Board Thread:Character Discussion/@comment-10663213-20180306175318/@comment-1867880-20180331182123

Emillian Swanones wrote: Aine1989 wrote: Completely disagree. Hook and Nook are the exact same guy just in different situations.

I made a post about it on my Tumblr here:

http://newyearsswifts.tumblr.com/post/169575118399/original-hookwish-hook-similiarities

They have the same personalities and traits, said traits just manifested differently because they were in different situations.

I would like to point out that when Hook threatened Rumple, Rumple was working with the Black Fairy to destroy them all. Heroes threaten the villains, it's kinda the MO.

Snow threatened Regina. Charming threatened Arthur. Emma threatened Pan. Are they all evil sociopaths? My thoughts exactly And mine. Out of all the characters on this show, Hook's redemption arc is the one that was done the best, and Zelena is a close second. Everything I am about to say about Hook is also true about her.

Unlike certain other villains (i.e. Regina and Gold), Hook doesn't just say he's sorry for what he's done or that he loves Emma and Henry -- he proves it in his actions. Regina is the character who has never shown any real remorse or regret for her actions, and Gold is the one who never had any real redemptive journey. Rather than saying he wanted to change like Regina and Gold have, Hook just jumped in and aided the heroes, and since that point only had one real relapse - when he was the Dark One - and that wasn't his fault; I don't think any Dark One should be held accountable for their actions after they cease to be the Dark One.

For example, nobody asked Hook to save David's life in "Good Form"; he got nothing from that. He and David were not close then, and if he were doing it just to win Emma's heart, he could have done it a lot more publicly. The way he did it, there was no guarantee Emma would find out about it. The only explanation is that he just didn't want Emma to lose her father.

And the biggest argument, I think, for Hook's being truly redeemed and regretful of his past actions is the fact that he doesn't believe he's fully reddeemed; he still thinks he has much to atone for. His apology to Belle in season six is all the proof I need that he's fully redeemed. Belle said she forgave him, and Emma said it in another episode, and neither one's forgiveness was enough for him. The fact that Hook can't seem to forgive himself proves that he's a true hero.

And even though I don't think I need any more reasons to justify my opinion that Hook is a good man and a true hero is that the few times Hook has actually lied to Emma or deceived her -- except for his time as the Dark One -- it has been out of shame for what Emma would think of him. and because he doesn't think he is worthy of her because of the things he's done. He's harder on himself than anyone. In fact, it surprises and shocks me that his goodness and heroism is even being debated; to me, it has been a truism since the end of season two.