The connection between true loves/soul mates

[storyteller]

Over the course of the series to this point a common thread is beginning to emerge among the couples who are true loves and soul mates. In season one it was observed in 1×21 and later corroborated by Adam Horowitz that Snow and David share a psychic connection based on their status as soul mates. This season we have observed that Regina’s destined soul mate is Robin Hood and that as a result they share a connection as well. At the close of 3×03 Tink remarks that by not fulfilling her destiny Regina has sabotaged not only her life but Robin’s as well.  The ramifications of this are not known to us in their entirety but based on what we know Robin’s life path has been that of a marked man who has endured the loss of beloved, and has been hounded by the sheriff and suffered the betrayal of Will Scarlett (aka the Knave).  Regina’s tortured life need not be elaborated on as it is known to all.  Emma and Neal’s tortured lives likewise unhappily mirrored one another.

The question going forward: To what extent does the connection between soul mates constitute a physical bond (i.e. the feeling of nausea felt by David as Snow ingested the apple in 1×21) & a life path connection (how Robin’s life was sabotaged by not having Regina in his life)?

[Slurpeez]

I’m hesitant to equate the term soul mate with true love. Sadly, the writers called Cora the soulmate of Rumplestiltskin (his dark one self is how I rationalize that statement). Belle is clearly Rumple’s true love because their kiss in 1×12 began to free him from his curse. As far as psychic connections go, I’m not sure that true love allows one to sense when his/her loved one is in danger. The only real example of that was 1×21, as you said, when David felt Snow’s heart stop from eating the apple. Yet, Snow did not feel it when David went under the sleeping curse in s2. Also, Snow White didn’t feel the dreamshade poison affect David in S3. Neither did Rumple feel that Belle was still alive when she was Regina’s prisoner.

"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 agree with Slurpeez. Cora was the Dark One’s soulmate but not Rumple’s true love. This is not to say that Belle isn’t both his true love and his soul mate but…that’s complicated, too, right?

The TL psychic connection doesn’t always work. It did with Snow and Charming, but Rumple could not tell that Belle was still alive and being held prisoner by Regina. Aurora could not tell that Philip was going to sacrifice himself for her. I think it is mostly a plot convenience. Charming needed to feel Snow eating the apple to really drive home that emotional moment. But we needed Rumple to not feel that Belle was alive in order to keep him on the path of the Curse.

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

[TheWatcher]

But also u can have more than one true love, something I’ve come to believe waaayy before I started watching the show. Would, lets say, two true love holders who suddenly split, and one finds ANOTHER True Lover, still be connected? Would they all connect? O.O

"I could have the giant duck as my steed!" --Daniel Radcliffe
Keeper Of Tamara's Taser , Jafar's Staff, Kitsis’s Glasses , Ariel’s Tail, Dopey's Hat , Peter Pan’s Shadow, Outfit, & Pied Cloak,Red Queen's Castle, White Rabbit's Power To World Hop, Zelena's BroomStick, & ALL MAGIC

[WickedRegal]

True Love and Soul Mate are one in the same if you ask me. Only one…that’s why I’ve begun question whether or not Daniel was Regina’s true love from the start? Because RegalHood has taken over the town if you ask me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"If you go as far as you can see...you will then see enough to go even further." - Finn Balor

[storyteller]

I would equate soul mate with true love based on the fact that Daniel was both to Regina and I think its fair to say that David is both to Snow and vice versa.  Adam Horowitz addressed why Snow couldn’t perceive David’s poisoned state in a twitter post on Oct. 22 he was asked that very question to which he responded: “because Charming is ACTIVELY preventing her for knowing. Snow had no reason to do that with the apple.” That being the case the connection seems to be operative when one of the true loves in question let’s their guard down.  So presumably Emma, Neal, Rumple, Belle, Regina, and Robin are likewise susceptible.

Custodian of Graham's darts, Rumple's spindle and Robin's quiver

[kfchimera]

I think Aurora and Phillip had no connection that way, as TLK worked to wake her, but she had no idea he was still alive.  She also seemed wholly unaware of Mulan’s affection but that is another story, maybe Snow and Charming are just a different level than other couples.  I think we will have to wait to see what is true for Regina and Robin.  I don’t know that TL has to fit a mold per se, maybe what is true love  is different to the same extent as people are different, and need different things.

“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

[RumplesGirl]

I don’t know that TL has to fit a mold per se, maybe what is true love is different to the same extent as people are different, and need different things.

Good point. Isn’t each case of true love unique because the two people in question (hopefully just two…) are each individuals and we shouldn’t try to rope them altogether?

We have two “canon+endgame” couples, meaning they are without a bout True Love, proved by a kiss to break a curse: Snowing and Rumbelle.

The difference between the two is pretty big, especially where our leading man is concerned. Rumple wants to be like Charming, the romantic hero, but is just not quite up to the task. He’s a coward to Charming’s (sometimes idiotic) nobility. That could be part of why Charming and Rumple had different reactions to their TL’s “death”

(But I more or less stand by “plot convenience and necessity”)

 

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

[BelleOfTheBall]

I feel that Snow and Charming are on a different level of sorts – there is something special about their love.  After all, there are several couples in the show that are considered true lovers, but what made Emma so special as the product of true love?  Honestly, couldn’t it then have been several different couples that could have produced a savior for the curse.  After all, Emma is by no means the only child that was a product of love.  Phillip and Aurora’s baby will be a product of true love.  Henry would be a product of true love. Even at the time Bae would have been a product of true love (you know, before Rumple was dubbed a coward and all was ruined, he had a pretty loving relationship). So i think there is something about Snow and Charmings deep connection that gives them the psychic ability to feel what the other is.  Perhaps its like the I will always find you promise – it lets them know that the other is safe so in the worst times they can continue looking for the other.

[astrawoid]

I agree with BelleOfTheBall.  Even Rumple recognized that there was something extra special about the love between Snow and Charming.  And I want to say that the creators have pretty much said something similar.  Not only do the Charmings have true love but they also have an even deeper psychic connection.  I don’t think all true love couples have that deeper connection.

I had another thought…  I think both Charming and Snow came from true love unions as well.  What if both of their lines came from pure true love unions?  And since they both came from pure true love, that makes their love even stronger?  Just something to think about.

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

[Author]

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