Board Thread:Show-Related Questions and Answers/@comment-26255666-20150401220207/@comment-25926288-20150408120134

HP7hghrOUaTekscrrF10rrmc wrote: I disagree. I think that Emma was scared of making a choice, mostly because Neal was the father of her son. But at least to me it seemed like they were getting along pretty good even before Neal died. Besides, Emma and Hook didn't become a couple until after they went to the past. and in that time, she was flirting with him and joking, while he had that cursed lips thing. I think that the fact that Neal died let her be open about her feelings. I also think that if he didn't die, Emma wouldn't be with him, because she never has, and never will, forgive him. Opinions, and I'll respect them. But Emma wasn't going towards Hook until Neal was gone. Hook had no competition and he wasn't trying to get back to Emma, Neal was. Hook was just the carrier pigeon. If Neal could, he would and then Emma could start to build a benevolent relationship with him. I mean, at least he didn't try to kill her. And as you say, they didn't become a couple until afterwards, but you can see the hand of the writer at work (and I don't mean the peddler). After Neal died, it was Zelena "I'm going to curse your lips because your totes going to be together". That was them (the unseen hands) pushing Hook to be kissed by Emma, pushing them to be together. Then you have the unseen hand, telling Charming to tell Emma to take Hook with him when facing Zelena. I mean besides for the plot, how did that make any sense? Hook ends on the floor more than he ends upright and was still a casualty and useless in that encounter. I mean send Robin or the Merry men, because at least they have a better chance at killing her.

But then again, I'm a non-shipper, so Neal's death did greatly effect Rumple's character since that was his motivation for three seasons and to just drop it makes no sense. It's like Regina forgetting about Daniel and not being hesitant with Snow.