Is there a way? Yes. By choosing to be better. That’s real redemption, in which you simply choose to be the best version of yourself, by making amends, and trying to not make the same mistakes you once made. It’s actually really dangerous to say that you’re only being good for the sake of one person–be it a child or a romantic partner. Living for other people is a slippery slope because people leave, people disappoint, and it’s really unfair to put your redemption and your path back from your villainy (in the case of our show) on the shoulders of another person.
Yes, of course. But on the show, I was struggling to think of a character who intentionally chose to be good just for the sake of it. Was there ever a character who wanted to pursue righteousness just because they wanted to be better people? I suppose Archie. I also suppose Graham/the Huntsman is the best example. He was tasked with killing Snow White, but he instead spared her, simply because it was the right thing to do. He then let Prince Charming go, despite the consequence of facing the Evil Queen’s inevitable wrath. The huntsman got nothing out of defying the Evil Queen except the the knowledge of knowing he did the right thing, to hell with the consequences (in his case, being forcibly raped and murdered by Regina). Belle and Baelfire also chose to sacrifice themselves for the greater good, without expectation of self-gain. But then again, they were never villains, so choosing goodness just came naturally to them.
"That’s how you know you’ve really got a home. When you leave it, there’s this feeling that you can’t shake. You just miss it." Neal Cassidy