Reply To: Emma + Baelfire = Swanfire

Hearing previews I was worried about Neal using a boy  but ultimately I was ok with that, because of the following:

1. Mulan was there to approve it and as a neutral 3rd party full of honor, she wasn’t swayed by desperation or guilt over a debt unpaid
2. Robin (and Roland) are brave
3. Roland is only 4 and the shadow has to take you willingly.  With Papa right there saying no, pretty sure Roland was as far from willing as you can get.
4. Neal knew the shadow could be attacked and had limited intelligence (good thing too or it would have slammed into walls to dump him off!).

So basically Neal was not being evil and exploiting a little kid, but Robin and Roland were being brave to help him despite the carefully controlled risks.

Now, that aside I did find something funnier than Neal hanging onto that shadow flying through the air:

Let’s just hope that isn’t how Neal and Emma are forced to use the Bug if everyone returns to the Enchanted Forrest
.Now that I’m done being silly and giddy, I have to say I was just grinning during this episode.  Even with the “boyfriend” moment about Hook, the way I saw it, Emma’s reaction wasn’t even defensive, it was more “Say What? What got into you?”.  I thought for a brief moment they weren’t going to go all in on ReHo, that it was a hint towards HookedQueen, because Regina seemed jealous.  I think she was, but not that she necessarily wanted Hook or Emma herself, but in that way that Regina does like to be the center of attention and sort of had residual issues over being trapped in a loveless marriage where she was ignored.  But more in a Regina thread!

Emma and Hook are growing closer, but so are Emma and Regina so I really didn’t get a romantic vibe at all with either of them.  I do have to hand it to Screwball Ninja and the others who saw the SleepingWarrior moment coming, but I am not worried that it might mean that the reason for no MuFire was more on Mulan’s side than Neal’s.  Neal showed no interest towards Mulan, and the whole episode he was frantic to get back to Emma as well as Henry.

I also loved that he acknowledged he needed a second chance, and loved his line that if you love someone, you should not wait to say it.   He knows he has to make up ground with Emma, and he is going to work hard to do it–but he is going to be separated from her awhile longer.     I’m ok with that, because I am going to hope there are some SF flashbacks ahead (or even a present day reunion maybe?).

I’m more worried about Pan really than Hook at this point.

Edit, picture not working: http://www.funnyandhappy.com/impeccable-carriage-of-vw-beetle-for-horses/