deeds don't make a good heart. You can save kittens from trees all day, but unless you change your heart, it doesn't mean anything. Regina still blames Snow and the others for ruining her life. She might do good works and claim she's changed, but until she deals with the core problem, it's all fluff. Doing good isn't about making yourself look like a hero - it's about loving others. Regina might help others in the process, but at the end of the day, it's still about her. It's what's in the heart that truly matters. Her heart is still dark.

Well, there was a time where Regina would have been happy to let Cora kill Snow. There was also a time where Regina would have been happy to kill Snow's baby. (She tried to kill Emma in the pilot) It's not much progress, but just a little. It would have left me with a good feeling if Snow/Regina made up for real that night, but sadly we're stuck with Saint Regina saving the day once again.

They were a couple of small times that Regina made a selfless act. She did save Snow from Cora's ghost, and she also protected Snow's apartment. Those were both before she found out Zelena was trying to oust her from history. Not saying she's a saint, but there was a little progress in 3B. After #EndRegina came up, it was all self-serving from there.

It wouldn't score many points with Henry if she did that. If Regina wants him back, then she's going to have to be friendly with Emma, Snow and Charming. If Regina considers Henry her happy ending, then that's what she'll have to do.

The Charmings forgave Regina a long time ago, mostly Snow. In order for someone to repent, they need to realize what they did was wrong. Regina hasn't made that step yet. Apologizing to Snow symbolizes she regrets the awful things she's done to her. I'm a fan of Regina too. I really want her redeemed badly.

I agree it's the writing, not the actress. Jennifer is one of my favorite actors on the show. She could only act what's written. Her character was written to overplay New York, so that's what she had to do. It's unfortunate that's all she got to do through most of 3B in favor of Zelena, Outlaw Queen and Baby Snowflake. Captain Swan seems to be sailing now though, so that should make up for it. Another interesting thing to note: Emma opened up to Hook in the finale after she dealt with her emotional issues. After she didn't have something to run away from, she put her walls down for him.

Neal was also very closed off and wooden at times. That may seem logical, but it's also not very entertaining. Emma's problems became old as 3B went on. Her character remaining static until the finale wasn't very fulfilling for a TV show. It was the way Emma handled that looked immature and rude. (Making snarks about Hook being one-handed, just walking away, etc.) It just got annoying. Being closed-off is one thing, but how one acts on it is a choice.

W is for Wendy Darling.

Q is for Queen of Hearts!

N is for Neal.

I is for Igor, Frankenstein's assistant.

G is for Greg Mendell!

I saw Regina's kickoff point for her redemption arc in 2x02, when she apologized to Henry and agreed to change. She took several steps back all through S2, but 2x02 was the first episode I saw where she wanted to change. Back on Snow vs Regina, it would have made more sense if Snow took offensive hits toward Regina too. But they couldn't do that because of Snow's iconic innocence, unfortunately. If they wanted Regina to be misunderstood, there were many other ways that could have been accomplished. The fact Regina has absolutely no regret makes her look like a total psychopath. It's apparent the writers don't want to her to be, but they've set it up that way because of their inconsistent writing. Regina's true redemption starts at mending her rivalry with Snow. The writers have an agenda to keep her from true redemption. I'm fully convinced.

Emma avoided Hook in 3B because he gave her the truth. He called her on her denials. Emma didn't want to hear the truth that running to New York was not the solution to the problem. Hook, unlike most characters on the show, talks straight to her. He doesn't sugarcoat things. She may not like it, but she also knows she needs that. I wish Outlaw Queen was more like Captain Swan in that respect. Unlike other men Emma has dated, Hook doesn't have an ulterior motive for wanting to be her boyfriend. Hook isn't even there for Emma's family - he's there for her and her alone. That's true love to me. Emma is very hard to read unless you've related to her situation before. Even with her walls down, she's very straight-faced. Her signals are difficult to pick up on. With that said, it got annoying in the latter half of 3B. The way Emma said her "I <3 NY" lines just came off as bitchy.