Board Thread:Spoilers!/@comment-27060727-20161015022604/@comment-24674051-20161015125633

Now THERE is an interesting theory, and one that fits most of what we know of the hooded attacker (which isn't much). The biggest thing being that it is someone that we already know. And Even with the knowledge now that Regina is a competent swordsman, I still find it more believable that Robin would be able to get the best of Emma in a sword fight. And it would indeed be a surprise.

As for the lack of build up, I expect that. We know that the event is going to occur, and we know that it is not Killian, David, Snow, or Henry. Currently, no one else has been ruled out. My guess is the 'build up' will be a slow process of elimination, ruling out suspects, leading up to all signs pointing to Regina (we are already starting to get that). Then, at the last second (so to speak), we could get the switch to the surprise that it's Robin under the hood.

And, if it IS Robin, the real questions that arise are "How is he there, since he is dead?" and "Why would he kill, or at least attempt to kill, Emma?" and my guess there would be that the answer to both questions is somehow related.