Board Thread:Character Discussion/@comment-25926288-20151211170125/@comment-28162607-20170804141106

Eskaver wrote: CoolDudeAl wrote: You didn't happen to create a different user, just so you could drag up a long inactive thread, just so you could defend Captain Swan more, did you? Lol, I think it may just be a coincedence.

However to address the points, it's all about framing. Saying Regal Believer is unhealthy is pretty nonsensical as they have had a great relationship since season 3.

Timeline: Regian used and lied actively to Henry for a few months (September to March), she tried to change for him, backslide into bad habits, then from that point forward recognized how important Henry was to her.

I know some would point to "Hey, Regina told Henry she didn't want to see him!" However, I guess they didn't get the narrative contrast that was going on because practically minutes later Henry comes home and Regina welcomes him in happily.

I could frame CS as Hook trying to kill/indirectly kill and betray Emma for months. However, I don't use that any more than Regina's lying to Henry because the relationship got better.

Basically, it appears to simply be favoritism. It's favoritism/hatred + "Look at what they did in the past", which would pretty much condemn every couple and relationship on the show. A 'great relationship' in which Regia neglects  Henry because her week long boyfriend broke up with her, tells him that he is not enough to make her happy and all his time revolves around making her happy. And the fact that in 4x02 Henry had to beg to be let in to his own home and she only did so because he said he believed in her is all kinds of messed up. You don't get to take a day off from being a parent because you're sad and your child should not have to beg to be let into his own home (even saying "I miss my room!")

In s4 Henry was worried she would go evil again because she lost Robin. That is not healthy. He spends all of s4 telling her it wasn't her fault, that the book was wrong for portraying her as a villain. Hell when Marian is dying he says "isn't that a good thing?" Henry is so foucssed on making sure Regina is happy that he argues that a woman's death is a good thing. I am in the camp that he did not actually believe that, he just said what Regina wanted to hear, but it was still disturbing to hear him say it.

All throughout s4 Henry is working iwth Regina to help rape Robin. When he is with Emma and Killian they play video games or go sailing, doing things that make Henry happy. Regina does things that make her happy.

So yes, Regal Beliver is a very good example of how True Love =/= healthy relationship. Whether or not the writers did it on purpose is up for debate.