Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-25926288-20161031005929/@comment-27257290-20161102213249

Eskaver wrote: As some theorized, Hook could have killed his dad a few weeks before the curse because we don't know if this was Regina first attempt at the curse (which she failed) and how long until the second.

Yes, all lands were frozen (except the LWM, possibly Neverland or the Afterlife realms) that we know of. So there could be a land where time did not freeze, but we know not which.

Or in a more cynical and truthful way, the writers didn't worldbuild in any pre-season planning and it shows. They are deflating their whole premise of the Dark Curse as the show progresses, seemingly unintentionally. I think we can assume that Regina tried to have Cora killed before she attempted the curse the first time, since she thought it would work, meaning Hook would have killed his father a while before the curse was enacted.

I always assumed it was just the "lands" in and around the EF that were frozen - i.e. Misthaven, Arendelle, Camelot etc, places they didn't need a portal to get to - and that other "worlds" remained untouched by the curse - i.e. Wonderland, Neverland etc. Time is frozen in Neverland anyway.