Is it an accident that Emma started to get her act back together once Neal was alive and present?
Not accidental at all IMO. Even though it terrified her that he was alive, it also sparked some hope in her, and not even because she was specifically thinking about them being together again, but him being alive, and right there in NL, was something she never could have believed possible. So if that can happen, then there’s new hope for saving Henry as well. And even though Emma is connected to the other people she’s been working with in various ways, the connection she shares with Neal goes above and beyond all the rest. I believe she’s gonna find strength in being close to him.
I think that the arc here is for Hook to eventually realize that Emma has feelings for another man. Hook may begin the process of understanding that everything isn’t about him and that could lead to the character growth necessary for him to have real relationships with people, like Neal, or a true friendship with Emma. Maybe that will lead to his ultimate happy ending with Tinker Bell, or Ariel (how set in stone is her thing with Eric at this point?).
Hook’s never failed to get any woman he’s ever set his sights on. Being put in his place by Emma and accepting it would be some much needed character development for him. As for Ariel and Eric, VCF’s spoiler vid shows them kissing, so they’re looking pretty set in stone. There was so much interesting possibility for future storyline and character development if they’d gone the Hookriel route instead. Oh, well. *sigh*
That Hook’s superficial intentions are being shown to the audience suggests that Emma will find out, too. She’s been subject to superficial relationships for most of her life so it will be familiar and not what she’s looking for.
Yes, totally agreed that that’s why I’m expecting Hook’s true motivations, and all his secrets, will eventually be exposed to Emma. If not, then there’s a big disconnect between the audience’s perception of Hook, and Emma’s perception of Hook, and it’d make Emma look ignorant, and frankly, a bit like a victim. I just can’t imagine them writing her as being that way indefinitely, so I have hope that the truth will come out and she’ll see him for who he truly is.
Emma’s big fears with Neal seem to center around fear of not being loved (she’s coming to terms with Neal really having loved her) and fear of losing him/not being with him. With time, and the assurances of Neal’s ongoing presence in her life no matter what, those fears seem managable.
Fear of having the thing, and fear of losing the thing (again), all at once. The first time, she just believed in the thing, and she lost it. The second time, she secretly wanted to believe in the thing, and she lost it again. Trying for a third time…either the pattern is gonna repeat, or third time will be the charm. The fear of the former is overwhelming her though, and that’s understandable.
But if Neal can continue to be there to support her in a non-romantic way, that will gradually give Emma some reassurance that he’s not going anywhere, ever again. She’ll learn that she can depend on him, like she did in the beginning. He can become her constant, (you know they love the LOST shoutouts). And once her confidence in that is established, then she can feel safe enough to reconnect with him in a romantic way as well.