Board Thread:Spoilers!/@comment-3407907-20141013135651/@comment-24674051-20141021175843

I think there was more going on that just feeding the CS Shippers.

Hook wants to change, and to a certain extent he has changed. But he has not truly dealt with his demons, his selfish pirate past, he's just suppressed it. I'm not sure why Rumple want's that, but he deliberately manipulated Hook to believe the cursed hand in order to have him unsuppress that part of him.

I think many of the events in the episode appear creepy or confusing simply because there was a lot of set up going on. The Sorcerer's apprentice hat got more explanation, as well as some exposition about why it is so important to Rumple. a part of Hook's character was reset (if you will), because Hook really needs to accept and deal with the inner pirate, just as Emma needs to deal with her inner "Lost Girl".

There is still more going on with Regina saving Marion, and the character growth they have managed with the very limited scenes for Regina have been great. Regina is really invested in saving Marion. When Henry expresses the simplistic view that Regina should be happy that Robin still loves her, and Marion being out of the way should be a good thing, Regina simply points out to Henry that it's just not that simple. (which it correctly isn't).

And I honestly think they may have some additional plans for Queen Mary Margaret, that have only been scratched at the surface.