Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-4519633-20141022032431/@comment-25926288-20161128004809

KnocknickKnock wrote: Like I said in an earlier post. Powerscaling/Magic became really screwed up when they gave Emma magic. I don't think it was when Emma got magic (since she had it in season 2). I think it started going wonky when they tried to explain it and then left it too chance. They set up Zelena too strong (and undefined like any magic user) then never been steady. Apparently Glinda was lying because Regina's not the strongest user of light magic by any means. Glinda said she tried when she didn't. Clearly the writers don't read the other episodes intensely. I mean if we did season 3b rankings it would go:

Rumple

Zelena

Regina

Emma

But they also had the weird "Zelena can't kill Emma" angle which wasn't explained. And with plot, Zelena could have killed Regina at any moment, but didn't. She could have killed and incapatiated Emma at any moment, but didn't. Basically a ton of PIS.

The issue is weird "Because the plot" moments. The way the set up Emma is to be the sole heavy hitter light magic person. Regina's suppose to be one of the top tier dark magic users. But they can't really have that. Then season 4 threw everything off with (Elsa and by transitive property) Ingrid. Ingrid was the combination of Once Magic and the overpowered nonsensical magic of Disney.

What they lacked to do is show, not tell. Rumple's the strongest magic user currently, but he does a little teleport here or there, while everybody else tosses energy blast and fireballs. They say "this door is enchanted by Hades (a deity)" and then Regina and Emma break through it, but can't phase Hyde. One moment, Regina's too weak, Zelena's barely able to open a portal, then later on they both open portals like it's a piece of cake. Even Hyde used the wand easily and with no concern.