Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-25926288-20160509005929/@comment-25926288-20160509015208

The issue with the character arc is similar to Hook's in season 3.

Hook gives up so much anmd he learns that, but then is given all that he wanted.

Emma learns to let go and then ends up getting all that she wanted.

The thing about real life and growing as a person is that when you learn something, it doesn't come with rewards. When you learn to process grief, you don't just get the person back because you learned how to deal with it. Sure the show is about hope, but guess what? Regina loses Robin and what about her? Emma lost Neal? Rumple lost Neal? The list goes on. Why do the few get the rewards and the many get the scraps and the hard life.

It's Zeus ex machina.