Reply To: Emma Swan Character Analysis

[PriceofMagic]

And yes she found her home with her parents but it literally happens over the span of (in show) one or two days. (2 hours for us). One second it’s “I’m leaving. I won’t need magic in NYC” and then “I must stay in SB!” Lightening fast character development that makes me spin

I think Emma said herself in the finale that what changed her decision was seeing her mother “die” in the past. That could have a profound effect on someone. Emma didn’t realise what she had until it was gone. Her mother looking at her and not recognising her also had an effect on Emma. Emma realised she didn’t want to lose her family and there she was about to run away back to New York. The whole SwanFire flashback “home is the thing you miss when you leave” played into Emma realising she would miss her family if she left for New York thus Emma realised that Storybrooke was her real home because “home is where the heart is”.