Emma + Baelfire = Swanfire

[Slurpeez]

(Note I am NOT implying that I personally consider MRJ ugly, but alas, that IS an argument that they put out there, even to the point of tweeting MRJ about how he’s not cute but Colin is.)

I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but are we really going to pass judgement on the actor, MRJ, for not being more traditionally handsome? He has a certain appeal which may not be to every person’s taste, but in my esteem, he is just as attractive as Colin O’Donoghue, only more rugged and less guy-liner. I get so annoyed when people judge an actor/actress based purely on externals anyway. I think MRJ is a great actor, as well as ruggedly good-looking. To me, MRJ is the perfect adult version of Baelfire.

[Keb]

They’re both hot. I do think that Colin’s got a certain raw sexiness (with added omg you’re such an adorkable nerd IRL) that MRJ doesn’t exude, and due to the paths of their characters you have pirate with romantic language and awesome accent vs scruffy American dude who curses in TV-13 American… so there’s nothing exotic about grown-up Neal. IE, he winds up comparatively everyman.

And you can like both and still favor one coupling over the other–in fact, I think we’re supposed to, because they’re both awesome, complex characters with both good and bad traits, played by hot, talented actors (oh wait, that’s everyone in the main cast and most of the guests/recurring chars to boot). Liking Hook a lot makes wanting Swanfire that much more painful (er, emotional?) because it’s such a complicated triangle–their relationships are multidimensional instead of just two guys who like the same girl.

(And getting into just how complicated is like drawing up Henry’s family tree…)

Keeper of Belle's Gold magic, sand dollar, cloaks, purple FTL outfit, spell scroll, library key, copy of Romeo and Juliet, and cry-muffling pillow, Rumple's doll, overcoat, and strength, and The Timeline. My spreadsheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6r8CySCCWd9R0RUNm4xR3RhMEU/view?usp=sharing

[heatherc1275]

Phee wrote: (Note I am NOT implying that I personally consider MRJ ugly, but alas, that IS an argument that they put out there, even to the point of tweeting MRJ about how he’s not cute but Colin is.)

I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but are we really going to pass judgement on the actor, MRJ, for not being more traditionally handsome? He has a certain appeal which may not be to every person’s taste, but in my esteem, he is just as attractive as Colin O’Donoghue, only more rugged and less guy-liner. I get so annoyed when people judge an actor/actress based purely on externals anyway. I think MRJ is a great actor, as well as ruggedly good-looking. To me, MRJ is the perfect adult version of Baelfire.

He is! 🙂

It bugs me too when people talk about MRJ’s looks partially because he seems like such a sweet guy (I will never forget his innocent questions about shipping last year….OMG, the poor guy’s probably sorry he ever asked now, LOL) and mostly because the stuff they say is horribly mean and degrading at times (and not even true IMO). He is ADORABLE and I was just having a conversation with a friend on Twitter today about how his smile just melts me into a puddle of drool. There’s a warmth and friendliness to him that is SO appealing and I love that he’s not afraid to speak his mind about things on Twitter. There’s such a stupid standard in Hollywood to be all attractive and model looking that I find myself more attracted to the people who look like they could be walking on the streets of my hometown and who also seem more down to earth. MRJ fits both those bills to a T and I feel like we’re blessed that he’s playing Baelfire on OUAT. He’s a respected guy, he takes his craft very seriously, and at the same time, I’ve read more than a few times from other cast members (most notably, JMo who’s said this multiple times now) that he’s got a great sense of humor and keeps everyone laughing all the time. How can you not find that appealing??! People are just….I don’t know, weirdos I guess, LOL 😆

Don’t get me started again on the people who only want Emma with Hook because “he’s the hotter guy” and I’ve seen that posted MORE than a few places in the last few months. Yeah, because that’s what’s important in relationships….who you think is the hotter guy. *bangs head on a wall* 😮

#MoreBOOMLessGloom

[RumplesGirl]

Actor hate bothers me. When I see people tweeting that MRJ is ugly or stupid or should written off I get really peeved because IT’S A TV SHOW. NONE OF THIS IS HAPPENING IN REAL TIME.

And I happen to think MRJ is adorable. I’m actually more attracted to him than I am Colin, not that any of that matters even in the slightest.

"He was a lot of things to me" "The only conclusion was love"

[Keb]

Well, I like the nerdiness…but if you want to talk about “traditionally” handsome, MRJ is actually closer to what was considered hot on TV 40-50 years ago. Colin’s more conventionally handsome by modern standards, I think. MRJ would fit right in on a classic western like Bonanza or something though. And I think he’s downright cuddly. (The dog agrees.)

Keeper of Belle's Gold magic, sand dollar, cloaks, purple FTL outfit, spell scroll, library key, copy of Romeo and Juliet, and cry-muffling pillow, Rumple's doll, overcoat, and strength, and The Timeline. My spreadsheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6r8CySCCWd9R0RUNm4xR3RhMEU/view?usp=sharing

[Slurpeez]

There’s such a stupid standard in Hollywood to be all attractive and model looking that I find myself more attracted to the people who look like they could be walking on the streets of my hometown and who also seem more down to earth. MRJ fits both those bills to a T and I feel like we’re blessed that he’s playing Baelfire on OUAT.

In my opinion, that is precisely why MRJ is so appealing. I think that he gives Neal a lovable boy-next-door charm which is really suited to the everyday, girl-next-door heroine that Jennifer Morrison brings to the character of Emma. Both Neal and Emma are everyday heroes who make very human decisions. One reason that so many people fell in love with Emma is because she’s so relatable despite being from the EF, she has grown up in our world and had to fend for herself, but despite being closed off initially, becomes a hero. That is the same exact reason why I have come to care so much about Nealfire as a character, because he is just like Emma in those same regards. He is just an average American boy by all appearances, he has the heart of a hero. And while Neal has made the same difficult decision that Prince Charming himself made by letting Emma go to face her destiny, he is trying to atone for that impossibly hard set of extenuating circumstances that kept him from the woman he really loves for a decade.

"That’s how you know you’ve really got a home. When you leave it, there’s this feeling that you can’t shake. You just miss it." Neal Cassidy

[RumplesGirl]

I think that he gives Neal a lovable boy-next-door charm which is really suited to the everyday, girl-next-door heroine that Jennifer Morrison brings to the character of Emma. Both Neal and Emma are everyday heroes who make very human decisions. One reason that so many people fell in love with Emma is because she’s so relatable despite being from the EF, she has grown up in our world and had to fend for herself, but despite being closed off initially, becomes a hero. That is the same exact reason why I have come to care so much about Nealfire as a character, because he is just like Emma in those same regards. He is just an average American boy by all appearances, he has the heart of a hero.

Agreed. They didn’t choose the dashing “handsome” prince like character for Emma. They chose someone who is her image mirrored back.

"He was a lot of things to me" "The only conclusion was love"

[astrawoid]

Another huge complaint I’ve seen was that Neal supposedly didn’t react to Emma when she was telling him her deepest secret.  Um, he doesn’t have to get hysterical and crying and such to have a reaction.  I think he’s the kind of guy that’s laid back and really doesn’t get super emotional first of all.  There have only been a couple of times when Neal has been on the verge of tears or super emotional.  One was when he found out that Henry was his son and the other was when he thought his father was dying.  I think he thought he would be taking away from Emma and putting too much pressure on her if he got overemotional or looked too hurt.  I think it’s also because I think he has faith that Emma will come back around to reciprocating his feelings for her.  I think he’s not getting all teary eyed and gazing longingly and all because he has faith that given time, he and Emma will be together.  He knows she is hurt.  Deeply hurt.  But he knows what that feels like so he understands.  He knows that pain all too well.  Emma’s not the only one that has been hurt so has he.  That’s why he just accepts what she said and just tells her that he will be there for her.  He will never stop fighting for her, he’ll be there this time whenever she is ready to either give him another chance or just need him for support.  There is no catch, no only ifs.  Just that he isn’t going to give up and isn’t going to leave this time.

"We were happy."
"Because... it was born out of true love."

[RumplesGirl]

Another huge complaint I’ve seen was that Neal supposedly didn’t react to Emma when she was telling him her deepest secret.

He OWED it to Emma to not be hysterical. Neal owed it to Emma to sit there, look her in the eye and listen to everything she had to say without complaint or rebuttal. Neal knows that he has a lot to make up for. There is a lot of history that needs to be fleshed out and resolved between the two of them and Neal even said that Emma never has to apologize for what she confessed because he recognizes what he put her through. But Emma also recognizes that she didn’t go through it alone. “all the pain WE went through.” But in that moment, Neal knew that the best thing he could do for Emma was to let her unburden herself.

And it wasn’t like he wasn’t reacting at all. MJR was using his eyes to convey his own sense of hurt. You can see it if you’re watching. But the best thing he could do at that moment was just let Emma get it out.

"He was a lot of things to me" "The only conclusion was love"

[astrawoid]

astrawoid wrote: Another huge complaint I’ve seen was that Neal supposedly didn’t react to Emma when she was telling him her deepest secret.

He OWED it to Emma to not be hysterical. Neal owed it to Emma to sit there, look her in the eye and listen to everything she had to say without complaint or rebuttal. Neal knows that he has a lot to make up for. There is a lot of history that needs to be fleshed out and resolved between the two of them and Neal even said that Emma never has to apologize for what she confessed because he recognizes what he put her through. But Emma also recognizes that she didn’t go through it alone. “all the pain WE went through.” But in that moment, Neal knew that the best thing he could do for Emma was to let her unburden herself. And it wasn’t like he wasn’t reacting at all. MJR was using his eyes to convey his own sense of hurt. You can see it if you’re watching. But the best thing he could do at that moment was just let Emma get it out.

 

I whole-heartedly agree!

 

"We were happy."
"Because... it was born out of true love."

[Author]

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