WOW, very powerful emotional stuff there, don’t agree with all but a lot of it is so true. And I agree I ship Neal with happiness but I still enjoy SFer. I think Neal deserved, a home, a family, happiness, and love. And it pisses me off the other half of the lost boy and lost girl did not get that.
Neal has so far, put himself in front of her when there’s danger, came back to her to make sure Rumple didn’t hurt her, stepped up to the plate and became an amazing daddy to their son, got up from a f—king BULLET WOUND LIKE IT WAS NOTHING, and traveled between lands for her and Henry, to protect them, to make sure they were safe. He has tried to talk with her about their past, he has apologized multiple times, he owned up to his mistake, learned from it, and told Emma she owed him nothing and could be as angry as she wanted with him. THIS IS WHAT LOVE IS. PUTTING SOMEONE ELSE BEFORE YOU. Emma tells Neal that she loves him, that she *needs* him. In Neal’s mind, he is probably ecstatic, relived, happy, he finally knows that the woman of his dreams still loves him after everything he did to her. He then let’s go of her hand to make sure she doesn’t fall down the portal with him. So then Neal works his (incredibly sexy) butt off to make it back to her. He deals with the shadow, escapes Felix, THE WHOLE GENIUS SQUID THING, turning into a total badarse and getting his son back for a few short moments.
Neal did so much for others, he is far from perfect but he also did a lot of good in his life for the people he loved (Darlings, Emma, Henry, Father) for complete strangers (WHALE) or people that may have hurt him (LOST BOYS).
That a man who forces you into submission can have everything he desires by saying “sorry” but a selfless man who would do anything for you deserves a punch in the face.
Very powerful reflective statement that makes you go hmmmmm. But I think the Halo effect plays into this as well.
The backstory of the writer that goes with that hits home. As person who experienced abuse/bullying in the past a simple sorry doesn’t suffice enough that I would want to be romantically involved or even friends with my abuser. Nor would I ever trust them around the people I love and care for.
"I will be kind but I will speak my mind."