hmm I tried to write a lenghty response to this fate vs free will discussion, but it became a big unreadable mess LOL.. and Im too tired right now to start over so I boiled it Down to this-
WR: I love Regina as much as any other Evil Regal, but what you are doing is reducing her to some object of Rumple’s desires and in a way, at least thats what it feels like to me, you are de-humanizing her. When you take away her blame you also take away her free choice- She becomes nothing but Rumple’s doll.
We dont need to take away the blame on her in order to feel compassion for her.
There is enough Things to blame Rumple for on his own, he doesnt need to be blamed for Reginas mistakes too. I agree though that he had a lot to do with why she made some of her mistakes, but they are still her mistakes. We can blame him for putting the knife(magic book) in her hands, but we cant blame him for her choice to ultimately use it.
(I might have used that knife methaphor on here before, sorry for that, but its a good one 😉 )