So what could it mean that Regina’s new love interest “quickly becomes a part of the show” but not in a way we would expect? The expected way is some attractive stranger just waltzing in and having a “meet cute” with Regina.
The unexpected way would be we hear about a character but don’t meet him, or we meet the character but Regina does not.
That would give RegalHood some steam, if RH is appearing exclusively in SB meanwhile Regina is in NL. So we meet the guy, but Regina doesn’t.
“If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?” -- Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass