Just did my rewatch:
1) I think it’s very clear that Hook likes Emma. He wants her walls to come down so he can get to know her. He even says, “And who are you, Swan?”
2)But her response is: “Wouldn’t you like to know” and then after he responds, she walks off. In other words (to me): “My walls aren’t coming down for you. I’ve got other things to deal with–like a possible rouge Regina and parents who are very different from me and my son.”
I liked this scene because I love me some genuinely vulnerable Hook. It wasn’t innuendo this time, there was a softness in his voice when he said, “Perhaps I would,” that sounded like simple honesty IMO. Emma’s reaction was very, “I’ve got enough to deal with right now, don’t seriously think that I’m in the mood to be hit on,” and I actually felt kinda sorry for him being shot down like that. Considering all the other times he’s flirted with her though, he can’t expect her to instantly accept that his intentions have become more genuine.
I think the necklace that belonged to Eva was an interesting detail, perhaps meaningless or perhaps it might lead into the writers exploring that Snow and Charming having a sense of what it even means to be a mother that Emma lacks, because of the examples they had of Ruth and Eva.
That thing with the necklace really struck me too, because they had to have put it in there for a reason, and I like this explanation. Both Snow and Charming lost their parents, but they’d known their parents, had been able to establish that emotional connection to them, they had things to hold onto, like Ruth’s ring, Eva’s necklace, and all the memories. Emma had none of that from her own parents.
I am a bit worried at the hidden depth of Emma’s resentment because while we knew she would still have issues with Neal, I thought she was further along on forgiving. The only thing is, when Pan mentioned Henry I knew it is something Emma will have to heal because she has to believe that Henry would forgive her too. So fundamentally her situation has not changed, even if right now she has gone backwards emotionally, but I think she will make progress rapidly on it. I have a feeling Charming’s injury might spark the realization that she truly loves her parents too despite the years of loss. I hope that of course would feed into a much later realization with Neal.
I absolutely think that the way they’re having her dig down into all her emotional turmoil about being abandoned, and about abandoning Henry, is setup for her dealing with those similar issues concerning Neal. She can’t deal with one, without dealing with the other. If they’d only brought it all up once Neal gets back, then it wouldn’t ring true if she’s been playing happy families with her parents in the meantime. But having her start to work through it now, I think will put her in a better position to accept Neal, by the time he shows up.