Board Thread:Spoilers!/@comment-2153169-20170909025746/@comment-25926288-20171011194551

Under the Tremaine = Rapunzel theory, I believe we simply think that the reuniting with family happened in the past. Otherwise, that's like saying in (hypothetical) Tangled 2, it has to be about her reuniting with her family. I mean we have Tiana and she's not even focused on owning her own restaurant which is pretty much the big motive of hers in the film.

Plus, I like the theory that villains relive their greatest trauma. Rumple was manipulated and bullied, then he bullied and manipulated others. Cora had to bow before royalty, Cora wants to become royalty and make others bow to her. Etc, etc. So, Tremaine tearing this community, this "family" apart is what essentially happened to her.