Regina, the Evil Queen: The Only Happy Ending Will Be Hers

[Mari]

When Robin said TLK didn't work because he was in love with someone else. You could see Regina processing the information and when she finally realized that he was talking about her, that smile she offers him was very sweet. Excellent moment.

Personally, there were some problems with the scene that took it from "sweet" to "horrible" for me.

 

Robin might be over Marian, but he hasn't told Marian yet.  Technically, he's cheating on his wife with Regina, and Regina is emotionally fragile enough that is not a good idea.  Plus, it was a nasty, nasty place to have that conversation.

 

They had that conversation over his wife's frozen, still body.  It's like he cares so little for Marian that he's okay with cheating on her--in front of her--while she's too sick to move, with the person who originally traumatized and killed her.  That he cares so little for the feelings of someone he was desperately in love with only a short time ago and lost because of Regina is not a good sign about the type of person he is, or the type of romantic partner he would be for Regina.

 

It was good of Regina to do everything she could to help Marian, and she did not initiate that conversation with Robin.  That's on him.  But, it they're actually going to have a good, positive relationship, it probably shouldn't be restarted over his wife's body.  Literally.

[KingOfHearts]

Regina has done considerably well with the whole Triangle of Doom. Of course she's off on her psycho sociopathic quest for the author of the book, but at least she's not trying to break Marian and Robin up. I'm glad she's actually being helpful, and believe it or not, I'm relieved that it was never about Robin for her in the first place. I expected to see OQ drama this season, but the only person who's causing trouble in that area is Robin. 

Edited October 15, 2014 by KingOfHearts

[FavFable]

LP and RC are definitely the best actors on the show. Even when I hate their character's actions, I am always impressed by their scenes.  

 

I was annoyed with Robin. I understand why he went to Regina, and I had to laugh that no one bothered to get Emma.  :)  I know Robin wanted to help Marian but I thought it was asking a lot for Regina to get involved. That said, I loved their final scene. LP is so amazing with little or no dialogue. When Robin said TLK didn't work because he was in love with someone else. You could see Regina processing the information and when she finally realized that he was talking about her, that smile she offers him was very sweet. Excellent moment.

I can see your point about Robin. This last episode made me wonder if it will be Marian that realizes Robin has moved on. I know Robin is determined to remain married to her, but what kind of life will they have if Robin is always wishing he was with someone else? I don't think Robin has realized that he is being unfair to Marian by not being honest with his feelings.

I loved the scene prior to the confession as well. When Regina asks Robin, do you trust me? And his answer is immediate, YES. I love that the writers are slowly building trust between them. The development of this couple is so much more enjoyable then some of the other rushed pairings.

What did you think of Regina's scenes with her son?

Edited October 15, 2014 by FavFable

[Mari]

I loved the scene prior to the confession as well. When Regina asks Robin, do you trust me? And his answer is immediate, YES. I love that the writers are slowly building trust between them. The development of this couple is so much more enjoyable then some of the other rushed pairings.

That actually was a good question for Regina--considering her past, and what happened with Marian, it's important that she left the decision up to someone who Marian trusted. 

 

But, I guess I don't see the slow development?  In about 6 episodes total, they went from "I can't stand you." to "Who cares you killed thousands of people and my wife.  I love you and trust you."  There's been almost no development of their relationship--they had a couple of dates, apparently made tacos, and skipped straight to introducing each other to their children and an insta-relationship.

 

I can't recall a long-term couple on the show that moved that quickly, with so little actual dealing with potential problems in their relationship.  Possibly Snow and Charming, but most of that was little snippets over an entire season, when we know how the story would end, since it was Snow White and Prince Charming.

[kili]

That actually was a good question for Regina--considering her past, and what happened with Marian, it's important that she left the decision up to someone who Marian trusted.

 

Maybe she should have asked one of the Merry Men, then, because Robin Hood wear's Rose-coloured Regina glasses. In the Season 1 opener, he went to talk to Regina to tell her "The woman I know is the furthest thing from a monster." and even Regina replies "Maybe you don't know me as well as you think." He assures her that she has left her past in her past as he has. Two seconds after he leaves the room, she marches off to free an innocent man from the cell she's kept him in for the last two years and imprisons him against his will in a mirror so that he can help to figure out how to kill Marion in the past.

 

Robin Hood may trust Regina, but Regina knows that he trusts her more than he should.

 

IDK where the show is going with Robin. They keep showing his absolute trust in Regina being a hero while they also show her doing some villainous things. Are they trying to make him look like a doofus who will  have a harsh reality check in the future or are they trying to say his absolute faith in her will drag her to the good side? If only Snow and Henry had believed in her more, Regina would have turned good 12 to 30 years ago? Does Belle not believe in Rumple enough and that is why he's still his usual scheming self? How much more can Belle believe in Rumple? She already poo-poos his victims and waxes on about how he has a good heart to anybody who will listen.

 

Pan should have taken Robin because he is the Truest Believer.

[Rumsy4]

Frankly, in the fireside scene, Regina looked the better person of the two. She did her best to help Marian, and did not initiate any love declarations from her end. She deserves someone better than Robin. I think Robin is being a jerk to both Marian and to Regina. He's neither honorable nor noble. And really, too bland for Regina.

[Mari]

Maybe she should have asked one of the Merry Men, then, because Robin Hood wear's Rose-coloured Regina glasses. In the Season 1 opener, he went to talk to Regina to tell her "The woman I know is the furthest thing from a monster." and even Regina replies "Maybe you don't know me as well as you think." He assures her that she has left her past in her past as he has. Two seconds after he leaves the room, she marches off to free an innocent man from the cell she's kept him in for the last two years and imprisons him against his will in a mirror so that he can help to figure out how to kill Marion in the past.

Robin Hood may trust Regina, but Regina knows that he trusts her more than he should.

IDK where the show is going with Robin. They keep showing his absolute trust in Regina being a hero while they also show her doing some villainous things.

I'd sort of forgotten briefly about the Sidney scenes and had taken Regina's behavior and trust comments at face value. Did you think shewas being manipulative?

[kili]

Did you think she was being manipulative?

 

No. I think she is being pretty upfront with Robin (short of telling him what scheming she did with Sidney). She is quite clear in telling him that she is not as reformed as he likes to think. I do believe she is trying to help Marian - not necessarily for Marian's sake but for Robin's. Much like she decided to remove the barrier from the wishing well not because she wanted to save Emma for Emma's sake, but for Henry's. As long as Robin is standing there earnestly believing in her, she won't be able to hurt Marian. When he's not in the vicinity, I'm less sure.

 

If she can find a way to get the author to write her a happy ending with Robin, she won't really care what that means for Marian. She may grow to care enough that she at least makes sure Marian has some happy ending of her own (On a more personal note, Marian, Robin ran off with on old girlfriend. Go stay at your mother's for a few days and get over it. Decide you're better off. Yeah, and you're better off 'cause he never appreciated you anyway. In fact, you kicked him out, and now that he's gone, you ought to buy some new clothes, maybe hire a decorator or something).

Edited October 15, 2014 by kili

[KingOfHearts]

I don't know if she's saving Marian for Robin. I thought she was just doing it to look reformed. Saving her of all people makes Regina look like she's over it and being heroic.

The reason it appears this way to me is because she never said she misses Robin or loves him. It's all about her happy ending, and he was just one way to get it. Now she has her book thing and Henry, so he's not necessary to her any more.

[Crimson Belle]

With Operation Mongoose, and given the symbolism of that name, it would appear she may be trying to reverse Operation Cobra.  And Operation Cobra was about reversing the original curse.  So is she trying to reverse the breaking of her curse so that she can get her happy ending, and thus, as a consequence, make everyone miserable again, stop Emma from connecting with Henry, etc.?

[KingOfHearts]

Replying from Robin Hood thread.

 

Outlaw Queen started as a means to give Regina even more somethings for nothing out of a golden goose, AKA the writers' love affair with the Evil Queen. But what becomes bizarre now is that Robin's love for her doesn't benefit her at all. In fact, he's hurting her by being wishy-washy. When he admits his feelings for her, and can do nothing about them, he's only making it worse for her emotions. Unlike Woegina tales in the past, Regina isn't attempting to make Robin feel sorry for her. He's doing that on his own. The writing backing his actions is really doing nothing but hurting Regina and Marian, and turning Robin Hood into a hypocrite.

 

The irony about giving Regina free things like Robin is that it always bites her in the end. When the writers think they benefit her, they're really doing the opposite.

Edited October 15, 2014 by KingOfHearts

[Mathius]

It is unbelievable to me how diminished both Regina, Rumple and Belle have become this season so they can focus on such pointless characters.

Regina and Rumple have had MORE than enough in past seasons, and Belle never had anything to "diminish" from. I say this season is for the better when it focuses on Emma, the actual lead.

I do have to say I am glad Regina is still Mayor.

Said before the third episode confirmed that nope, Snow is Mayor now. About bloody time! Edited October 15, 2014 by Mathius

[Rockybeach]

I can see your point about Robin. This last episode made me wonder if it will be Marian that realizes Robin has moved on. I know Robin is determined to remain married to her, but what kind of life will they have if Robin is always wishing he was with someone else? I don't think Robin has realized that he is being unfair to Marian by not being honest with his feelings.

I loved the scene prior to the confession as well. When Regina asks Robin, do you trust me? And his answer is immediate, YES. I love that the writers are slowly building trust between them. The development of this couple is so much more enjoyable then some of the other rushed pairings.

What did you think of Regina's scenes with her son?

Do you think Marian will recover from being a popsicle? If she does recover I would love for one of Robin's friends to point out he isn't helping Marian by staying when he doesn't love her. She would eventually figure it out and be miserable. His pride is going to hurt both of them.

My favorite scene was not with Henry or Robin, it was when Regina returned to her office and saw that horrible picture Snow had put up. She was right, that was a hideous picture. :)

I liked the fact that Regina and Henry are working together on finding out who wrote the book. It ties back to the origin of the show and it rebuilds their connection as a family. It is so much more interesting then watching characters wander around the forest acting stupid.

I love that unlike other characters, Regina isn't defined by a man.

Edited October 16, 2014 by Rockybeach

[KAOS Agent]

It just occurred to me that the book ended with Emma being sent through the wardrobe and Regina casting the curse in which she claimed that the only happy ending would be hers. So this quest to find the author of the book and get them to write her happy ending is silly because by her own declaration, hers was the only one written and she already got it. Her declaration is even the title of this thread.

[FavFable]

 

I love that unlike other characters, Regina isn't defined by a man.

Fantastic point!! It has really been highlighted this season. She loved and wanted Robin, but she is actually dealing with the loss and moving on. Love the development of her character. I think she is probably the only character right now that stands on her own.

[ImogenLeFay]

 

I think she is probably the only character right now that stands on her own.

I don't think that's true. Yes, at the moment she isn't involved with anyone, but is it standing on her own when the second she loses her boyfriend, her first reaction is trying to kill his wife? Besides, I wouldn't say most of the characters who are involved in a romantic plot are defined by their man. Emma is still to me more defined by her issues, despite the developments with Hook. Snow is just as much defined by Charming as Charming is by her. Anna is engaged but so far not one part of her story ha been about Elsa, and Elsa herself is completely uninvolved. There is still Belle, who granted, isn't much more than a prop to Rumpel, and I guess Marian is mostly defined through this season's triangle of doom. But compared to most of the other characters I don't see Regina as a glowing example of standing on her own.

[FurryFury]

I love that unlike other characters, Regina isn't defined by a man.

 

Belle's the only female character defined by a man.

Edited October 16, 2014 by FurryFury

[Crimson Belle]

Regina was just as defined by a man for 40 years or so. Everything she did, all her evil deeds were according to her because she lost Daniel. She had the weakest character, and by that, I mean strength of character of any one we've seen, never really taking agency over her own actions, always blaming someone else for her own actions.

[FurryFury]

Regina was just as defined by a man for 40 years or so. Everything she did, all her evil deeds were according to her because she lost Daniel.

 

No, that's not what "being defined by a man" means. Daniel as a character held very little significance for the show. He was simply a plot device to let her become the Evil Queen. It could have easily been, for example, her sister's death, or any other relatives/loved ones. Regina's original role in the story was the villain/foil, her most important relationships were with Snow, Emma and Henry. Regina has lots of faults, but being a prop to some dude is not one of them.

Edited October 16, 2014 by FurryFury

[Serena]

Regina wasn't defined by Daniel, but all her actions were motivated by him. He was her whole reason for everything she did, until she S1 finale, when that became Henry. After that, Henry and Robin. Regina seriously needs some females to care about at this point, because it seems she can only form semi-healthy relationships with male characters. All the people she's ever cared about are men: Daniel, Henry, Robin, Roland (?). I'm not including her father because she killed him.

Edited October 16, 2014 by Serena

[Mari]

Regina wasn't defined by Daniel, but all her actions were motivated by him. He was her whole reason for everything she did, until she S1 finale, when that became Henry.

And she takes their loss or rejection to ridiculous lengths.  She loses Daniel, she destroys the Enchanted Forest, she (nearly) loses Henry, and tries to destroy Storybrooke, she loses Robin (who she's gotten along with for 4 whole days) and locks herself in her house for who knows how long, not even communicating with her child.

Edited October 16, 2014 by Mari

[FurryFury]

All the people she's ever cared about are men: Daniel, Henry, Robin, Roland (?).

 

She did care about Cora, though. She even cared about Snow at some point.

 

And she takes their loss or rejection to ridiculous lengths.

 

She takes loss and rejection to ridiculous lengths, period.

[Serena]

She did care about Cora, though. She even cared about Snow at some point.

I was just including the people she cared about that she never tried to kill. That's why I also didn't include her father. Sure, she may have cared about those people to some degree, but not to the point where she didn't change her mind/decide to murder them when it was convenient. See also: her "friend" Kathryn.

Edited October 16, 2014 by Serena

[FurryFury]

Not sure if she ever cared about Kathryn, TBH. It was pretty ambiguous.

[Crimson Belle]

 

No, that's not what "being defined by a man" means.

 

 

It does to me.  When every, or nearly every action the character takes is purportedly because of her relationship with a man, in this case, first what happened to Daniel, then being separated from Henry and now being dumped by Robin,  I think Regina is  just as defined by menn as if she let him directly control her.

[FurryFury]

Let's agree to disagree then. I may dislike Regina on several grounds, but her being an appendage to a male is not one of them. Only Belle could be called that.

[KingOfHearts]

Personally, I find that men are defined by Regina instead of the other way around. She's doesn't morph herself to accommodate her men, but the men are most certainly reshaped to fit her. Graham had to be heartless and completely subject to her, Henry had to totally change his views from S1 to become her cheerleader in S3, and we all know how messed up Robin Hood became when OQ happened. Regina is the Rumple in all these situations, not Belle. She's in full control.

If she really needed men, she wouldn't have killed Leopold or Graham, and she'd be fighting for Robin right now. What she really wants is her happy ending for herself.

Edited October 16, 2014 by KingOfHearts

[ShadowFacts]

I think Regina stands alone, as a very disturbed individual.  After her saving little Snow from the runaway horse, I don't think she has had even one quasi-healthy relationship with anybody, male or female.  I think she is mainly defined as a person who is so enveloped in her own pain/reactivity/desires that she cannot form attachments.  We already see her detaching in a sense from Robin, in favor of finding that elusive happiness she thinks she deserves and isn't getting.  That trumps true relationship formation.  Same with Henry, as Mari and Crimson Belle just said.

[FavFable]

Do you think Marian will recover from being a popsicle? If she does recover I would love for one of Robin's friends to point out he isn't helping Marian by staying when he doesn't love her. She would eventually figure it out and be miserable. His pride is going to hurt both of them.

Honestly I don't think the writers care about Marian at all. It isn't her story they want to tell. The story is Regina's. They have reduced Marian to a simplistic soap opera drama queen. She is there to cause angst for Robin and Regina, that's it. I think she will eventually recover and either get killed by someone else or exit the way Cinderella did.

 

Right now the progress of Regina's story is excellent, even with the 30 seconds per episode she is allotted. Robin made his choice, and Regina is showing her development as a character by accepting his decision and trying to move on. I love it. It is such a nice change from the characters they reset every episode so they can please their man.

Edited October 17, 2014 by FavFable

[FavFable]

Belle's the only female character defined by a man.

I disagree. Belle is not the only female defined by a man.

[ImogenLeFay]

 

I disagree. Belle is not the only female defined by a man.

 

So who of the other characters is? I guess you could make an argument for one-shot characters like Cinderella (although I think that was more about her child), or Milah, but who of the major female characters apart from Belle is defined by a man?

[angelwoody]

I disagree. Belle is not the only female defined by a man.

Belle is the only female character I see on the show (talking the main characters, not one-offs) whose existence is almost completely and solely related to a male character.  Almost every scene she is in is either with Rumple or involves Rumple.  She did have a couple of flashbacks early on regarding her adventures, but currently she exists to advance Rumple's story and nothing more.  

 

If anything, on Once I think you could make a good argument that the men are more likely to be defined by the women in their lives.  Charming is almost always a supporting player to Snow's story (especially in the flashbacks), Since almost the beginning of his tenure, Hook has been all about Emma - not the other way around.  The men Regina has been involved with (her father, Sidney, Leopold, Daniel, Graham, Robin) have all been there to advance her journey, almost exclusively.  Even with minor characters like Ariel and Aurora, the men they were partnered with were not nearly as dynamic as the women and the story was always about the women.

 

I think in a sea of things Once often gets wrong, it is one thing is does well.  The women are, for the most part (sorry Belle!), three dimensional characters in their own right. 

[Mari]

The men Regina has been involved with (her father, Sidney, Leopold, Daniel, Graham, Robin) have all been there to advance her journey, almost exclusively.  

Which is interesting, because while Regina the character is not defined by men--she definitely exists in her own story and makes her own decisions--it seems at times like Regina defines herself by her relationship to the men in her life. 

 

As mentioned earlier, any time a male relationship in her life wobbles, she wallows and/or melts down.  Any affection she's expressed that has seemed remotely sincere, has been to a male character.  She hardly considered she might actually be a villain until Hook made that comments about villains and happy endings--and she's not particularly interested or fond of Hook.  (Not that she internalized and kept that, but she did actually pause and think about it.)

 

She seems to define

Edited October 17, 2014 by Mari

[KingOfHearts]

 

it seems at times like Regina defines herself by her relationship to the men in her life.

She does, but it's not exclusive. She also defined herself against Cora, Snow's unhappiness, and now the book. Men are just one way to her "happy ending". They're just accessories to her.

 

 

Any affection she's expressed that has seemed remotely sincere, has been to a male character.

This is definitely up to everyone's own interpretation, but I found her affection toward Snow and Cora sincere at times. I wouldn't find her affection toward Sidney, Robin or Graham anywhere near sincere, but it was somewhat with Henry Sr. and Henry.

Edited October 17, 2014 by KingOfHearts

[Mari]

She does, but it's not exclusive. She also defined herself against Cora, Snow's unhappiness, and now the book. Men are just one way to her "happy ending". 

 

This is definitely up to everyone's own interpretation, but I found her affection toward Snow and Cora sincere at times. I wouldn't find her affection toward Sidney, Robin or Graham anywhere near sincere, but it was somewhat with Henry Sr. and Henry.

True about the Cora and Snow thing.  I didn't give that enough importance.  She does think of herself (often) as their enemy.  I think preDaniel's death Regina was sincerely affectionate.  I tend to think of postDaniel's death Regina of being more manipulative, but am willing to be convinced if you disagree.

 

I have to disagree about the men being only one way to her happy ending, at least after she cast the original curse.  (Although even in the first curse, she made sure she had Graham.)  She seems to continually define her happy ending as male related.  At first Daniel, then Henry, then Henry again, then Robin.  It's not always romantic or sexual, but it is always male related.  I'm not sure if that's intentional, or not--do we know if she requested a boy when she adopted Henry?  (NOTE:  I am not suggesting a skeevy sexual thing between Regina and Henry.  Just pointing out that that relationship is with a male, too.)

 

Your comment about Robin is interesting--you have doubts about whether she sincerely cares about Robin?

[Shanna Marie]

Your comment about Robin is interesting--you have doubts about whether she sincerely cares about Robin?

I certainly do. She had zero interest in him and even found him annoying until she saw the tattoo, and then she decided to go for it since he was apparently her destined soulmate. She may have developed some feelings for him in the few days since she saw the tattoo, but I don't think I could find any evidence onscreen without doing some serious stretching and delving into subtext for anything in particular that she likes about him other than the tattoo. That may be a writing fail where they didn't think they needed to develop anything because of the pixie dust, but it does make it hard for me to believe in her feelings for him when they're given no foundation. It comes across to me as her being more in love with the idea of getting her destined happy ending than she ever really was with the person she was getting that happy ending with. She reminds me of the women who really, really want to have a wedding, so they latch onto the first guy who comes along who's open to the idea, then they have the big, huge blowout wedding that's far more about the wedding than about the relationship and divorce a year or so later after she realizes that she wanted a wedding, not a marriage, and she doesn't even like the guy. Regina wants a storybook happy ending and believes because of the pixie dust that Robin is her guaranteed way to get that.

[Dani-Ellie]

She had zero interest in him and even found him annoying until she saw the tattoo, and then she decided to go for it since he was apparently her destined soulmate.

 

IA. This is where I wish it had been established that they had something going on during the missing year. That way the super-speed of the development of Outlaw Queen in Storybrooke could have at least had a basis (some unconscious part of them felt the connection they'd formed during the missing year, etc) and it would have felt less like Regina is in this just because tattoo. Maybe she could have originally given him a chance in Storybrooke because of the tattoo but then when they got their memories back, it could have been a "duh, of course!" moment for the both of them because they still would have a previously formed connection that wasn't magically foretold, you know?

[Serena]

I kind of agree. If Marian had come back but for some reason Regina still hadn't noticed the tattoo, I bet she would have been like "oh well, it was good while it lasted. I'm gonna find myself another boytoy now". Now, since he was her OMGTATTOODESTINEDSOULMATE, she thinks her life is over. Tink definitely did more harm than good there. If she hadn't known about it, she wouldn't be this convinced her her life is ruined.

[stealinghome]

She does, but it's not exclusive. She also defined herself against Cora, Snow's unhappiness, and now the book. Men are just one way to her "happy ending". They're just accessories to her.

I think this points to the broader thing with Regina's character where she's always externally focused; she never looks inward. She always defines herself by externals, even if it's only in comparison. She hasn't yet learned that really, at the end of the day, all you can control in life...is you.

[formerlyfreedom]

Just a reminder that this is the Regina topic. And let's please remember to be civil to each other. Thanks.

[HoodlumSheep]

All I'm hoping for with this storybook author hunt is that either the author tells Regina she's responsible for creating her own happy ending (by being good and such) kind of like the Dumbledore/sorting hat scene in Harry Potter, or Regina somehow realizes it on her own. Maybe after having an "it's a Wonderful Life" moment? Regina's got to work for her happy ending. It's never going to be easy.

[KingOfHearts]

 

Maybe after having an "it's a Wonderful Life" moment? Regina's got to work for her happy ending. It's never going to be easy.

Or, Regina changes the timeline with the book and gives villains their "happy endings", then everything is horrible. It probably still wouldn't change her stubborn mind, but I'd still like to see that.

Edited October 17, 2014 by KingOfHearts

[kili]

Maybe after having an "it's a Wonderful Life" moment?

 

George Bailey sacrificed his entire life to make others happy. What kind of "Wonderful Life" moment would Regina have? She threatens to jump of the Toll bridge and some troll comes to show her what life would have been like if she'd never been born. Snow and Charming living happily in their kingdom with the lovely Princess Emma and her three siblings? Graham happily loping through the forest with his wolf at his side? The villager she had killed dancing cheerfully around the May Pole? Eric and Ariel having been happily married for 30 years? King Leo and Sidney walking down the beach, old friends having a philosophical discussions? Regina spent her entire life sacrificing others for her own happiness.

 

The only conclusion that Regina could come to is that she should throw herself off the bridge. She doesn't need the "Wonderful Life" moment, she needs the Scrooge treatment. She needs three ghosts to show up and tell her how screwed up her priorities are.

[KingOfHearts]

 

The only conclusion that Regina could come to is that she should throw herself off the bridge. She doesn't need the "Wonderful Life" moment, she needs the Scrooge treatment. She needs three ghosts to show up and tell her how screwed up her priorities are.

 

I'd like to see Regina get the opposite end of her tyranny - be on the other side. I'd like her to be tortured by the Evil Queen like a peasant. I want her to think, "I can't believe I was this deluded", like Buzz Lightyear when he meets his former self in the toy store. That's what I was hoping with Zelena, but that didn't work out.

[Shanna Marie]

What kind of "Wonderful Life" moment would Regina have?

If we're staying within the realm of "see what really happens if you get what you wished" stories that It's a Wonderful Life falls into, I think Regina's wish for a world where villains get happy endings might look a lot like the Wishverse on Buffy, where Cordelia wished that Buffy had never come to town and thought that would solve all her problems, and then she found herself stuck in a vampire-infested hellhole.

 

You know, one of the issues with Regina is that they're writing her kind of like Cordelia, the former mean girl who became a reluctant ally when battling a common enemy, and then eventually became a friend, though she never lost her sass, fabulous style or complete lack of tact so that she didn't lose the things that made her character fun even as she became a nicer person. The problem with that is that Cordelia didn't arrange for Buffy's father to be murdered, didn't kick Buffy out of her own home and take it over, didn't try to arrange Buffy's murder, didn't execute anyone who helped Buffy, didn't slaughter whole classrooms for liking Buffy more than they liked her, and didn't try to frame Buffy for murder before they became friends. And even though Cordelia's sins were pretty much limited to verbal bullying, she still went through a better redemption arc than Regina, as she did take a few karmic whacks that taught her empathy, and she was able to appreciate what Buffy and her friends did for her, in spite of the way she treated them. They're writing the current relationship between Regina and everyone else as though all Regina ever did was make a few cutting remarks about the way they dress and how cool they aren't.

 

Actually, even "good" Regina's cutting remarks are beyond what I'd tolerate in a friend. If someone talked to me the way "good" Regina talks to Snow and Emma, I would avoid her.

 

So I don't expect Regina's desire for villains to get happy endings to bite her in the ass. One of the Charmings will probably foil her plan before she sees the real consequences, and then she can blame them again for ruining her life and taking away her happy ending. I don't think these writers have the gumption to write a story in which Regina really suffers any consequences or learns any lessons, and a Wishverse type story in which she found herself in a hell where villains get what they want would come to close to looking like she was wrong.

[Rockybeach]

Honestly I don't think the writers care about Marian at all. It isn't her story they want to tell. The story is Regina's. They have reduced Marian to a simplistic soap opera drama queen. She is there to cause angst for Robin and Regina, that's it. I think she will eventually recover and either get killed by someone else or exit the way Cinderella did.

 

Right now the progress of Regina's story is excellent, even with the 30 seconds per episode she is allotted. Robin made his choice, and Regina is showing her development as a character by accepting his decision and trying to move on. I love it. It is such a nice change from the characters they reset every episode so they can please their man.

I am guessing you saw the preview for this week's episode  :)

 

Did you see the tweet William Shatner sent the writer of Once about Regina? If not I can PM you what he said. It was pretty awesome.

 

I disagree with you about Marian. I do agree that she isn't a character the writers care about, but I think she is  around to give more background to Robin. What did you think of Regina's plan to find the writer of the storybook?

Edited October 18, 2014 by Rockybeach

[KAOS Agent]

One of the things I wish they could do with Regina is put her in a situation where she's all alone against the villain. She doesn't need to be entirely powerless, but she needs to have this moment where she realizes that she's alone in this fight because she pushed everyone else away through her own actions. They could give her that moment of self-awareness without sacrificing other characters on the altar of Regina's redemption. The problem with all the so called crap Regina faces is that the conflicts are never really terrible for her. I mean, even the Robin/Marian thing isn't all that dire. Robin has straight up told her he's in love with her. All that's standing in her way is a lack of divorce decree. They couldn't even have Robin feel conflicted about his feelings for his wife or about Regina being her executioner. Nope, he's in love with Regina and trusts her implicitly but is too "honorable" to leave his wife. How does that lead to Regina learning anything about herself - other than maybe she should have been more vigilant about not leaving lock picks in her dungeons? There are no consequences to her having killed Marian. Season 1 Henry would have been appalled that his mother killed Maid Marian, now he's saying the book is wrong about her. It's just nonsensical at this point.

Edited October 18, 2014 by KAOS Agent

[FavFable]

 

One of the things I wish they could do with Regina is put her in a situation where she's all alone against the villain. She doesn't need to be entirely powerless, but she needs to have this moment where she realizes that she's alone in this fight because she pushed everyone else away through her own actions.

Its already been done, season 2.

[KingOfHearts]

Another scenario I'd like to see Regina encounter is being stuck in the Land Without Magic, maybe on a mission or something. She'd be in a place where no one listens to her demands, she's not in control, no one cares about her crying, and where she'd have to rely on her brains and people like Emma to get the job done. It would give the woman some perspective on how there is a world outside her own little problems. No magic, no instawin for her.

 

What if Storybrooke got pulled away, leaving her stranded?

 

 

Its already been done, season 2.

Could you please elaborate? Thanks!

Edited October 18, 2014 by KingOfHearts

[HoodlumSheep]

Whoops, i guess 'wonderful life' was a bad example, sorry about that. Don't know what I was thinking. The christmas carol experience would be much more fitting. I guess what i was thinking was how the future without george bailey was horrible and bleak. So i was thinking along the lines of regina seeing her "happy ending" and seeing how empty and bleak it would be compared to what she has right now. My mind kind of forgot the fact that george was an awesome guy and regina is...regina. The show's brain washing must be starting to affect me! She's definitely more of a scrooge type.

What would constitute as regina's happy ending though? Being with Robin, no one hating her?