Time For The Villains To Get Their Happy Ending

[Keb]

Regina’s redemption for me starts with the apologies we’re seeing from her–she has apologized to Henry for making him feel like he was crazy and lying to him before the curse was broken, to Emma, to Belle, and come to a sort of understanding with Snow at last.

Those moments actually mean more, coming from Regina, than the dramatic ones where she’s willing to sacrifice her life (mainly to save Henry, of course). Those are the moments when we see her really changing toward good.

[RumplesGirl]

Regina’s redemption for me starts with the apologies we’re seeing from her–she has apologized to Henry for making him feel like he was crazy and lying to him before the curse was broken, to Emma, to Belle, and come to a sort of understanding with Snow at last. Those moments actually mean more, coming from Regina, than the dramatic ones where she’s willing to sacrifice her life (mainly to save Henry, of course). Those are the moments when we see her really changing toward good.

There are some apologies that were genuine and heartfelt and I applaud those, though I have some issues with Regina’s apology to Belle (it was an apology but it was also more about getting something from Belle, not something that she exactly felt)

But this isn’t just Regina. We’ve been focusing on her, but none of the “villains” have apologized. I have quite a few problems with people who have done heinous things not giving genuine apologies and expecting to just skate by on either no apology or an “apology” that is really anything but.

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

[Myril]

….I guess I can understand Regina’s frustration in wanting to change her history. She’s tired…she’s exhausted….

I understand feeling exhausted and tired about how things are developing in one’s life and the itch to blame everything and everybody (other and oneself) all too well, think many do. But to me that is why I am disappointed in how they handle especially Regina on the show, and to some degree Emma, because pixie dust dreams, make it look like destiny takes its (good) course regardless, dreams of changing the past or attempts of retelling it so it fits your views and all would be good – all that are easy ways out, and ways not working usually, or they might work for one but mostly hurt and make other people around you suffer. It might look like fairy tales make that promise, that there always is a happy ending (for the good guys), but only if we see just the ending of the stories, which IMO makes fairy tales rather boring, because, we always know the ending before the story even started, it will be happy. But the ending is not the important part, it’s how they get there, that is where the moral can be found, if there is one in fairy tales.

Right, having the hope there could be a happy ending is important, but staring at the end keeps you from seeing the moments right in front of you. I figured a while ago, that I find a piece of happiness every time I master a day and still can look me in the eyes the next day and have the feeling I did (mostly) right by my principles of life. It’s not about the question if I am lovable and have been loved by others but if I have loved. That doesn’t make my life a big success story in terms of family, relationships, career, whatever, actually it sucks quite a lot at the moment, but I find happiness despite. It’s often not easy, but it’s possible.

I can see, why A&E see similarities between Regina and Emma, because they have, though different reasons and some differences in approach, the same problem, to do that, to love. But Regina has blamed everybody but herself, while Emma blames herself, that is the huge difference between the two, a significant one, and I think A&E might not quite get at times.

And Rumple likes to blame fate or his lack of power.

But you think Regina DOES think of consequences?! She’s always pitying herself for having to deal with consequences of the terrible things she’s done.

Agree, she tends to blame everybody but herself, and then jumps into action to either make them suffer for it (the year’s she was bend on revenge against Snow) or change things to do her bidding (the Dark Curse or now the idea to change the rules of the book). Regina might believe she’s thinking things through, but she doesn’t.

I wonder how much the coming back from death has actually affected Rumple and how many of his current misdemeanours are actually a result of that?

There should be effects. But seeing that these writers seem not to be good in writing consequences so far, emotional effects of what the characters do, unless it makes some niftfy plot!plot!plot! toy, I fear we’re not getting to see much of that.

¯\_(?????? ?)_/¯

[Epona_610]

Regina’s redemption for me starts with the apologies we’re seeing from her–she has apologized to Henry for making him feel like he was crazy and lying to him before the curse was broken, to Emma, to Belle, and come to a sort of understanding with Snow at last.

When did she apologize to Emma? I promise I’m not being snarky; I just don’t remember that…

[RumplesGirl]

Keb wrote:

Regina’s redemption for me starts with the apologies we’re seeing from her–she has apologized to Henry for making him feel like he was crazy and lying to him before the curse was broken, to Emma, to Belle, and come to a sort of understanding with Snow at last.

When did she apologize to Emma? I promise I’m not being snarky; I just don’t remember that…

I think @Keb might be referring to the town line moment in 3×11. Which was an apology by way of acceptance without actually saying “sorry.” Which..troubling.

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

[PriceofMagic]

There are some apologies that were genuine and heartfelt and I applaud those, though I have some issues with Regina’s apology to Belle (it was an apology but it was also more about getting something from Belle, not something that she exactly felt)

I agree. Regina’s apology to Belle wasn’t sincere, it was a last resort because Belle wasn’t helping Regina. First Regina demands that Belle helps her, when that doesn’t work she tries to use emotional blackmail against Belle, then when that doesn’t work she “apologises” because that was the only way to get what she wants. When Belle picks up Lumiere thinking that is the candle to which Regina was referring, Regina got very snarky towards her, not exactly the way to behave towards someone if you had just sincerely apologised to them.

But this isn’t just Regina. We’ve been focusing on her, but none of the “villains” have apologized. I have quite a few problems with people who have done heinous things not giving genuine apologies and expecting to just skate by on either no apology or an “apology” that is really anything but.

The show doesn’t really spend time on emotional moments and with 11 episodes per arc, they’re less likely to, preferring action, big bads and “look who we’re introducing now” rather than emotional reactions with characters we love.

In regards to Regina’s redemption, I think the question is What is redemption? Is it being loved by everyone with your past seemingly forgotten and never brought up again? Or is it striving to be a better person and doing the right thing even though it is hard and difficult and people may never forgive you for your past misdeeds?

I think it is the latter. When Regina is looking for a quick fix so she gets her happy ending, she’s not redeemed herself. She’s not atoned for her past mistakes, she’s not even acknowledged that her actions were bad.

I think in some ways Rumple is further down the road to redemption than either Regina or Hook. Rumple has had a backslide recently and he has done terrible things in his past but he knows and acknowledges he has done bad things. From Snow asking him how he lived with himself after all the terrible things he did and his response “You tell yourself you did the right thing, and if you say it often enough, eventually you’ll believe it” to his speech at Neal’s grave. If Rumple is trying to justify his actions in the Neal grave speech, then that suggests that he knows his actions were wrong. After all, you don’t try and justify your actions if you did something good and right.

All magic comes with a price!

Keeper of Felix

[RumplesGirl]

The show doesn’t really spend time on emotional moments and with 11 episodes per arc, they’re less likely to, preferring action, big bads and “look who we’re introducing now” rather than emotional reactions with characters we love.

Shiny Toy Syndrome strikes again!

n regards to Regina’s redemption, I think the question is What is redemption? Is it being loved by everyone with your past seemingly forgotten and never brought up again? Or is it striving to be a better person and doing the right thing even though it is hard and difficult and people may never forgive you for your past misdeeds? I think it is the latter. When Regina is looking for a quick fix so she gets her happy ending, she’s not redeemed herself. She’s not atoned for her past mistakes, she’s not even acknowledged that her actions were bad.

It’s absolutely the latter of those two. Yes. And frankly, I find it really unrealistic for everyone to forgive any of our villains, not just Regina. No matter what, these peoples lives were upset and overturned by villains.

If Rumple is trying to justify his actions in the Neal grave speech, then that suggests that he knows his actions were wrong. After all, you don’t try and justify your actions if you did something good and right.

Yes Rumple knows what he did is wrong. But like Regina, he doesn’t regret those actions. He’s just covering his butt now: I did wrong, but I had to do it…so…y’know..it’s cool.

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

[PriceofMagic]

But the difference is Rumple IS recognising that he has done wrong, unlike Regina who’s always “it’s your fault” Regina doesn’t take responsibility for her actions whereas Rumple does even though he may try and justify them.

All magic comes with a price!

Keeper of Felix

[RumplesGirl]

But the difference is Rumple IS recognising that he has done wrong, unlike Regina who’s always “it’s your fault” Regina doesn’t take responsibility for her actions whereas Rumple does even though he may try and justify them.

Sure. I get that. I think it’s a fair assessment. He might be a little bit further along Redemption Road than her, though I don’t think she’s too far behind him given Rumple’s actions vs Regina’s words.

Regina’s words and ideas get her into trouble; Rumple’s actions get him into tangled messes. Which is worse? Subjectivity.

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

[WickedRegal]

PriceofMagic wrote:

But the difference is Rumple IS recognising that he has done wrong, unlike Regina who’s always “it’s your fault” Regina doesn’t take responsibility for her actions whereas Rumple does even though he may try and justify them.

Sure. I get that. I think it’s a fair assessment. He might be a little bit further along Redemption Road than her, though I don’t think she’s too far behind him given Rumple’s actions vs Regina’s words. Regina’s words and ideas get her into trouble; Rumple’s actions get him into tangled messes. Which is worse? Subjectivity.

Wow…..Just…..Wow….Reading All The Recent Posts About Regina Has Me Like:

DEAR STORYBROOKE/Anti Evil Regal Fandom:

P.S. Only referencing to those that think Regina can’t get redemption…not really for the Forum Members dear! 😛

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

[Author]

Posts