@RGF – I have to agree 100% with your post. I’m not going to speak for people 5-10 or so years older/younger because here in the US, at least, ‘times change’ and it seems like lightning speed. But for our age group, I do think your description of what is/was expected of us, what we grew up understanding, and what ended up being our reality is spot on.
@RG – I see where you’re coming from, and I’m thankful for the clarification in regard to Hook in the EF. I was thinking about it after my last post and you put into words what I was thinking, but better. No, Emma doesn’t need Hook in the EF. She doesn’t need anyone – except Henry – which is at times a good and a bad character trait. But I don’t think it was the intention of the writers or actors to suggest Hook was in the EF because Emma couldn’t handle herself, it was simply a way of showing that as someone who loves Emma, Hook wasn’t going to let her be alone goodness knows where/when. Which I think is an essential human trait – how many of us wouldn’t go to the ends of the earth for the people we love? That’s just what love is. Just like when Snow jumped in after Emma in S2, and Charming intended to do but for the portal closing.
RE: Henry – I get what you’re saying. But I think the only reason there wasn’t more emphasis on Henry was because we know Emma genuinely loves Henry and would never leave Henry, would do anything for Henry, etc. We don’t need to rehash that. The purpose of 3×21 & 3/22 was to get Emma to that same place with her parents – hence, her running to them when she returned. Realistic? Maybe, maybe not. It’s a really hard place to put yourself in, time travel and magic and seeing your parents before you were born and whatnot – but yeah, if I had just had an experience that made me realize how much I love and respect and don’t want to lose X, then X is the first person I’d run to, and my child second. Because X needs to know this. I think Henry would’ve understood that and would be happy Emma finally realized this love for her parents as well.