If there’s going to be a love triangle next season with these three, the writers are gonna have to up their game and make it seriously convincing that Emma, whom just admitted her love for a man, is going to turn around and fall in love with another man and then when they all reunite be all conflicted again.
First of all, I want to say that The Portal Scene shifted my opinion on Neal and Emma. I’m a “follow the canon” kind of girl so I’ve been waiting very patiently (hah) for two things: Neal’s apology and Emma’s true admission of feelings. I couldn’t get on the bandwagon of Neal and Emma until Neal apologized and they cleared the air. It was frustrating the shit out of me that he hadn’t even said the words I’m sorry. And while I think the beach scene could have been a bit different (his apology more geared towards her pain than his), he did apologize and I do believe Emma accepted it.
I also think it was quite obvious the last few eps when she said she was over Neal that that wasn’t complete truth. At best, I think she was completely confused. So during the portal scene it wasn’t her admission of loving him that sold me that Emma really loved Neal, it was her reaction when he said he loved her. That smile. Laugh. The crying laugh/smile or whatever you want to call it. That was heartbreaking. Because that was the moment the walls came completely crashing down. I can’t really express the awesomeness of that little moment, but you get the idea…
So anyway, back to the triangle. If it goes that Emma believes he’s dead and then she starts this thing with Hook it’s… I can’t see it happening. I really can’t. Even if she thinks he’s dead. I guess it all depends on how much time passes. When we come back in S3 and it’s only been a day or something and they start this thing, it’s going to be weird. And unrealistic. Because it took Emma 10 years after Neal left her to open her heart again, to Graham. And that was when she thought Neal didn’t even love her. That was her just protecting herself. But this time, she knows she loves Neal and that Neal loves her and she’s just going to go to the next guy? There would need to be a mourning period. At least six months, maybe more, I don’t know.
So if Emma and Hook have this thing going on and then Neal shows back up… I don’t understand why there would be any tension or even a triangle. I don’t understand why Emma wouldn’t be like “So sorry Hook but OMG NEAL IS ALIVE!” Ya know? If what this show is trying to tell us is that Emma has always been in love with Neal then why would she be conflicted between a man she just started a thing with and the man she’s been in love with for over 12 years? She wouldn’t.
So I really don’t think Hook and Emma are going to have a grand love affair. I can see it being physical though. Even with Neal gone. The girl finds comfort in another man’s arms? I get it.
But, with The Portal Scene now I just don’t see how Emma would reach that level of love with Hook by the time they either reunite back with Neal or at least know he’s alive. But, if the writers do want to make it go that way, they’re going to have to step up the game and make it realistic because it will be a hard story to sell. IMO.