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It seems as though Zelena is being set up for redemption through motherhood. It’s a problematic narrative because it’s just a tiny bit (maybe a bit more than tiny) misogynistic. Regina claims Henry was her redemption, but Emma and Snow and Charming played a huge rule. It was far more complicated than just the love of a son (a son who actually tried to distance himself quite a bit in the early seasons). Is it possible to redeem Zelena only through motherhood? And is that a good story?
[adrotate group="5"]"He was a lot of things to me" "The only conclusion was love"I feel like motherhood will at least make Zelena indifferent, which is a start. She still has a long way to go, if she’s to truly be redeemed. The baby is just the first small step. The next big step would be to be more understanding and respectful towards Regina and Robin. After all, this is the zillionth chance Regina has given her, despite all the things she’s done. Will Zelena learn to be thankful to her sister, and slowly mend their sisterly relationship?
I believe motherhood is a start for Zelena.
Henry was the starting point and the ultimate necessity in Regina’s redemption, but there were other factors like Emma, her step-daughter and step-son in law. Henry helped Regina by giving her the unconditional love she always craved, the Charmings helped in Regina’s redemption by showing her how a real family is supposed to be there, support you, and love you. Snowing, Emma, and Henry held Regina’s hand and lead her out of the life of darkness into the life of light…someone needs to do the same for Zelena.
So, in order for Zelena to change for the better like Regina, she must have the same necessities as Regina had. The unconditional love and support of her family. Her baby girl starts it by giving her the unconditional love, it’s up to Regina to guide her sister as she was guided by their family. And since technically Zelena is Snowing’s Step-Aunt, they could help her as well.
If unconditional love and family can change Evil for the better, then it should be a much easier task with Wicked.
"If you go as far as you can see...you will then see enough to go even further." - Finn Balor
Also,
I feel like one of those next big steps is coming face to face with her own mother, Cora. With Cora returning in 5B, that very well may happen. It all started with Cora abandoning Zelena, after all.
Her baby girl starts it by giving her the unconditional love, it’s up to Regina to guide her sister as she was guided by their family.
See this is problematic for me because children are not obligated to unconditionally love their parents. The reverse is unconditional. Parents are supposed to unconditionally love their children, regardless of their lifestyle choices or their careers or their sexuality or what have you. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t restrictions and limits to what you’ll do for them, but love shouldn’t be a bartering tool. But to say that kids have to love their parents unconditionally rubs me the wrong way because parents can be abusive, manipulative, physically and emotionally. To tell this new born baby girl that she has to love Zelena unconditionally when Zelena has raped, murdered, lied, cheated, and tried to destroy the lives of everyone around her is a bit squicky. This baby isn’t even a day old but apparently is supposed to love her mommy unconditionally from the get-go.
Like I said, problematic.
But of course this is how A and E will approach it, that by virtue of motherhood, Zelena redeems herself. Like I said in another thread, that’s equally problematic because it’s tantamount to emotional manipulation. Zelena is placing all her eggs in this basket. But what happens if little Green Bean (can we name this kid already?) decides that she can’t cope with Zelena’s past misdeeds (it’s the kid’s choice after all), then Zelena reverts back to wicked because “my baby doesn’t love me!”
"He was a lot of things to me" "The only conclusion was love"Like I said in another thread, that’s equally problematic because it’s tantamount to emotional manipulation. Zelena is placing all her eggs in this basket. But what happens if little Green Bean (can we name this kid already?) decides that she can’t cope with Zelena’s past misdeeds (it’s the kid’s choice after all), then Zelena reverts back to wicked because “my baby doesn’t love me!”This would be a problem, but only if Regina doesn’t do her part. Zelena’s baby is just the first steps to what could be a mile long journey, and Zelena’s going to need some support no matter how troublesome she may become along the way. Zelena must understand that in order to raise her child in the best way possible, she must first better herself….the baby isn’t a trope to say here Zelena, here’s your baby now go be good….no I think the baby is inspiring Zelena to be a better person as motherhood should for a lot of people.
The baby has no idea of her mother’s mistakes, but will one day learn them. If Zelena hasn’t changed her wicked ways, then that may very well push her child away, however if the child sees that it’s mother has legitimately changed for the better, it’d look past her former wickedness to see the mother whose loved it. Henry looked past all Regina, Zelena’s baby may very well do the same.
But as I said, this baby is just the starting point, an inspiration for Zelena to better herself. It’s up to Regina and their family to help her sister change not just for the sake of her niece, but for the sake of their own peace and relationship.
"If you go as far as you can see...you will then see enough to go even further." - Finn Balor
Can Zelena be redeemed?
If it is borderline personality disorder (which, in rare circumstances can drive the sufferer to become murderous) then yes, she can be redeemed. In real life, BPD sufferers manage themselves all the time, and some go on to a full recovery.
If it is sociopathy/psychopathy, then no, she cannot be redeemed, as this cannot be fixed (though in borderline cases it can be managed).
This is why I have always said that Regina has BPD, her decent into darkness took months, perhaps years. Whereas I don’t think Zelena has been portrayed as someone who grew up feeling controlled and unloved. It seemed to me that the father became nasty only after her mother died ( I will have to watch it again). Also, her desecent into darkness was very, very quick…it took days, if that. So from what we have seen on screen, she seems to be a boarderline psychopath/sociopath.
To answer your question. In terms of what we have seen on screen and in terms of psychiatric disorders, no I don’t think she can be redeemed, if the writers are sensible. However, it seems that they will redeem her.
Can she be redeemed? As in, is she redeemable? No.
Will she be redeeemed? yes.
If the writers want me to believe that she is BPD rather than a psychopath and therefore is redeemable, then they will need to show me more of her past growing up….they would need to show the systematic abuse of a lovely child who resisted the dark side up until seeing Regina get everything broke the donkey’s back.
Keeper of Regina's bravery
f the writers want me to believe that she is BPD rather than a psychopath and therefore is redeemable, then they will need to show me more of her past growing up….they would need to show the systematic abuse of a lovely child who resisted the dark side up until seeing Regina get everything broke the donkey’s back.
I wonder if the writers actually diagnose their characters. I’m not sure they’ve given any thought to any sort of medical psychopathy for anyone–Hook, Rumple, Regina, Zelena. But I agree with you; Zelena, IMO, isn’t really redeemable about this point, but will be.
"He was a lot of things to me" "The only conclusion was love"So as I was reading this thread, I thought of something.
Is Zelena at her most evil worse than Regina at her most evil?
A lot of what makes Zelena evil is the way she targets Regina, but I don’t recall Zelena ever killing entire villages. Zelena’s greatest evil on this show, to the best of my memory, was killing Neal and kidnapping baby snow flake. She turned people into flying monkeys, but she didn’t kill them. In fact, our heroes seemed to kill some of those flying monkeys. Zelena didn’t even kill Dorothy.
If you tally up the death counts, I think Regina as the Evil Queen is worse than Zelena the wicked witch, so by that logic…
Yes. Zelena can be redeemed. I’m reminded of a line from Wicked the musical. “The most celebrated are the rehabilitated.”
It’s possible I’m forgetting some of Zelena’s most evil actions.
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