Reply To: Emma + Baelfire = Swanfire

So, a new interview of Jennifer Morrison came out. Needless to say, I’m more than a little disappointed that the media outlet is obviously biased in favor of CS, since not one question was asked about Emma’s feelings for Neal. *sigh*

Tonline: How do you view Emma’s relationship with Hook?
Morrison: Hook’s really taken her by surprise in positive ways, over and over again. She’s so grateful he didn’t lie, and overwhelmed with gratitude that he helped save David’s life — and now trying to save Henry. Hook has stepped up and is present in selflessly offering his help. She’s not used to people showing up for her, Emma’s used to people letting her down, so she has an overwhelming response to someone who doesn’t let her down and is proving to be there for her. Hook is adding to her life and helpful to her life. It does have her attention and whether or not it turns into something more, it will always be meaningful to her that he’s participating in her life in such a significant way.

I’m not sure what to think about J-Mo’s answer. While Hook is stepping up and helping her this season by helping save Charming, Neal and Henry, is he really suddenly without flaws in Emma’s eyes? I’m still waiting for Emma’s reaction when she discovers Hook was the lover of Baelfire’s mom. Plus, there was that whole thing about Hook leaving Emma for dead in a magically-fortified jail cell in S2. Is J-Mo teasing that such things don’t matter to Emma? The only thing that gives reassurance is that the kiss with Hook may or may not turn to into something more with Hook…yet I’m starting to think he may successfully break through Emma’s barriers soon enough, having done so in NL where Emma is emotionally vulnerable and therefore more easily taken in.

ETonline: What can you tease about Sunday’s episode, Think Lovely Thoughts?
Morrison: We’re getting close to the point where our heroes, as they call us in the stage directions, are seeing their plan come to fruition. It’s also really redeeming for Emma that saving Neal is helping the situation with Henry. I think there was some confusion with the fans about why Emma would go to save Neal as if it were a distraction from saving Henry. But Neal had lived in Neverland before and she needed to make the next strategic move that would help them get Henry back because they were missing so much information. She saw Neal as the missing puzzle piece that would help them save Henry and that was the truth; he knows how to get them off the island, so it’s been redeeming that Emma trusted her instincts in thinking they would need Neal to beat Pan because she was right.

At least J-Mo brought up Neal, but I’m sorta sad that she think Emma was motivated to save Neal because she sees him as a missing puzzle piece to rescue Henry. Surely, Emma was motivated to save Neal, not just for her son, but for herself as well. Even though Emma confessed it’d be easier for her emotionally if Neal weren’t alive, it’s not like she wished him dead maliciously. I want to think at some deep level, it was Emma’s love for Neal which compelled her to want to save Neal, for her own sake, just as Snow said.