Board Thread:Character Discussion/@comment-27183981-20151109191317/@comment-25926288-20160319004914

Beautiful essay! But there are some chinks in that armor. Emma is "the Chosen One" and that has been a thing for thousands of years, plus she's the main character of an ensemble show and thus her role would be "Chosen One".

Some people are at odds with Emma being the Savior, but I think they sort of pick some of the nitpicky parts of the title. Emma being the Savior is a part of some destiny or prophecy of some sort and Rumple took advantage of that ill-fated role, just as he does everything. The problem isn't Emma being the Savior, but the daunting and unrealistic task given her: Bringer of Happy Endings. Now, breaking a curse sort of did that, but as Red said, some people may have been happier under the lies of the curse. Now, that task is more so defined as : Bringer of Happy Endings to the CharmMills(Stilskin? not so much) family and small circle of friends.

Now, Emma as Sherrif and being a spunky magic wielder defends the town (as that does prevent darkness from ruining "happiness") as her job, which I feel she took on because of who she hangs out with. Regina being Mayor and David being Deputy Sherrif, of course they have to face the Villain of the Month.

I feel that most of Emma's burdens are placed upon herself by herself (and others a little). Noone's making her try to make everyone happy, but Emma feels the need to do that being the pure-hearted person she is. She brung Regina happiness as a gesture of friendship rather than a role. Emma likely has some endtime battle she has to face, but Savior is just a catchy title until she fullfils that role.

Emma does grow separate from that role, but maybe not. She stuck to that role because of what it gave her. She got stuck by those she loves and maybe it's some subconsious desire for her to be loved that keeps her "stuck".

Emma lives in a loop and it's only a matter of time until she is free of it aka when the show ends. Emma is free of the DO curse (maybe) and she's apparently "finally coming upon the realization of her role as the Savior".