Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-25926288-20161128190003

Once is a show about hope. There's heroic deeds, forgiveness, and redemption. However, for me it pushes the bounds of believeable, but more importantly, acceptable redemption.

From my persective, it comes from the fundamental desire to "have their cake and eat it too" dilemma. Wanting to start Regina down the road to redemption, in season 2 they had Regina make attmepts to do good and struggle along the way. All was fine, but then it happened. Before and otherwise, Regina was just a vengeful tyrant who had a low death count as each one seemed significant. Then, 2x20 aired and it was shown that she had an extra-epithet to her name, mass murderer. That was a step beyond what should have been done, especially when the aim is to show how possible her redemption is. Season 3 muted that point quite a bit, but season 4 set it back on its destructive course. So, the wrathful tyrant with small kills became a one-time mass murderer and then in 4 and onwards, a casual-killing machine.

Now it isn't to say that Regina wasn't a murderer beforehand and pretty much everyone's a murderer now (on the show), however, it was a weird decision.

It continues on with other villains like Rumple, who progressively becomes more and more abusive, Hook, who seems to be neutralized for now but is still weak, and even Zelena, who was given a large offscreen death count even though we've never see it in her approach to things.

But when is there a point of no return? Does Rumple need to start kicking puppies? If Regina a good person now because she's no longer killing people left and right? Has Hook really changed his ways because he is currently happy?

I realized with a slight comparison that I don't know.

Regina then: an unforgiving, mass murderering tyrant with a victim complex, blaming erroneously

Regina now: an unforgiving, self-proclaimed hero with a victim complex, blaming erroneously

Rumple then: a manipulative, power hungry coward that thinks the ends justify the means

Rumple now: a manipulative, power hungry coward that thinks the ends justify the means

Hook then: an opportunistic drinker with a confidence problem who helps those that help him

Hook now: an opportunistic drinker with a confidence problem that's willing to help

What do you think is too far? Have any crossed off your list of redeemable or redeemed characters? Do you think it's possible for everyone to be redeemed currently? 