Emma + Baelfire = Swanfire

[kfchimera]

You know oddly enough, what gave me the most hope in that whole episode?  The fact that after Hook and Neal have a little tantrum fight, Emma basically uses what Regina taught her to spark the flame that saves the day.

That to me was total SQ fan service, and it tells me, they definitely are trying to please fan groups with little scenes. The CSF thing is so in your face you cannot escape it.  They know some people are just sick of it, and it felt like in a way, they were making fun of the rivalry.  Yet under that, I feel like the overall story is still driving towards how Emma and Neal will reconnect.

We had a huge theme of how love is sacrifice, and many of us agree that is what drove Neal to leave Emma in the first place.  The next thing is how lies destroy relationships.   Perhaps not permanently, but the lie David told definitely hurt Snow very deeply.  Emma knows why David didn’t tell Snow, and it parallels why she didn’t tell Neal about the kiss.

It wasn’t about what the kiss meant or didn’t–there was no point mentioning it, and getting his focus off Henry.  As Snow said, though, Emma has tunnel vision.  She didn’t think through how either man was going to feel about the other being there.

Emma isn’t seeing some of Hook’s unsavory qualities right now because she doesn’t want to see them as she doesn’t have time for it.   She has to get along with him, to get her son.  Leading a guy on, that’s part of her bail bondswoman tricks, and just as Hook uses his piratey skills, well she’s using her skills too.  The last time Hook felt betrayed by her, he was so angry he teamed back up with Cora.   What’s to stop him from working with Pan and cutting  a deal, if she shoots him down cold?  She still doesn’t trust him completely, despite that he did help with Neal, as he said he chose a friend.   Yet he said he did that to “win her fairly”–it’s still about her affections, impressing her.  It’s not that he picked his friend because you know, he cares about his friend.

I don’t know how much she’s buying what he’s saying to her but I do know this, he’s continuing to misrepresent the amount of true friendship he feels for Neal, or that Neal feels towards him.    There’s this thing called the “bro code” and I’m pretty sure Hook’s actions would trip more than a few “rules”–one of which is no hitting on your friend’s ex without permission.  It’s a silly code, but the point is, how do friends who consider each other close enough to be quasi-brothers treat each other?  The idea is you put that friendship far above any “dalliance” you might have with any woman, because well, they may come and go, but your friends remain.  So something is just off here about Hook’s actions, as well as Emma’s actions.  I can only explain it as she is putting blinders on to get the job done, and he has only been playing up his concern about Bae in order to bond with Emma.

Even though  both men seem to think what they could have with Emma is “true love” –ultimately, this isn’t the time or place to be worrying about it, and it seems like that’s ALL Hook’s been thinking about since he got there.  HIS happy ending.   Neal wants to let Emma know how he feels since he doesn’t want to make the mistake again of not doing so, but beyond that, he’s there for Henry.  He’s no saint though, he admits he screwed up by letting Hook goad him, but then, we’ve seen David lose patience with Hook too.  Emma seemingly is reacting as if these two guys are equally off-mission, but I hope she knows what Hook’s been about this whole time.  I hope she realizes there’s more going on that just her, but that they have more history, and I’m not sure if she is being written as recognizing that.Overall, aside from the Belle and Ariel, Rumbelle scenes I was not that impressed with the episode.

 

[kfchimera]

Can we begin to unpack Neal’s reaction to Emma being magical? We’ve talked a little about this over the summer, but now would be a good time to bring it up.

• In 2×16, Neal discovered that Emma was magical, and she said he didn’t get to be judgmental about it since he’s “Mr. Son-of-Rumplestiltskin”
• In 3×7, Neal learns that Regina has been teaching her magic.
• In 3×8 promo, we see that Regina and Emma are casting a spell together and moving the moon, possibly bringing about daylight to NL and you can see a glimpse of Neal’s head in the shot.

So given Neal’s aversion to dark magic, how is he going to respond to Emma using dark magic with Regina? IS Emma even using dark magic? Does Neal still oppose it as strongly as when he was a kid? We saw that Neal used the magic orb in 3×1 to see Emma, so he’s not completely averse to using magic to help save Henry and Emma. And now that Neal is part of their lives, he’s coming to terms with Emma being the product of true love and Henry being the truest believer. I think Neal being the son of Rumple might also make him somewhat magical too. Maybe Neal can help Emma use magic without having to give into darkness? He seems to understand that once you give in, it can destroy a family, as it did when his father chose power over him.

Slurpeez, those are some excellent points you raise, and I think it may prove to be in the long run, a far more important theme than this pirate with a crush.  Emma’s magical potential is huge, but dark magic we’ve been told corrupts you, for once it tastes you, it wants more.  This could seriously be a huge potential problem ahead for Emma, and she may need someone like Neal to help her stick to the path of light, rather than following in the dark footsteps of those who were seduced by power.  Heroes face many temptations on their journey, so perhaps it is time we see a non-romantic temptation.

“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

[Phee]

Emma’s magical potential is huge, but dark magic we’ve been told corrupts you, for once it tastes you, it wants more. This could seriously be a huge potential problem ahead for Emma, and she may need someone like Neal to help her stick to the path of light, rather than following in the dark footsteps of those who were seduced by power.

Neal has seen first hand how dark magic can corrupt. I do think there was a flash of concern on his face when he discovered that Regina had been teaching Emma magic. Even if he’s not fully aware that his father is the one who taught Regina, who is now in turn teaching Emma, he at the very least knows what kind of magic Regina practices.

Given that Emma is TL magic incarnate, I dunno that she could even be able to fully embrace dark magic, but having seen his father fall to dark magic, I can’t imagine Neal just sitting idly by and watching without being worried about it if Emma continues to take magical instruction from someone who only knows how to do the dark stuff. Maybe his concern over it, and reaction to it, if he tries to convince her to stick to the light side, will ultimately be what proves his love to her and makes her believe that she IS worth fighting for, and that they ARE worth another chance together.

[kfchimera]

Screwball has another essay…..and It’s funny I didn’t read her review but I thought I was odd for mentioning the SQ thing, but she was like “that was some loud subtext”…..I laughed.  She also had the same thought that while both Neal and Hook came off bad for fighting, in the end, Neal’s response was more on target with Emma’s goal to save Henry.

“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

[Phee]

As someone who has always enjoyed Hook as a character in his own right, I’m kinda torn over how he’s acting right now, and was just pondering something I’ve seen mentioned on tumblr a couple times recently…he has an obsessive personality, and has he just replaced the Milah obsession with the Emma obsession.

Even back in his Navy days, he obsessively behaved a certain way, only back then it was a positive thing. Then he switched to being a pirate, and most fans noted that the switch was very sudden. Part of that suddenness was probably just down to time constraint of a TV show, but perhaps it was also supposed to showcase how quickly he can flip the switch and go from one obsession to another? He went from Navy man to pirate in about as much time as it took him to go from clinging to Milah to actively pursuing Emma.

If it is the case that Emma is his new obsession, then that would validate his current actions for me. I don’t praise his actions of course, but it would mean that they were writing him this way for an in character reason, and I need there to be a reason apart from them having him act like a juvenile for the sake of triangle drama, because if that’s their only reason then it bums me out that they’re wrecking a character who has so much potential.

So that’s how I’m gonna look at him for the moment. He’s still selfish, he’s still obsessive, because that’s how he’s been for so long, so he can’t learn to act differently in the blink of an eye, and now he’s latched onto Emma as his new, selfish obsession. I’ll hold out hope that Emma will show signs of appreciating that Neal is giving her her freedom to think and feel on her own, and that at some point Hook will notice that. Dare I say that it could be poetic if this kid who he wanted to be a father figure to, who he wanted to guide and teach, ends up being the one to teach HIM a lesson about how to be a better man.

And to end this post on a happier thought, did you all notice how in that shot in the promo for 308 where everyone is lined up, Neal and Emma are side by side in the middle? The 6 of them are lined up like: TinkerHook, SwanFire, Snowing. (Actually, speaking of TinkerHook, that switch flipping being obsessive about one thing at a time isn’t unlike her own personality.)

[PriceofMagic]

I was quite impressed with Neal in this episode, which makes a change since so far in season 3, I’ve not really liked him much. Neal treated Emma like a person, Hook treated her as a prize to be won.

All magic comes with a price!

Keeper of Felix

[Phee]

Neal treated Emma like a person, Hook treated her as a prize to be won.

That’s a nice, concise way to sum it up, yep. Always good to get the opinion of a swinging voter who doesn’t have a set bias for either ship.

[Ranisha Pitts]

Yes, I get sense of objectification of Emma with Hook. And his behaviors says of course you would choose me, I’m Hook, I always get what I want and that includes you Emma. Sadly I realize that he is not there to save Henry like the others, (at one point thought he was doing what was right in Honor of Bae/Milha but not anymore) he is there to win the prize, to get the girl, to swoon Emma while she is at her weakest most vulnerable moment. If this is suppose to be true love and romance I can’t see it. The fact said I choose my friend to impress you not because I choose my friend because I care about him is just ugh. The fact that he says he you need to make a choice when clearly Henry is the one thing that her heart is set on says something.

Also I think we Swanfires are experiencing what Rumbellers felt in S2, we just got “chipped” and soon we might get “Laceyed”. No one said the Swanfire Journey would be easy and like Snowings and Rumbellers its our time squirmed. The only people who are mostly happy are the Captain Swaners and the fact it just seems so easy and smooth for CS makes me think A &E will pulled the rug from under us and go bam. Got you there didn’t we, her true love is Neal. (Of course that could just my wishful thinking there as well. LOL they easily can see her true love will always be Henry as well.)

Also the conversation between Snow and Charming, “Love is Sacrifice” that is something that A &E hinted at in past interviews, that Neal made the sacrifice his love for Emma to do what’s best. Also Charming admitted to Snow that he was scared. Something that Neal dealt with as well. I don’t see Hook making much of a sacrifice or being really afraid of anything. Sacrifice would be for him to step aside and allowed Neal and Emma to run its course. In fact, he is very confident that odds are stack in his favor because well, “he is Hook, he has many of men’s wives.”

Another thing I noted, Emma choose to sit next to Neal as she choose to go on a mission with him alone. But lovely Hook choose to insert himself and made the duo a trio. (Which I wanted to see partners in crime at it again) And did you catch the look on Emma face, she wasn’t happy about him doing that. But of course gullible lovable Neal, “Thanks Man.” (Neal’s inner thought, wow, Hook is helping to save my son, I was surprise that Hook was here when my dad told me but perhaps he did somewhat cared about me! Awesome!) So she had not other choice but to accept. I think despite being mad at Neal she wanted to work with the father of her child side by side, just like old times, but for a noble mission saving the best thing that came from them, Henry. (remember, this little guy saved us-Swanfire Feels).

Also the fact that Neal apologize and told her she was right and that Henry comes first. (While Hook went off sulking because Emma said she chose her soon, Yeah some women do that buddy). Emma smiled and said with determination, “Now let’s go get “OUR” son.” As long as we have a few burning embers our ship is not dead! I will keep hope alive!

sidenote: why did Hook get attitude for Tink being happy to see Neal all grown up. Does he like to be the center of attention at all times by all women. LOL

"I will be kind but I will speak my mind."

[RumplesGirl]

That to me was total SQ fan service, and it tells me, they definitely are trying to please fan groups with little scenes. The CSF thing is so in your face you cannot escape it. They know some people are just sick of it, and it felt like in a way, they were making fun of the rivalry. Yet under that, I feel like the overall story is still driving towards how Emma and Neal will reconnect.

This is something that is starting to but me a bit. Are they still writing for themselves or are they writing for various factions within the internet fan community?

don’t know how much she’s buying what he’s saying to her but I do know this, he’s continuing to misrepresent the amount of true friendship he feels for Neal, or that Neal feels towards him.

I agree. What happened to Neal being like a son to him? that was apparent in the first 4 episode and then suddenly we took a hard left.

Emma’s magical potential is huge, but dark magic we’ve been told corrupts you, for once it tastes you, it wants more. This could seriously be a huge potential problem ahead for Emma, and she may need someone like Neal to help her stick to the path of light, rather than following in the dark footsteps of those who were seduced by power. Heroes face many temptations on their journey, so perhaps it is time we see a non-romantic temptation.

I think Neal might hesitate when it comes to Emma using magic but I also think he’ll also recognize that it needs to be done. I think Emma using magic will actually bring Neal and Rumple closer.

he has an obsessive personality, and has he just replaced the Milah obsession with the Emma obsession.

Does that mean he hasn’t really moved on, he’s just transferring?

Actually, speaking of TinkerHook, that switch flipping being obsessive about one thing at a time isn’t unlike her own personality.)

I like it.

Actually, speaking of TinkerHook, that switch flipping being obsessive about one thing at a time isn’t unlike her own personality.)

Welcome back to this ship. Have a cookie.

“And I will win your heart…” ugh. This is my biggest problem with Hook overall and I know it stems from having an ex who was exactly like this but he thinks every lady needs to fall at his feet, dying of love for him. That no one could possibly resist him. It bothers me.

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

[heatherc1275]

PREACH Y’ALL. *fist bumps and hugs all around* 😀

If someone could please make some type of GIF combining the Triangle of Doom with Princess Jasmine screaming at her father and Aladdin that she “is not a prize to be won!!”, I will give them an entire box of cookies and much gratitude because I can’t get that scene out of my head after last night’s episode. 🙂

 

#MoreBOOMLessGloom

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