Board Thread:Character Discussion/@comment-28162607-20180101191335/@comment-28162607-20180113122917

Now onto a more positive discussion of Hook's redemption, I love how it is more action than talk. Yes he does make verbal apologies and shows how remorseful he is but his redemption is mostly action, showing that he feels bad and making it up to people. Examples:

Saving Aurora's heart (which was a split second decision and comes down to instinct).

Trading the Jolly to get Emma back to her family.

Taking the Charmings to Neverland, which involved making a truce with his nemesis/abuser.

Refusing to harm Liam II.

Protecting Belle and being her friend when she needed one.

Someone can say they are sorry and they regret it until they are blue in the face, but those words are pretty much meaningless until you actually put some action behind them, which is what Hook does expertly and why his redemption works. His is "show don't tell" whereas certain other arcs seem to be "tell don't show".