It was “Love at first sight”, and they were soul mates, destined to be together….that explains why their love progressed so fast.
So are Snow and Charming and yet their relationship over the course of S1 flashbacks were staged so that there was an element of drama. They were constantly foiled or separated, never knowing if they’d actually manage to get together. Regina and Robin, during the missing year, are literally in the same place, at the same time, and apparently with a lot of built up tension….and nothing. Not even any kind of development on the romantic front. Just some snark and eye glances. There were no quiet moments of contemplation in each others company, even when Robin was taking Regina inside her castle and after she faced down Zelena. Regina’s first instinct was to destroy Zelena, nothing about Robin or a connection or any development there.
Snow talked with Ruby, expressed her fears. Regina, when prompted by Snow, made a sarcastic remark about odors. There was no drive to be together. Belle went on an adventure to hunt monsters before deciding that she belonged with Rumple; Snow and Charming–do you want me to list all the things that stood in their way? Yet they fought for it. Neal opened the Black Vault of Goo to cross realms and get back to Emma and Henry. Hook sold his ship to get back to Emma. Yet for Regina and Robin, two souls with some sort of connection as you say, in the same place at the same time under strenuous circumstances…nothing.
And this is how ONCE is presenting something they have labeled clearly for the first time as “soul mates.”
So what does that tell us about the concept and how their love story, which is supposed to be “second chances,” has played out?