Despite obviously disagreeing with his choices and hoping he would choose a different path it wasn’t really OOC for Hook to do what he did. Hook has suffered a lot of losses in his life and he is not hopeful like the Charmings. I think this was further illustrated by the little CaptainCharming scene at the diner. Frankly, even the Charmings had apparently zero hope of seeing Emma again so I don’t think it is shocking that Hook wouldn’t have hope either. I think it would be pretty natural for Hook to seek solace in the one constant in his life (the ship) if he felt he would never see Emma again. I liked the double meaning of his words regarding the ship. I am not surprised that he was unwilling to give up the one thing he had left in order to help a relative stranger. I said it earlier that I don’t really consider Hook to be a hero (yet) and this was very clearly demonstrated.
You have so many good points… Hook has had 300 years of a loveless, friendless life – i doubt very much that he is an optimistic person, more of a realist. If the curse was that SB was undone and there was no way to un do it – I’m sure Hook took that as true. If Regina couldnt break the undoing of SB to be with Henry what luck did a ‘pirate’ have. And Hook knows his capabilities when it comes to pirating … but everything else he is on new ground and re-learning as he goes… not exactly a confidence builder and probably after 300 years of being Captain Hook being Killian Jones is not like riding a bike.
POM – I too was all for Captain Hook taking back his ship. I would not have traded the JR either for most of the points you have listed. He probably could have spared his life for the information – but i guess he has a lot going on in his head and probably felt trapped into a path. Because you are right… Hook needs his reputation. As far as he knows Emma’s gone forever and he is 2 skills that can earn him money. 1. join a navy – who the heck is going to hire Captian Hook to sail a royal ship? 2. pirate captain. He knows both and really only 1 is possible. Its not like Hook can all of a sudden learn a trade and start weaving baskets…
So he has no family, no friends, no love, no ship, no choices and no clear idea of who he is anymore. He’s in limbo and having an identity crises. this leaves him only his reputation to use to keep surviving – which he all know that he does well… he is not going to just roll over and die. Plus as you said – a fearsome name is going to gain you the ship’s treasure without blood shed on either side. And to all of a sudden have the opportunity to regain one of those items – the ship where he has had so many miles stones, and has been his only constant and not to mention his home for 250 years or so – he is going to jump on it. I’m sure any little thoughts of what was right were getting fiercely repressed while he did what he thought he ‘needed’ to do – he ‘needed’ his ship. In his mind its almost where he has linked the JR and Emma – his homes.
I agree that while i was all on board for him to have returned to the EF in the same state of mind that he was in SB it would be unreasonable to think that Hook wouldnt have an emotional and mental struggle and go through some set backs. so I guess A&E know better than me, because 3×17 does make more sense this way. But it BROKE MY HEART seeing the anguish he was in through out the episode. and to watch him dig himself deeper and deeper and covering his ass with more and more lies was so hard to watch. And of course the moment he pulls back from Emma she is all about him. Too bad he wasnt just ‘playing’ hard to get.
on a side note – I loved Regina this episode. I loved her talking about hook and Henry and why a 12 year old would of course like him. And especially the diner scene where they looked like a family for real. and how she is the only one to call Emma out on Hook.
I do hope he finds Charming right away and comes clean about it all.
Hey … maybe A&E are waiting for Hook to finally realize he is not just a pirate and he can be more and then maybe then… we can get a real and lasting wardrobe change. yeah! Love the leather, but its time. he can keep the guy liner though – works for him.