Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-24894791-20150806033922/@comment-25926288-20150806131600

So, sorry if that was a bit aggressive. All of it is opinion.

I wish for above all else great character development, especially with key interactions. I am a firm believer that these ships interfere with some good key interactions, but also.....(I'll go in depth)

1. Rumple and Belle Key interactions

Rumple is a dynamic character and Belle's a decent dynamic charcter as well. Their key interactions are phenomenal and that's not only the acting! Like in season 4 midseason finale, the townline scene was powerful in a character interaction because both characters were developing. Rumple was regessing into his villainous ways and Belle was progressing in becoming a hero. The only problem in some key interactions of theirs is that Rumple tends to dump exposition, especially on an amnsia or sleeping Belle.

2. Emma and Hook

Emma is dynamic, while Hook is dynamic at most times. The only issue (on an KI) is that sometimes or maybe often times, the other is static (or flat) while the other is dynamic. Emma's talk about her parents would have been better with Henry because it would develop Emma as well as add development to Henry's character. Hook was fairly static in that scene and pretty much for much of that arc. Likewise, when Rumple was controlling Hook, you could see the anguish he was in and Emma was pretty flat. Same with the finale when he got his heart back. Hook finds relief, and Emma abruptly walks off to drink some shots.....when it could have been a good character moment. But dynamic vs static (or flat) is most shown in......

3. Regina and Robin

Regina is dynamic, while Robin is fairly static. When a dynamic character has scenes with a static character, it's always about the dynamic character. Example, Regina had scenes with Archie in early season 2. They were great moments, but they were all about Regina, since Archie is static (understandably because he's a background character). That's the issues with R-R key interaction moments. It's all about Regina. All scenes Robin has with Regina is all about Regina. Robin's character doesn't get any help from those scenes. So, those scenes could be better if Robin is given an actual dynamic character instead of being a static cardboard cutout.

These character dynamics makes each relationship unique, but when these interactions are sometimes favored over being with other characters, it suffers. Let Robin talk about happiness with Regina from Rumple (which he did), but in 4a. Allow, Belle to interact Emma about her walls. This and much more. I'm not opposed to ships, but they shouldn't effect these key interactions when better options arise.

A key example of this was in 3x02, Emma's and Snow's bonding moment over Emma being abandoned was originally going to be Hook and Emma. That would have been a huge mistake which is why I'm glad they choose otherwise. They would have made the mistake to choose the love interest over a good moment between two dynamic characters. (Hook wasn't as dynamic as he is now.)

And most of this is all plot aside. So, for OutlawQueen. They should have let them have great character moments. Robin could have started as flat and slowly developed as a friend of Regina's and they grew closer and closer and then reveal the whole Lion tatoo. But instead, they revealed it before they got the chance to bond. That wouyld be the equivalent to saying in season 2 that Emma and Hook will get together and be a long term relationship. It would work better if the secret wasn't so easily exposed.

So, now in terms of romance.....OQ needs to slow down and actually become friends. I can belieive Snow and David are friends. I can believe Hook and Emma are becoming friends. I can't see Robin and Regina being friends whatsoever. They do more kissing than talking it seems. Hook and Emma's relationship should be on the back burner while Emma is being saved. Rumple needs to WORK on his redemption and not be whitewashed away. David needs to come from underneath Snb\ow's shadow.

All the characters deserve an arc to grow this season.