Emma Swan: 1000% done with your infuriating optimism

[Rumsy4]

Most of these examples are still utilitarian in some fashion (except for that time when Hook was browsing something in the library before he went for Belle). I wouldn't exactly call it reading for pleasure. Of course, Henry's storybook is a big part of the story, but it's so entwined with the mythology of the show, that I just forgot about it. We haven't seen him read other books, though. Even though Snow did take him to the library when he had memory loss, it felt as though he was being polite than really interested. 

 

Yeah--Emma would definitely fare better with hands-on-learning, and Hook could certainly help translate some of the concepts and perhaps the runes for Emma. But will Regina be willing to share her reading material, or to teach Emma now? After all, Regina can do Light Magic, and her resentment over Emma bringing Marian back might keep her from helping train her in magic. Same with Rumple--unless he has stake in the matter, he won't help. Elsa has ice-powers, but there is no indication that she can do any other kind of magic. Emma may have to learn to hone her abilities by herself.

[KingOfHearts]

 

Same with Rumple--unless he has stake in the matter, he won't help.

Although, I'd love to see him train Emma. Those two have so much chemistry that the show hasn't tapped into for a very long time. The only reason I'd see him doing that though is if another baddie had a light magic weakness like Zelena, or he needed a second magic wielder to go do something and Regina wasn't around.

[ShadowFacts]

Yeah, a quick bit of guidance from Rumple would be okay, but I wouldn't like to see him as her mentor.  His mentorships haven't gone well.  And he is still the Dark One. 

[KingOfHearts]

 

Yeah, a quick bit of guidance from Rumple would be okay, but I wouldn't like to see him as her mentor.  His mentorships haven't gone well.  And he is still the Dark One.

The difference with Emma though is she uses light magic, not dark magic. He did train her a little bit before in 2x16. Full-on mentor isn't a good idea, but he'd be a far better magic teacher than Regina. He knows how to work with different kinds of people and how to take advantage of their potential.

 

If Rumple got up and said, "I'm going to train Emma for the heck of it!", that would be out of character. He doesn't care enough to do that. I'd just like to see them in a situation where he'd need to show her something, just for kicks. Frankly, I'd like to see more scenes with them together whether they involve magic or not. I miss their scenes in S1, and the addition of magic sort of tilted their playing field. They're both street smart hardball players with similar pasts, so it's fun to see watch them snark or work together.

 

They're the two characters on the show who don't take crap from anybody, or used to anyway.

Edited September 23, 2014 by KingOfHearts

[stealinghome]

imo, a Rumpel/Emma mentorship had real potential like a season and a half ago, but the show missed the boat on it and now I'm not quite sure it would work as well. On the flip side, however, Regina tutoring Emma doesn't make a lick of sense, either, as clearly Regina's methods don't work well for Emma. And training Emma would at least give Rumpel something to, as they've clearly been struggling to figure out what to do with him since, like, mid-season 2. So....

[Mari]

I get the impression that Emma is not used to the discipline of reading or book learning. Her bringing up allowed for no fixed home, and she was living in the streets by the time she was 16. She probably got her high school diploma after she got out of jail. We don't know if she went to college.

 

In the real world, these are often done while you're in jail or prison.  I know that in A & E reality, that may not be the case. 

 

Since she was underage when arrested, it's possible she was held in a youth detention facility until her eighteenth birthday (That's common in my state, depending on the charges.  Something like theft is often not considered serious enough to warrant moving them to prison instead of the youth facility, even if they are charged as an adult.)

 

It's really pushed in the youth centers--and the actual state penitentiary, actually--for them to get their GED diploma.  Often other classes and vocational opportunities are available, as well.  The goal is to give them as many skills as possible, so that when they reenter the regular world, they have a shot.

 

Most likely, our unbookish Emma did quite a bit of schooling during the prison year--simply because she's smart enough to see the point, and it would help relieve boredom.

 

Add me to the list of people that have trouble seeing her truly interested in Runes, though.

[Jean]

It's all a plot point and I don't think A&E has thought about it much until they figured it could fit Elsa/Frozen.

 

If I were to fanwank, I would say that Emma lives on her street smarts and instinct. She's a runaway teen and a bounty hunter so that's all she needed. Magic isn't instinctual for her. She's still has her foot 90% in the real world. Even now her go to move is to reach for a gun, not magic.

 

 

imo, a Rumpel/Emma mentorship had real potential like a season and a half ago, but the show missed the boat on it

Yeah back in Miller's Daughter I thought for sure they were going there, thus creating more tension for Rumple and Neal but we all know what happened. A&E even said at one point that Rumple was going to get fired up about Emma's magic or something like that. But that's another lie.

 

 

I miss their scenes in S1, and the addition of magic sort of tilted their playing field. They're both street smart hardball players with similar pasts, so it's fun to see watch them snark or work together.

This. But I guess we didn't get any more scenes because people weren't crying for Imp Swan or RumEmma or whatever the hell their potential "ship" name is. The focus on romantic relationships is so insane on this show sometimes and so badly written and the least interesting part. It's so strange too because for the most part Rumpel and Emma are the natural counterparts to each other. They've also always split the focus by Rumple/Emma and Snow/Woegina but while Snow and Woegina naturally share the story together (even though it's lopsided) they split up Rumple and Emma.

Edited September 23, 2014 by Jean

[unbrokensavior]

I'm so happy Emma's going to have a friend that isn't one of her parents, son, romantic interest, or the person that's been trying to kill her for 30 years.  While I love seeing all of those interactions, I think she needs a friend.  A real friend.

[YaddaYadda]

Too bad the friend will be gone before the end of 4A

 

As a spoiler tag just in case.

 

David and Emma have had more interaction last season and I'm glad the trend is continuing this season.  And I saw something else from Emma last night.  She actually allowed herself to need those around her.  She wasn't dismissive and all I'm fine, I'll wrap myself up myself and I'll warm myself up.  She allowed herself a moment of vulnerability.  She let those around her take care of her.

Edited October 6, 2014 by YaddaYadda

[Mari]

There was some discussion in the White Out thread about having trouble believing that Emma would bond so quickly with Elsa.

 

It was rushed, but I actually think it makes enough sense to handwave the speediness of it.  It's often easier to bond with someone you see yourself in, and Haig did a good job seeming afraid of herself and the world around her, while being frantic about what was happening to the one person she'd really let herself care about.

 

That's enough like Emma--and Emma has her perceptive moments, and would notice--for Emma to click with her.  I'm not saying that I think she's going to be trading braiding and nail polish tips with Elsa while they dish about Hook, but I did think it was a plausible beginning friendship. 

[Rumsy4]

Emma really shone this episode. She was able to connect with Elsa, which reminded me of S1 Emma. S1 Emma was able to connect with, and help out a lot of people! She also let herself be vulnerable with her daddy (aww) and her pirate. Emma with her walls up all the time is not interesting or edifying or attractive. Someone nailed it when they said that her conversation with Henry about him and Regina also fit very well with the situation between Emma and Hook. Of course, Hook is a grown ass man, unlike Henry, but Emma's mindset is made clear. She wants to deal with this mysterious stuff that's been bothering her before she focuses on Hook. Of course, nearly dying temporarily put that resolve on hold, and she let herself be vulnerable with him, just as she had in the EF time-travel adventure.

 

I'm also enjoying this budding friendship between Emma and Elsa, and how both of them were concerned for each other. How I wish Elsa would stay in Storybrooke forever!!  

[Dani-Ellie]

It's often easier to bond with someone you see yourself in, and Haig did a good job seeming afraid of herself and the world around her, while being frantic about what was happening to the one person she'd really let herself care about.

 

This. I also think it's sometimes easier to open up to someone who's a relative stranger, someone who has zero vested interest in the situation one way or the other. I can't imagine Emma admitting that she has no idea what the hell being the savior even means to anyone else. But because Elsa's not Snow or Charming or Hook or someone who could sit there and list off what they think being the savior means, I think she felt it was okay to get that out there with her. I got a sense of floundering there that I don't think Emma would feel comfortable admitting around her family.

[Mari]

But because Elsa's not Snow or Charming or Hook or someone who could sit there and list off what they think being the savior means, I think she felt it was okay to get that out there with her. I got a sense of floundering there that I don't think Emma would feel comfortable admitting around her family.

Yes.  Her family--the one thing Emma's always really, really wanted--has expectations.  She could disappoint them, and that's scary.  And it's not just expectations about relationships, and interaction, and intimacy of various kinds.  They also expect her to figure out the magic thing.  What if she fails them?  Could they decide they don't want her any more?

 

But, not only could she see everything she has in common with Elsa, while at the same time knowing Elsa has no investment in Emma, the one thing that Elsa expected of Emma was one thing Emma's really good at, and confident in--finding people.

[Serena]

I loved Emma mentioning to Elsa that she was the Savior because it meant (at least I hope it meant - who knows with these writers) that the writers haven't dropped that plotline. With the horribleness of "Regina as the curse's Savior" thing we got in 3B, I was afraid they were gonna be like "the savior is whoever breaks the curse, so Emma is not that special after all. Anyone can be the Savior! You get to be the Savior! And YOU get to be the Savior! Everyone gets their turn!"

[unbrokensavior]

the one thing that Elsa expected of Emma was one thing Emma's really good at, and confident in--finding people.

 

Excellent point!  I really hope (though I'm not sure I should get my hopes up) that this season, the writers show how competent Emma really is when she's in her element: real world, finding people.  These last few seasons have been an absolute disaster in that respect and it felt like she was becoming more of a plot device than Henry (unpopular opinion time: I actually really like him).  Even her relationships with David and Hook seem to be getting fleshed out, and we know we're getting an Emma-centric episode in 4X05 I believe.  So far, it's a really promising start.

[Rumsy4]

The writers were making some heavy-handed parallels between Emma and Regina this episode. Charming tells Emma that apparently both of them put up Walls, and Henry is like that too. (And no--Henry is not like that, Charms.) Emma's conversation with Henry about Regina was heavy with subtext wrt Emma and Hook. The writers used Henry/Walsh during NYCC to make some pretty obvious allusions to Hook as well.

 

Emma: She said for right now while she's dealing with things.

Henry: She doesn't want to see me.

Emma: She's in a lot of pain over Robin Hood and everything else that's happened over the last well forever. Things have been tough on her and you. She's trying to fix them so that you two can be together because she cares about you.

Henry: So why'd she tell me to stay away?

Emma: Because she thinks she's making things better.

Henry: She's not.

 

So, this is what was going on in Emma's head. The Triangle of Doom seems to have brought some issues to the surface, and Emma wants to deal with that before she begins exploring a potential relationship with Hook. She does care about him, but can't focus on her dating life with all this going on in her head. But in the process, Emma doesn't realize that she comes across as not too keen on being with Hook in the romantic sense. That pretense fell away when her life was in danger, and she was reassuring to Hook, as much as letting herself be vulnerable with him. Hook and Emma's interactions also begin by Emma telling Hook that she is not a damsel in distress, and ends with her really being in distress, but also letting other people rescue her and take care of her, without thinking it a sign of weakness.

[Emma]

I could watch an entire episode of Emma using magic like that.

Still chuckling over her Dairy Queen line. I love sassy Emma.

And I love vulnerable Emma. I'll never tire of watching her scenes with Hook and Charming.

Love the Snow Queen development too.

Basically I just love Emma period.

[unbrokensavior]

I think this episode was my favorite one of the season because it focused so much on Emma.  I really am loving the Elsa/Emma thing.  The one thing that did surprise me was how easily Emma used her magic to do what she wanted it to do.  She seemed able to control it despite less than a day ago (show time) saying she couldn't control it.  I'm hoping it's because David and Killian were in danger, and she instinctively made it work, and not because the plot needed her to be able to use her magic.  Although, I'm not sure how much I could complain even if that was the case, given that I was just glad to see her do some badass saving.

 

It was nice (and sad) to see her tell David that she was having trouble believing in herself.  It was even nicer to know that David picked up on it before she even said anything (oh how I miss the days where that was something Mary Margaret did).  What's sadder is that Emma has probably felt insecure her entire life.  People are always going to make comments regularly in an attempt to put others down, but most of us have some sort of support system or other past experiences as ways to brush those comments off; Emma's had nothing her entire life to draw upon to say, "hey, I'm pretty awesome".  And the one thing she's ever been proud of (lie detecting), the first man she ever loved said he never believed in it (which is probably the equivalent of saying he never believed in her).  In the 3B finale, did Emma hear Henry say he wished he never brought her to Storybrooke?  Because if she did, I'm honestly amazed she hasn't packed up and just left in the middle of the night without telling anybody.  Snowing doesn't seem to really want her around now that they have Nealflake (however, that seems better this season thus far), Grumpy and Co. get mad at her whenever she messes something up, and if she did hear what Henry said, what reason would she have to stay (besides Hook, because she just said she wanted to keep him at a distance because everyone she'd ever been with ended up dead, so in her mind, she'd be keeping him safe.  I'm a CS shipper btw)?

 

If I was expected to be some perfect Savior and never allowed to mess up, and I'd never really had anyone who I was willing to let in believe me, then I'd probably get out of there.  

 

Sorry for the perhaps slightly digressive rant; I get really passionate about Emma. 

[YaddaYadda]

besides Hook, because she just said she wanted to keep him at a distance because everyone she'd ever been with ended up dead, so in her mind, she'd be keeping him safe.

 

Emma has been sending Hook on errands as far back as 3B.  I was mildly shocked that he was no where near the confrontation between Zelena and Regina while super pregnant Mary Margaret and Tink and the rest of the townfolk were there.  She sent him away with Henry.  And there were other instances which I can't really remember, so I'm actually glad they built on that.

 

And jeez, her magic is really powerful.  I was sort of shocked to see that happen yesterday to that level.  I was spoiled, so I knew she would be using magic, but I did not expect it to be that awesome. 

 

In Rumple's words, magic is not an intellectual endeavor, it's emotional.

[Jean]

 

And jeez, her magic is really powerful.  I was sort of shocked to see that happen yesterday to that level.  I was spoiled, so I knew she would be using magic, but I did not expect it to be that awesome.

I wonder if the SQ was also holding back too. She neutralized Elsa's magic so I'm betting she could do the same with Emma. Or the shock at seeing Emma again shook her for a few seconds.

 

Maybe this is why Emma's magic goes all wonky in that filming spoiler where she accidentally hurts Charming. The SQ might actually be her trigger.

[ShadowFacts]

 

If I was expected to be some perfect Savior and never allowed to mess up, and I'd never really had anyone who I was willing to let in believe me, then I'd probably get out of there.

 

To me, that's one reason why I wish they'd drop the savior tag.  It's too much to live up to all the time, she's special with her magic and being the true love incarnate written into the curse, etc. etc. but she doesn't walk on water and that's a pretty heavy mantle. 

[KingOfHearts]

 

To me, that's one reason why I wish they'd drop the savior tag.

Plus, she's not the Savior any more. She broke the curse, and she served her purpose. Now she's just a True Love baby. I feel like Emma uses the savior card just to take responsibility for everything. It's her excuse to be the hero all the time, when in reality it's not her job but her attitude. She feels it's necessary to save everyone, even when its none of her business. (Regina's happy ending, anyone?)

[Camera One]

Yeah, the Savior thing is so ambiguous now, because initially, it was mostly referring to her being the Breaker of the FIRST Curse.  Now, it has been transformed to Emma is the Savior Overall Whenever We Have A Crisis Situation.  And why is that?  Because she has that all-powerful (aka completely-erratic) White Magic that apparently Regina can conjure up when it's the right day of the week?  

 

Though generally, I have no problem with Emma wanting to be a hero all the time, or taking on all this responsibility even though she doesn't need to.  I think it makes her character more interesting.  It might even be a coping mechanism.  Even if she didn't make that "revelation" about home in the Season 3 finale, there's no way she could even get back to New York at this point, LOL.

Edited October 13, 2014 by Camera One

[FabulousTater]

I feel like Emma uses the savior card just to take responsibility for everything. It's her excuse to be the hero all the time, when in reality it's not her job but her attitude.

 

Except it's something that others are constantly reminding Emma of. In season 3 "Lost Girl", David and Snow were trying so hard to get her to say "I'm The Savior" aloud, they are so proud that she's The Savior. In "New York City Serenade" Hook comes back to get her to save her family because she's "The Savior", and indeed her parents wanted her back because of that -- because she could save them. In "Rocky Road", David tells her, "of course everyone knows who you are. You're 'The Savior'". I don't think Emma can let herself let go of the burden of being "The Savior" and the weight of it all because others keep reminding her of it. They won't let her forget it.

Edited October 13, 2014 by FabulousTater

[Camera One]

Instead of Savior, they should relabel her as The-Only-Person-Who-Isn't-Evil-Who-Can-Do-Useful-Magic-Since-Turning-Wooden-Puppets-Into-Boys-Don't-Count.

Edited October 13, 2014 by Camera One

[Jean]

She wasn't that way about the savior thing until the black hole needed to suck the life out of another character. Now all of sudden A&E is all it's Emma's job to give everyone a happy ending including the soul sucker. Lame.

 

Before she was more Buffy lite, as in I hate this damn job.

[FabulousTater]

IA, Jean. I don't have a problem with Emma seeing herself as The Savior particularly since she's more like Buffy in that "Man, being a Vampire Slayer SUCKS!" mode. Cause frankly, it does kinda suck.

 

It's the recent plot development of "Emma has to give everyone their happy ending, especially Woegina, otherwise she's a Life Ruiner and The Destroyer of Happiness!!!" that the writers have cooked up this season that I find really irritating.

 

ETA: 

Though generally, I have no problem with Emma wanting to be a hero all the time, or taking on all this responsibility even though she doesn't need to.

Generally, I define "heroes" as people who go out of their way to help others even when it would be in their own best interests to stay away/look away. That's what I think makes Emma heroic - she can't walk away from someone who needs her help even if she doesn't know them (Marian in the jail cell, and Ashley from S1, for example). But of course, I'm not using the shows definition of "hero" which means you first screw everyone over, then change your mind halfway through your plotting and instead save them from the disaster you set into motion, and that makes you a hero.

Edited October 13, 2014 by FabulousTater

[YaddaYadda]

This whole happy ending business bugs me to no end.

 

What's a happy ending exactly?  Doesn't that change for people because you know people are what they are and they can have something they thought they wanted and then they realize it's not for them.

 

Should Emma be going door to door asking everyone what they want and to let her know if they change their mind?

 

The message is so wrong because everyone should try and be in control of their lives and their freakin' destinies by the same token.  Is anyone waiting around for Emma to bring them their happy ending?

 

That whole think is complete horse ish.

[Dani-Ellie]

This is getting into some headcanon of mine here (that I can back up with in-show examples as to at least where my thought process came from) but I think Emma being unable to let go to the savior thing and everyone harping on the savior thing is part and parcel of the same vicious cycle. Emma is a little girl who grew up used but never wanted. We know that she believes all the foster families who took her in only ever did so for the benefits. We also know from her remark to Mary Margaret in 1x08 that she didn't quite know where she would fit into Henry's life if he didn't need her to be the big hero.

 

Now, I think she has a firmly established place in Henry's life so I don't think that's so much a concern for her anymore. However, if we broaden that notion ... I can definitely see her questioning what place she has in any of these people's lives if she stops being the savior. I think that in a way, she's still thinking like that little girl who was only ever needed for the benefits. When the people around her keep pushing savior, savior, savior on her, it only reinforces this notion and makes her wonder ... "what happens when I stop being useful? Will they still want me if I'm not the savior anymore?"

 

So she takes it and runs with it because to her, love is conditional. Love is based on being the savior. But doing so also creates this burden that she's placing on her own shoulders as well, where she can't take a breath for herself until the savior has accomplished her purpose and saved everyone.

Edited October 13, 2014 by Dani-Ellie

[ShadowFacts]

Those are interesting thoughts on Emma feeling that sense of conditional love, Dani-Ellie.  Maybe the savior role is also something that differentiates her from brother Snowflake. 

[stealinghome]

The message is so wrong because everyone should try and be in control of their lives and their freakin' destinies by the same token.  Is anyone waiting around for Emma to bring them their happy ending?

I'm probably so nuts, but I really hope this is what the whole "find the author of the book" thing is building towards--for both Regina and Emma. Regina because, you know, she needs to get that she is responsible for her happiness (and also take responsibility for her previous evil/unhappiness). Emma because she realizes that she can't make everyone else happy, so should just focus on her own damn happiness for a while.

[Serena]

I'm probably so nuts, but I really hope this is what the whole "find the author of the book" thing is building towards--for both Regina and Emma. Regina because, you know, she needs to get that she is responsible for her happiness (and also take responsibility for her previous evil/unhappiness). Emma because she realizes that she can't make everyone else happy, so should just focus on her own damn happiness for a while.

I'm hopeful for the Regina thing, but I really think that "Emma bringing back the happy endings" has been a theme since S1, so I doubt they'd want to end/resolve it with "actually everyone is responsible for theirs". A middle ground between the two, and what IMO S1 was kind of going for, was "Emma inspires people to fight for their happy ending".

[ParadoxLost]

I'm hopeful for the Regina thing, but I really think that "Emma bringing back the happy endings" has been a theme since S1, so I doubt they'd want to end/resolve it with "actually everyone is responsible for theirs". A middle ground between the two, and what IMO S1 was kind of going for, was "Emma inspires people to fight for their happy ending".

 

Emma brings back the possibility of a happy ending because they were trapped in a Groundhog Day authored by someone who wanted them miserable before that.  That's done.  At this point Regina just needs to learn that being good doesn't guarantee that life won't have trials and heartache.  That Charmng and Snow are the ultimate storybook heroes and didn't get to raise their daughter should be enough proof of that; but Regina is dense and needs it spelled out to her like she a five year old not raised by Cora so we are getting this story.

Edited October 13, 2014 by ParadoxLost

[KAOS Agent]

 

When the people around her keep pushing savior, savior, savior on her, it only reinforces this notion and makes her wonder ... "what happens when I stop being useful? Will they still want me if I'm not the savior anymore?"

 

it would be super helpful if her own damn parents would look at her as a person and not as the Saviour. David has done a decent job of trying to keep her confidence up, but if you listen to him he still refers to her as the Saviour while doing this. Meanwhile, Emma feels like she can't save a cat from a tree and calls herself the anti-saviour. It would be so nice if someone could tell her that it's not her job to save everyone and in fact, it's not even possible. Point out to her that she's only human instead of telling her that things will turn around for the Saviour. Oh and if her parents would tell her that they love her no matter what.

Edited October 13, 2014 by KAOS Agent

[unbrokensavior]

I don't think Emma can let herself let go of the burden of being "The Savior" and the weight of it all because others keep reminding her of it. They won't let her forget it.

 

I also wonder if Emma can't let go of being "the Savior" because everyone around her is so proud of her for it, and I'm willing to bet not many people have ever been proud of her.

[Camera One]

Emma also seems to me like she has very high standards for herself, so the drive and the pressure is also from within.  She took her bailbondswoman thing very seriously and she was extremely competent as far as we could tell, from her own drive and initiative.

Edited October 13, 2014 by Camera One

[retrograde]

YES. It bugs me every time Emma says "I have to do this because I'm the Savior!" or someone says "You can do this because you're the Savior!" No! The Savior thing was entirely specific to the curse and it is done now. They should say "You can do this because you're a magical Sheriff backed up by a couple of dudes with swords!"

[KAOS Agent]

I think Emma is an obsessive perfectionist and that doesn't help her when she's thrust into this role as Saviour. Since she doesn't know what that means, she just constantly feels like a failure whenever things don't work out or she screws up. Even as a bounty hunter she mentioned to Henry how focused she gets and we know she would have ditched the proposal date if she hadn't caught the guy, even though it was clearly meant to be a special night out for her and Walsh. I think Emma's personality is such that she just can't let go of things until she's fixed it or solved the problem or whatever it is that she's working on.

Edited October 13, 2014 by KAOS Agent

[RadioGirl27]

I think Emma is clinging to the Savior status because she is scared that the only reason she is now loved is because of that. So she wants to keep that status to keep that love.

[stealinghome]

I think the alternative to "Savior" is "Princess," and Emma probably isn't fully ready to embrace that particular mantle yet.

[KingOfHearts]

I wish her title was Sheriff Swan. Her and her deputies, Charming and Hook, bring justice to a town filled with crazy witches and mythical creatures. I just don't like the she has to be the savior to be loved. It's way too much weight on her shoulders, plus she kind of gripes about it. Of course I also want to see her chill and connect with her family, and that's totally not happening.

Since Regina broke a curse and pulled white magic out of a hat, "savior" doesn't really mean anything any more. It's just a word people use to take advantage of Emma.

Edited October 14, 2014 by KingOfHearts

[unbrokensavior]

I know Emma's said she needs to get her own place, but I wonder if she really will, or if it's just talk?  Surely she must have some sort of emotional attachment to Mary Margaret's apartment, seeing as it was the only place in Storybrooke (I'd also be willing to say it's the only place, not counting New York because she was cursed) she called home.

[Leia1979]

Henry found a nice apartment for rent with views of the water last season. That's only a week ago, so it's probably still available. I can't imagine there's a booming real estate market in Storybrooke. I'm sure it's convenient for the writers to have five people living in one small apartment, but Emma really needs her own place.

[YaddaYadda]

Emma needs her own place.  Between her parents, her brother, Henry the ungrateful brat who splits his time between there and Regina's and every stray (I do love Elsa though) the Charmings take in...show, let's build Emma a set, please, so that she can just have some privacy.  You know waiting up for Emma was totally Mary Margaret's idea!

[stealinghome]

I'll go against the tide here and say that I actually don't want Emma to get her own place, at least not yet. Hook can go get himself a job and an apartment/house if they need somewhere to bang, but Emma+the Charmings has been probably the highlight (in Storybrooke) of the season for me so far. Moving Emma out means the writers won't be forced to write for them as a family, which means writing for them as a family won't happen, which means I will be super sadface and 50% less into the Storybrooke stuff.

 

I do, however, think that Emma will get her own place in the mid-season finale. If episode 11, at least, looks to be setup for 4B (the Frozen stuff will probably be over by that point), it makes sense that Emma will have a milestone that kind of mirrors 3x11.

Edited October 20, 2014 by stealinghome

[YaddaYadda]

Hook most definitely need to get a job and move out of Granny's.  He can shoot darts at his new place.  I wish someone would ask A&E if the guy is filthy rich that he doesn't really need to work.

 

Emma/David are coming along nicely as far as a relationship goes.  It's Snow/Emma they need to work on next.  I sort of wonder if they'll be involving MM in some capacity in the DQ storyline especially if she mothered Emma at some point in her life, going by the way she said Emma's name last week.  But apparently, she's trying to harm/kill her now.

[Dani-Ellie]

Hook can go get himself a job and an apartment/house if they need somewhere to bang, but Emma+the Charmings has been probably the highlight (in Storybrooke) of the season for me so far. Moving Emma out means the writers won't be forced to write for them as a family, which means writing for them as a family won't happen, which means I will be super sadface and 50% less into the Storybrooke stuff.

 

I very much agree.

 

I mean, look, I get that Emma's going to eventually want some privacy and yeah, it's probably quite crowded in that apartment with Emma, Charming, Snow, Henry, and a newborn (and apparently Elsa, for the time being) but they all just came back together as a family. Can we please see them having some family time before they split them up again? Please? Because I'm loving what we've been getting so far.

Edited October 20, 2014 by Dani-Ellie

[regularlyleaded]

I feel like this is one of those moments when the audience member in me is at odds with the "writer" in me. Not that I am any sort of writer, but looking at Emma from a character development perspective it absolutely makes sense that she wants her own place and the writers need to get her one ASAP.

 

Yes, Emma has decided to make Storybrooke her home, to open herself to letting her parents be her parents, but that doesn't negate the fact that she's a 29/30 year old, extremely independent adult, and (IMO) a part of her character growth is having confidence in the fact that moving out of her parents' place doesn't mean they aren't family anymore. I think that's where Emma finds herself right now; she's comfortable enough with the stability of her relationship with her parents that she wants her own place, and frankly, needs the privacy. (It also makes logistical sense for Emma to get her own place because 3 adults, a newborn, plus a tween in that tiny loft is seriously ridiculous.)

 

That said, the three seasons long-in-the-tooth audience member part of me realizes that with these writers, the only way that we'll ever see Emma working on her relationship with her parents is if they're living together in a ridiculously small living space. The writers dedicate so little screen time to the relationship between Emma and her parents (which I think is a vital relationship not only for Emma, Snow, and Charming as characters, but (IMO) a fundamental part of the show) that I'm willfully overlooking the ridiculousness of their living situation. The absurdity of it takes me out of their scenes (that take place at the loft) when I think about it, but because their scenes together having family moments are something that I always look forward to, I force myself to ignore it.

 

I think there are ways for the writers to explore and develop Emma's relationship with Snow and with Charming without them living together, but these writers just aren't willing to put the effort into it. As a result, if we (as audience) want to see them behaving as "family" and dealing with their strange parent-child relationship, we're kinda stuck with this nonsensical living situation.

 

My inner Charming Family Fan totally gets the need to keep Emma at the loft, but the (possibly dominant) part of me that sees that Emma needs to grow emotionally and get her own place (and for the sake of logistical realism!) is just begging and pleading the writers to get Emma her own swanky place. The 'rents can drop by unexpectedly if hijinks are called for.

Edited October 21, 2014 by regularlyleaded

[unbrokensavior]

I totally agree.  Part of me wants her to stay in the apartment (even though I know it realistically doesn't make sense) just so that we get these tiny Charming Family moments.  

But honestly, it's not like we're getting many of those moments anyway.  Has Emma even held Snowflake yet?  Has Henry interacted with Charming the way he did in 2A?  IMO, either the writers think that sticking the Charmings in the same apartment counts as giving us 'moments' and developing their relationship, or they just totally don't care that it's OOC for Emma to not be at least looking for her own place.  The sad thing is, it's equally as likely that the writers simply don't care as them simply taking shortcuts.

[Emma]

I've wanted Emma to get her own place for a long time now. I'd pretty much given up on it until this past episode when she mentioned it 3 times. Surely it can't be that expensive of a set to build right? Just to give us a glimpse here and there. Most of the filming would still be at the loft or granny's or any of the other exisiting locations.