The way I look at it, if Hook was meant to be a long term villain when introduced, then why bother compare and contrast him with Emma’s past relationship with Neal two episodes later?Agreed- CS was intended to happen from the get go IMO.
Well until they realised they liked Colin. 🙂 On the commentary on season 2 one of the writers/producers (can’t think of his name) pretty much said if the actor they got for Hook wasn’t any good they wouldn’t have kept him around – so I think since they found an actor they liked the story arc may have diverted a little. Like A&E saying they woke Charming up early in the pilot b/c they liked Josh so much.
On the Neal thing, at the hospital when Hook said Neal would have done the same thing, I always thought Hook looked a little shifty in that scene. But whether it was him hiding something, or him just being awkward b/c of Emma, I don’t know.
If one is to engage with the primordial forces of darkness, one must expect a little social awkwardness