Emma Swan: 1000% done with your infuriating optimism

[retrograde]

The two years thing is interesting. The characters clearly remember what happened in the story book, but did they for real experience all the bits that happened prior to where we picked up the new story, or is it a bit like the fake memories Emma and Henry got from their life before actually moving back to New York? Not that I think they would ever really address the fact that Emma was isolated for two whole years or Snow remembering all the (presumably) horrible things she did as evil queen any more than they addressed Emma learning she'd had sex with a monkey, but I'd still like to know.

[Curio]

Where did this two years thing pop up? Does someone have a link to the original post about it? But I tend to agree with the fake memories explanation—Isaac probably gave Emma two-years worth of lonely memories of being locked in that tower, so mentally it was real for Emma, even though everyone was only in the AU physically for a day or two.

Edited May 15, 2015 by Curio

[Camera One]

For Emma's sake, I really hope it wasn't for two years and she didn't feel like she was like that for two years.  That's really cruel and had to affect her emotionally big-time even after she was freed.  I don't really think we're meant to have fall-out from their AU selves next year, though, since everyone was acting like themselves immediately afterwards. 

Edited May 15, 2015 by Camera One

[Souris]

I believe the two years thing came from one of the fans who was on set. I don't know where they got it -- perhaps they saw or heard something that was cut. But since it wasn't actually on the show, I don't think it can be considered canon unless A&E happen to confirm it on Twitter or in an interview.

[KAOS Agent]

The weird thing about it is that everyone remembered what had happened even though Henry rewrote everything back the way it had been, so seemingly the stuff that had happened in that book to that point still has to have happened in their memories. I looked at Emma suddenly having pretty expert knowledge of things that she shouldn't have experience in as her actually having had those skills written for her in the book, so those years in the tower definitely had happened to her when Henry showed up even if she retained her memories of who she really was (Regina mentioned "years" specifically, so there is a timeframe reference in canon). There was also mention of how she'd been locked there because she was claiming to be the Saviour which would fall in line with a memory retaining "crazy" Emma and also go along with her knowing that her guard who always wore a mask was Lily the Dragon.

 

I know a lot of people like to imagine that Emma & Hook had some sort of swordfighting practice, but no way would Emma have gained those skills in a six week timeframe even if they'd practiced every day for hours (which they clearly didn't do). She also knew to fire chain shot from the cannon at Lily and while Emma may know what cannons do, she wouldn't have specific knowledge of chain shot over a regular cannon ball (unless she watched that show I watched where some guy was shooting all kinds of stuff out of a cannon to see the different kinds of damage it would do). It all fits with the idea that every character in the story was given skills and a background to flesh them out as any writer would do when writing a book.

[YaddaYadda]

I know a lot of people like to imagine that Emma & Hook had some sort of swordfighting practice, but no way would Emma have gained those skills in a six week timeframe even if they'd practiced every day for hours (which they clearly didn't do). She also knew to fire chain shot from the cannon at Lily and while Emma may know what cannons do, she wouldn't have specific knowledge of chain shot over a regular cannon ball

 

You ruined everything!

 

I loved how she went after Rumple and I think she was just going to kill him if anything.  That twirl she did?  She fought exactly like Hook does, so I'm guessing the writers wanted them to mirror each other.  Emma was pretty badass with the sword.  

 

The fire chain shot?  She's spent time on the JR and the only other instance they used the canon was when they fired Pan's shadow into the sail.  I guess that's sort of open to debate whether she learned that stuff from Hook or on TV.  

 

Emma was so very awesome in the finale.  Too bad there wasn't more of her.

[Dani-Ellie]

Emma was indeed awesome, and every time I think I can't love the character more or be more impressed with Jen, the next episode happens, haha.

 

One of my favorite little bits was when she was talking to Snow and Charming and trying to get them to remember their true selves. I thought it was obvious that it was killing Emma to see her parents like that and have them not remember her (and bonus heartbreak if she actually has memories of her own mother locking her up in the tower) but when Snow says, "You're right," Emma's mouth turns up in this tiny hopeful smile, which made it all the more gutwrenching when Snow revealed she was only pretending to believe her. I just thought it was such a nice little acting choice.

[Curio]

One of my favorite little bits was when she was talking to Snow and Charming and trying to get them to remember their true selves. I thought it was obvious that it was killing Emma to see her parents like that and have them not remember her (and bonus heartbreak if she actually has memories of her own mother locking her up in the tower) but when Snow says, "You're right," Emma's mouth turns up in this tiny hopeful smile, which made it all the more gutwrenching when Snow revealed she was only pretending to believe her. I just thought it was such a nice little acting choice.

 

That entire scene was a rare example of this show proving that when it's good, it's damn great. Everything starting from Emma teaching Hook about muscle memory to that moment you described (with bonus background Hook fumbling with his sword) was golden. Just about the only thing I didn't like with that scene was some of the directing decisions (why make Emma and Henry stand in the middle of the street and watch Hook's fight the entire time?), but I might take that to the production thread instead.

 

I think my favorite acting bit from Jen is a tie between when she first runs into Hook in the tower and her confession of never having told him she loves him. That single tear kills me every time!

[YaddaYadda]

why make Emma and Henry stand in the middle of the street and watch Hook's fight the entire time?

 

I think it's because she didn't wanna leave him.  She knew what the outcome was going to be and that he was basically about to lay down his life for her and Henry and then he disarmed David and she got some hope that he might be able to escape with them.  Henry for one looked a bit shocked that Hook managed to disarm David.  

 

Once she reveals that she actually loves the guy, it makes her decision to wanna stick around make more sense.  And even if she wasn't in that place yet, the world she comes from, he means a lot to her.

[Emma]

It's ridiculous how much Jen shines when they give her something to do. I don't expect everyone to love or like Emma but gosh this show is so much better with her at the focus. I really hope they handle this new chapter for her character with care next season.

[Dani-Ellie]

This could very well be my own bias, but I also feel like the show finds its footing when Emma is the focal character. I've loved watching her develop from the closed-off, lonely bailbondsperson into the strong, kickass heroine she is now. I want Emma's happily ever after more than I've ever wanted anything from a television show, and I like that they've shown the steps she's taken, either consciously or unconsciously to achieve it. She now has family, friends, and love (and, dare I hope True Love) and it's been a joy to watch her grow.

 

And I think part of the reason I feel the show is better with her at the center is because regardless of the magic and the growing acceptance of the nuttiness around her, she's still the viewpoint character. She was just a regular person who was thrust into this world that she had no idea existed but it's offered her more than she could have ever dreamed. "Happy endings aren't always what you think they'll be" indeed.

[Curio]

This could very well be my own bias, but I also feel like the show finds its footing when Emma is the focal character. I've loved watching her develop from the closed-off, lonely bailbondsperson into the strong, kickass heroine she is now.

 

I totally agree that this series is at its best when Emma is the focal point, but she also has to be the focal point and have good writing to work with. A surprising amount of 4B was actually focused on Emma and whether or not she'd turn dark, but things just weren't clicking because Emma wasn't allowed to truly be Emma Swan. Don't get me wrong, Emma is one of my all-time favorite characters, but I think Operation Mongoose was a huge step backwards for her (and a lot of other characters). She should have been one of the first people to shoot down the idea that an author should hand out happy endings. That, along with some of her out of character actions around Regina and the unfortunate implication the writers introduced with Emma's parents being responsible for Emma's heroism was upsetting. The finale was the first time I really felt like I was watching the true Emma again on screen, and I hope the writers handle the #DarkSwan Season 5 character arc with the sensitivity it deserves. I'm so not on board for watching a season of Emma pushing her loved ones away or the writers thinking it'd be fun to suddenly have her turn more Regina-esque because they finally have an excuse to write her more like a villain. Emma's character deserves better than that.

[YaddaYadda]

I think that if they decide to turn her into an outright villain a la Rumple or Regina, then they will have failed completely and miserably.

 

Maybe it's just me, but I can't reconcile the two simply because Emma has light magic and people who will never give up on her.  Not to mention that her sacrifice was to save the town and the people in it.  The Dark One would have killed and destroyed everything and everyone if she hadn't done what she did (so I just said that and I'm now thinking that the Apprentice is really dead).  

 

So I'm hoping that whatever it is they come up with that it will be more complex than Emma is evil and she kills for fun, because if anything, her light magic should help her balance out the dark magic.  I think what they should show is the struggles she has to not let the darkness take over her.

[Curio]

This is where I wish we knew more about the Dark One's dagger and what the rules are behind it. We know that it brings out the vessel's more negative qualities (e.g., Rumple's thirst for power and selfishness were extremely magnified), so which negative qualities of Emma's would it latch onto? I think Jennifer mentioned on Twitter that one of Emma's biggest flaws is her impatience, so maybe the dagger will draw upon that and her emotional walls? But again, her inherent goodness should balance some of that out.

 

Good luck to the writers with this character arc, they're going to need it.

Edited May 15, 2015 by Curio

[YaddaYadda]

This is where I wish we knew more about the Dark One's dagger and what the rules are behind it.

 

I'm assuming they'll make the story up as they go.  We know two Dark Ones, Zoso and Rumple.  We know absolutely nothing of Zoso and how long he was the dark one, but in the end, he was just tired.  Was he the same type of man as Rumple?  Rumple is everything is Emma is not and vice versa.

 

I guess we'll see what happens.  I just don't wanna get grey hairs from this.

[OnceUponAJen]

So I'm hoping that whatever it is they come up with that it will be more complex than Emma is evil and she kills for fun, because if anything, her light magic should help her balance out the dark magic. I think what they should show is the struggles she has to not let the darkness take over her.

Well, there is the Star Wars parallel with Luke Skywalker if you want to think of it that way. He was tempted by his father and his father's master to let the darkness overtake him. He had potential for both good and evil because of his strength with The Force. The dark side used anger to channel its power too. He ultimately chose the good. That may be the very formula they're going after with Emma.

[Scovies]

I think that if they decide to turn her into an outright villain a la Rumple or Regina, then they will have failed completely and miserably.

 

Maybe it's just me, but I can't reconcile the two simply because Emma has light magic and people who will never give up on her.  Not to mention that her sacrifice was to save the town and the people in it.  The Dark One would have killed and destroyed everything and everyone if she hadn't done what she did (so I just said that and I'm now thinking that the Apprentice is really dead).  

 

So I'm hoping that whatever it is they come up with that it will be more complex than Emma is evil and she kills for fun, because if anything, her light magic should help her balance out the dark magic.  I think what they should show is the struggles she has to not let the darkness take over her.

 

There's another possibility I'm almost positive will happen: at some point, someone other than her family or Hook (i.e., someone without her best interests at heart) will get possession of the dagger. Watching her try to resist commands to commit evil acts could be interesting.

Edited May 15, 2015 by Scovies

[Camera One]

This could very well be my own bias, but I also feel like the show finds its footing when Emma is the focal character. I've loved watching her develop from the closed-off, lonely bailbondsperson into the strong, kickass heroine she is now. I want Emma's happily ever after more than I've ever wanted anything from a television show, and I like that they've shown the steps she's taken, either consciously or unconsciously to achieve it. She now has family, friends, and love (and, dare I hope True Love) and it's been a joy to watch her grow.

 

And I think part of the reason I feel the show is better with her at the center is because regardless of the magic and the growing acceptance of the nuttiness around her, she's still the viewpoint character. She was just a regular person who was thrust into this world that she had no idea existed but it's offered her more than she could have ever dreamed. "Happy endings aren't always what you think they'll be" indeed.

 

Yes, I think that was the reason why for me, 4A was so strong.  They treated Emma as a real person with issues she was working through, and that was sustained through much of the arc.  She was the emotional core, and they gave her Elsa as someone she could identify with and talk to.  The only thing missing was allowing Snow and Charming to have more time with Emma.  

Edited May 16, 2015 by Camera One

[YaddaYadda]

The only thing missing was allowing Snow and Charming to have more time with Emma.

 

Yeah, but I think they're allergic to this relationship or must think that the world will implode if they have those three sit and talk about you know, stuff.  

 

Moving forward at least for the 5A arc, it's going to be Emma and Hook with Snowing as supporting characters or at least that's what I got from the final shot of Emma looking at her parents and Hook before she disappears.  But the very last shot of the season went to Hook when the dagger fell to the ground.  

 

It's funny that I think there will be more progression between Hook and Snowing in terms of a relationship as opposed to Emma and her parents.

[YaddaYadda]

Developing connections is well and nice, but the whole thing with Belle for instance was a plot point so that Belle would trust Hook and give the dagger to "him".  

 

I guess I just want more for these characters.  It's okay for Snowing to ask Emma about her experiences and her past no matter how much it hurts.  And it's okay for them to to ask Hook about his past and try and get to know him better because they know their daughter is in love with the guy.

[buildmeupbuttercup]

Emma/Jen as one of E!'s Top 9 Strongest Females on TV

 

"In at No. 9 is Jennifer Morrison's character, Emma Swan, aka the Savior, aka the coolest princess around on ABC's Once Upon a Time. She's fiercely protective of the ones she loves and will do anything and everything to keep them safe. She's super loyal. She's super skeptical. She doesn't take crap from anybody. And speaking of fierce, that's also the best way to describe her wardrobe."

 

[Camera One]

What do you think of this article about Emma as the Dark One?

http://www.bustle.com/articles/88372-once-upon-a-time-season-5-could-see-emma-swan-as-the-fiercest-dark-one-yet 

[YaddaYadda]

I sort of roll my eyes at this because they don't take into account that Emma is counting on her parents to pull the darkness from her and that she's counting on Hook as well or that her last words were to him.  

 

Honestly, they lost me at Regina becoming a hero (because I think that's pretty much been done for one thing) and I roll my eyes at them overlooking Emma's feelings for Hook who has been as much a grounding force in Emma's life as she has been in his.  The article dismisses what happened in the last hour of the show and the last 30 seconds.

 

It comes across as "I have to write something about Once, what should I put down".

 

Can I have that job, please?

[daxx]

It appears to be written by someone supporting SQ given no mention of Hook when she talked of those Emma loves.

I still don't think she will be the worst of the worst, can't do that to your protagonist.

[YaddaYadda]

I honestly doubt it's going to be as bad as some think it will be.  I think Emma will just be more vulnerable to making bad choices (if that makes sense).  She's not getting a double dose of darkness, she's getting a dose of darkness that's probably as potent as the light she has in her.  I think it will be more of a balancing act and whether or not she lets the Dark One consume her.  Emma is a fighter and a survivor at the end of the day though and that's pretty much all I need to know as a viewer and as someone who really loved the character.

[RadioGirl27]

What do you think of this article about Emma as the Dark One?

http://www.bustle.com/articles/88372-once-upon-a-time-season-5-could-see-emma-swan-as-the-fiercest-dark-one-yet

The fact that this article doesn't even mention Hook shows how biased the author is, who seems to be mostly an Evil Regal and a Swan Queen shipper.

[mjgchick]

Oh Jennifer Morrison improvised that bed scene in the finale. Bless her and Colin for tweeking these scenes to make them look even better. No wonder why her giggle and his "Ohh." sounded real.

[KingOfHearts]

From the Spoilers thread (no spoilers):

 

I really hate the "Savior" title.

I do too. It worked well in S1, but after that it had served its purpose. Yes Emma was engineered into the curse as the means to break it, but it required her to be a True Love baby. Rumple needed the strands of Snowing's hair to make the True Love potion that he would drop onto the curse's scroll. Emma's role in the curse was directly tied into that because she represented her parents' love. Going onward, Emma's specialness is only reflected by her magical powers from birth. Since the curse was broken, she's not the Savior any more.

 

Later the curse was completely undone, therefore voiding any evidence that her status was indeed still intact. Regina had to reconstruct it to cast it again. However, this time we all know it wasn't Emma that saved everyone from it. It was Regina... which makes no sense because she's not the product of True Love nor did they have a potion connected to her to place on the parchment. But I digress. Now both curses and even the AU are gone, so there's no Saviors regardless.

 

The Savior title is an excuse to keep Emma

(or now Regina)

relevant and super specialz. It just screams Mary Sue or The Prophesied Golden Child. In my opinion, it's lazy writing at this point. If you want someone to be seen as a hero to save everyone... then have them save everyone! Emma hasn't been the hero since S1! Show us she's a savior, writers. Don't just slap a label on it then proceed to use it purely as a plot device.

[KAOS Agent]

If you want someone to be seen as a hero to save everyone... then have them save everyone! Emma hasn't been the hero since S1! Show us she's a savior, writers.

 

I'm fairly certain that I saw Emma sacrifice herself for everyone in all the realms at the end of 4B. That was Saviour 101. I'm not a fan of the Saviour title, but Emma did fulfill it at the end of last season. If they decide she needs to be replaced while she's still struggling to save everyone, I will really hate it. You don't just get handed the title of Saviour. Emma gained that title because a part of her (her parents' True Love) was written into the curse to make her the salvation of all. I thought it was ridiculous that Regina was suddenly the Saviour in the AU because saving a kid from a sword fight doesn't make you a capital "S" Saviour, it makes you a good person and a hero. The same would be said of someone who pushes a child out of the way of a speeding car. I really wish they would stop with the Saviour nonsense, but if they need to keep it, it can't just be proclaimed that x person is the new Saviour and Emma is out. Especially not when Emma is actually still in the act of sacrificing herself for everyone.

Edited July 9, 2015 by KAOS Agent

[YaddaYadda]

I think my problem with the whole Savior thing is that they use it as a way to not let Emma have an actual life, where she has taken on this burden to bring back everyone's happy endings. 

 

Season 4 starts with her avoiding Hook because she doesn't feel she can do "this" because she's waiting for other shoe to drop, then she feels bad about having something with him because she "destroyed" Regina's happy ending.  Then they show her learning to live in the moments and make the most of them and it's like finally!

 

Emma always wants to do the right thing and does the right thing, but being the Savior is an added pressure. 

 

If they made Regina the new "Savior", is Regina going to go to the same lengths to save everyone? Is she going to feel guilty enough that Hook and Emma lost their happy ending and that Snowing and Henry lost part of theirs to put the breaks on her and Robin?

 

And if Rumple becomes the new "Savior", will he have learned any lessons from what happened? Is he going to still be the same selfish man who is out for himself or will he consider the greater good?

 

I can't imagine anyone in their right minds wanting to be the Savior.

[Curio]

I'm fairly certain that I saw Emma sacrifice herself for everyone in all the realms at the end of 4B. That was Saviour 101. I'm not a fan of the Saviour title, but Emma did fulfill it at the end of last season. If they decide she needs to be replaced while she's still struggling to save everyone, I will really hate it.

 

You know what I just realized? As long as Emma is the Dark One, she's technically sacrificing herself by putting herself in that position, which means she's still "The Savior." Because Emma sacrificed her body to the Dark One's powers, as long as those powers are inside her, she's still making that sacrifice. Just because she has to take on the title of "Dark One" doesn't mean she has to also give up her title of "Savior." Can't she be both? (Cue Charming's "We Are Both!" speech.)

[Dani-Ellie]

You know what I just realized? As long as Emma is the Dark One, she's technically sacrificing herself by putting herself in that position, which means she's still "The Savior."

 

This.

 

And in re: this discussion, I've always interpreted "Savior" as something bigger than "Breaker of the Dark Curse." Because even before the Curse was broken, we saw her returning happy endings. She got Ashley/Cinderella out of her deal with Gold, allowing her to keep her baby. She reunited Ava/Gretel and Nicholas/Hansel with their father. She fought against Regina's attempts to set Mary Margaret up for murder.

 

Emma is the catalyst for change, which is not always an active role. Sometimes she's the one exacting the change (as with the above examples), sometimes she's the inspiration for the change (as with Hook's redemption arc and Elsa figuring out what made her control her powers). It's been said before in the behind-the-scenes specials that the color of Emma's Bug is not an accident. It's bright yellow, meant to signify the fact that she's bringing color to the dull world of Storybrooke. She is the color, the light, in these people's lives. And with this latest sacrifice of hers, she ensured that the light she's already brought wasn't snuffed out by the darkness.

[KingOfHearts]

The Savior title makes it out to be that Emma is the only person who can save anyone, like she's the only one capable of bringing back people's happy endings. Snow and Charming use it as an excuse to not save their own butts once in a while. Emma claimed she had to give Regina her happy ending, but surprise! Regina could do it herself. Up until the 4B finale, Emma has not been that critical to resolving the latest catastrophe. Even though Storybrookers swear up and down Emma the Savior, they almost always end up finding some other way.

Psh, they could call Regina "The Savior" and the characters would believe it. Oh wait, they did that in AU already. Watch her use her light magic to vanquish the Dark One for good.

Edited July 9, 2015 by KingOfHearts

[Dani-Ellie]

"Savior" doesn't have to mean "the one who does." Emma sets things in motion. The fact that the citizens of Storybrooke can find some other way than Emma doing it for them is empowering in and of itself. And they can do that because Emma first weakened the Dark Curse and then broke it. Without Emma, they'd all still be stuck in their Groundhog Day existence. As the Savior, she provides them the means to better their lives. It doesn't necessarily mean that she has to constantly be the one in the line of fire. It doesn't mean that she personally has to go to every house in Storybrooke and hand a happy ending to the occupant. I actually like the fact that show has taken the tack that happy endings can't just be handed to people and they have to be fought for. Emma constantly running around and being a one-woman happy-ending machine undermines that notion.

 

Emma's role in the story for me is basically a catalyst. Sometimes she needs to act, sometime she needs to inspire the action. Sometimes she needs to take charge and lead, sometimes she needs to let someone else take charge. Sometimes she needs to finish the fight, sometimes she just needs to start it. She doesn't have to be the one "winning" every time. It's a fluid thing that to me is so much bigger than that.

Edited July 9, 2015 by Dani-Ellie

[kingshearte]

She's like a hockey player with a really high plus/minus rating. She's not necessarily the one scoring all the goals, but lots of goals tend to get scored when she's around.

[mjgchick]

Poor Jennifer has to keep telling everyone who would listen that Emma did not sacrificed EVERYTHING for one person. I blame that on Adam and Eddy because it's not just the fans running with this. The media ask the same question thinking she's going to say "Why yes I sacrificed my happiness for one particular person." It probably frustrates her that people are belittling Emma's sacrifice for the sake of ships. lol

[Camera One]

According to an interview clip, Jennifer Morrison knew early on in Season 4, that she was going to go full dark, and she just didn't know how; and she also found out early on that her parents would betray her.  I don't think knowing that ahead of time would have helped all that much in this case.

[Mari]

Poor, Jen. If that final scene had been written better, she wouldn't have to explain what that scene was actually about. On the bright side, I do love listening to Jen talk about her character and the show. She's so eloquent.

 

 

Poor Jennifer has to keep telling everyone who would listen that Emma did not sacrificed EVERYTHING for one person. I blame that on Adam and Eddy because it's not just the fans running with this. The media ask the same question thinking she's going to say "Why yes I sacrificed my happiness for one particular person." It probably frustrates her that people are belittling Emma's sacrifice for the sake of ships. lol

The thing is, I think the scene was what they intended.  I think A & E did want the sacrifice emphasis to be "Emma's doing this for Regina."  Not in a romantic way, but in an effort to contrast with the beginning of the season--when they seemed to think Emma ruined Regina's life.  It was them showing that someone, finally, is making  Regina's happiness a priority, and since Emma has repeatedly made Regina unhappy, and has repeatedly been Regina's contrast and foil, they found it satisfying to bookend the story that way.

 

Morrison, being a little less enamored with Regina, and needing to make emotional sense of her character made sure she got the entire story, and looked beyond the obvious.  Was Emma's sacrifice a gift meant only for Regina, and a way of her choosing Regina instead of Hook?  No, I think Morrison's explanation was very well spoken and spot-on.  But I think the scene was purposely written to focus mostly on one aspect.

[Rumsy4]

I agree with Mari. That scene was explicitly written as to highlight Emma sacrificing herself for the sake of Regina's happiness. Why throw in that line otherwise? It was Emma delivering on her promise to bring Regina her Happy Ending. Sure--Emma's sacrifice saved everyone in Storybrooke, but there's no denying what the writers wanted to emphasize in that scene. 

[Dianthus]

Rumsy4, on 11 Jul 2015 - 8:28 PM, said:

I agree with Mari. That scene was explicitly written as to highlight Emma sacrificing herself for the sake of Regina's happiness. Why throw in that line otherwise? It was Emma delivering on her promise to bring Regina her Happy Ending. Sure--Emma's sacrifice saved everyone in Storybrooke, but there's no denying what the writers wanted to emphasize in that scene. 

And how effed up is that?

[Rumsy4]

The writers highlighted Emma saying "I love you" to Hook. That doesn't mean Emma doesn't love her parents or Henry. But in that moment, it was important to Emma to let him know how she felt about him.

 

In the same way, Emma sacrificed herself to protect everyone, but making sure Regina got to keep her Happy Ending was apparently an important factor in the decision. It's effed up, I know. But A&E clearly think Regina deserves all that and more. That's one messed up "friendship" for sure.

[mjgchick]

The writers and Jennifer need to communicate more then. lol

[Dani-Ellie]

When I first saw the episode, I read the scene like Jen did (to the point that I had no idea people would read it differently until I came here and Tumblr) so I don't think it's outside the realm of possibility that the intention was for Emma to be saving everyone. If it wasn't, they wouldn't have had that explanation of how Merlin stopped the darkness from consuming the realms by tying it to one person and they wouldn't have had Emma calling back to it during the scene in the street.

 

I do think it was a way of putting the cap on the Regina and Emma bit set out in the first episode but I have no idea why everyone's so focused on Regina. Just because she was the one in immediate danger? They all were in immediate danger because the second the darkness destroyed Regina, it was just going to go on to the next person. And yes, Emma did tell Regina she'd come too far to have her happy ending destroyed now, bringing that storyline through to completion, but you know what? That scene brought two other storylines to completion, too. Emma turns to her parents and tells them to get the darkness out of her as heroes this time, thereby fully accepting what they did for her as a baby. She turns to Hook and tells him she loves him, bringing their little "be patient" bit from the season premiere full circle.

[RadioGirl27]

That scene was exactly what A&E wanted, something incredibly ambiguous that each subset of fans would read differently: the SQ shippers would see it as Emma choosing Regina, the CS shippers would only see the ILY, Emma stans would she her being a hero, the four fans of Emma and Regina's friendship would see it as the culmination of it, the Evil Regals would see it as a compensation for everything Emma has supposedly done against Regina, the Charming Family fans would see it as a great moment between Emma and her parents, etc.

Jennifer's intetpretation is hers, but probably not the one from A&E. Which one is their interpretation? Who knows? Probably the one about the culmination of Emma and Regina friendship.

Edited July 12, 2015 by RadioGirl27

[YaddaYadda]

When I first saw the episode, I read the scene like Jen did (to the point that I had no idea people would read it differently until I came here and Tumblr) so I don't think it's outside the realm of possibility that the intention was for Emma to be saving everyone. If it wasn't, they wouldn't have had that explanation of how Merlin stopped the darkness from consuming the realms by tying it to one person and they wouldn't have had Emma calling back to it during the scene in the street.

 

I saw it exactly as you did and how Jennifer has been explaining it.  Regardless though, there will always be a divide over this.  

[Rumsy4]

According to Eddy, Emma sacrificed herself to save Regina's happiness because of the pledge she made the latter at the beginning of the season. So, there you have it. The writers' interpretation of the scene. The relevant part is at the 3 minute mark. 

Edited July 14, 2015 by Rumsy4

[PixiePaws1]

...and the sound you hear after that is JMo hitting her head repeatedly against a brick wall 'cos that just undid her hard work to get out from under the shit pile thrown at her for trying to clarify she did it for everyone....

[Faemonic]

According to Eddy, Emma sacrificed herself to save Regina's happiness because of the pledge she made the latter at the beginning of the season. So, there you have it. The writers' interpretation of the scene. The relevant part is at the 3 minute mark. 

 

 

...and the sound you hear after that is JMo hitting her head repeatedly against a brick wall 'cos that just undid her hard work to get out from under the shit pile thrown at her for trying to clarify she did it for everyone....

 

Yikes, doesn't anybody working on this show ever talk to each other???

[YaddaYadda]

I actually stopped watching the panel after Eddy said that.  Jen is Don Quixote and it really sucks for her, and I hate how they oversimplified the whole thing.  The Apprentice was clearly wrong when he said that the darkness would consume everything in its path.  What I find unfortunate is that A&E are the ones who wrote that episode.  

[MaiLuna]

I think both can be true. Jen said she did it to save everyone in front of A&E and they didn't correct her. She did it for everyone, including Regina since she told her so because she'd worked too hard for her happy ending (I mean, she only attempted murder this season). She was the target at the moment so yes, she did it to save Regina from dying right there and then but the darkness would've kept going so it was also for the whole town. If she had arrived too late for Regina or if it'd been anyone else, she'd have done it too. The sacrifice was for Regina but not only for her. She was just the first the darkness targeted.

Edited July 14, 2015 by MaiLuna