YES!! And the fact that little moments like this are even in the show causes me to keep the faith that they’re sticking to the story they always wanted to tell, because Emma couldn’t be seeing him in this new light if she hadn’t seen him in the old light, both are necessary parts of the over all story they’re telling for these two. And if she loved the original version of him that she knew, and now she’s realising all these new things about him, how can that not have the affect of building on the love she previously had for him.
Bold part! It is just like Snowing and Rumbelle (I know…I hate parallels but…)
Snow had to see Charming as the spoiled privileged prince she could steal from before she saw him as the knight in shinning armor who came back for her.
Belle had to see Rumple as a beast who joked about skinning children before she could see under the mask of the Dark One and see what a good man he is.
Emma has to see Neal the man who broke her heart and left her before she can see the reasons behind it and how tortured he was and how manipulated.