Board Thread:Character Discussion/@comment-11058666-20150819040345/@comment-25758988-20150827123745

Long post. :)

Ok. Favourite character? So many to choose. I love all the cast with the exception of one but I will get into that in a bit.

I love Regina and Rumple. Characters are complex, a little contrived, massive egos and a logic that tells them whatever evil they do its all for the greater good of themselves. It makes their decisions and actions seem all that more dramatic. And I love a bit of drama. Then of course we have their wardrobe! Best costumes on the show. The actors are also so so so words can not explain the brilliance of their acting ability. Both stars are fantastic (not saying the other cast members aren't brilliant in their own way but these guys raise the bar so high), even simple character moments where there is no dialogue but so much is said with the emotion you see on their face. They give me goosebumps!

Charming is a great character who seems the most pure. I realise the baby thing was bad and it doesn't show the character as more human but more the archetype hero is is written as in every book we know. He is not just thinking about his daughters well being but how her dark/lightness will effect her, her mother, himself and how it would effect the whole kingdom. He and Snow know their choice was wrong but it seemed like the only choice "they" felt they had. This is prop the most human they could make Charming and Snow but they have put him on a path to go that extra mile to live up to is reputation and to protect his daughter and the kingdoms from her wrath. I hope to see a more heartbreaking scene between Charming and Emma in season 5, a choice that Charming will hve to make: His daughter or the world and I hipe he choose the world. Also again I don't think you could find a better actor to play this role, Josh is perfect. The fact as well that he is actually married to Gennifer in real life adds a whole deeper level to their acting.

Snow is brilliant and yes she has an ego but her ego seems to have come from her experiences in Storybrook. I would like to think that she has watched Disney's Snow White and realised how important the film was and has gain an ego as an after effect lol. But She has every right to feel like she is the avator for hope, peace, doing the right thing etc because she knows she is a heros and again thanks to Storybrook knows she is Snow White from every version of literature she has ever "read" as Mary Margret. She and charming did make the wrong call with Mal, the part that made me question Snows integrity was when Mal asked her mother to mother to protect her child and Snow refused. I am not sure how I feel about that but it adds a new level of complexity of the reasons why I like her. Bandit Snow is an amazing part of Snows history, I loved how she fought for her own moral code, similar to Robin Hood. She helps a desguised Regina, she helps Red, She sacrifices her freedom for Ariel. It was a defining part of what makes Snow Snow, plus it prob adds a little to her ego lol. Acting brilliant by Gennifer and looks so much like I imagined Snow to look.

Hook and Robin Hood are decent enough characters despite their flaws. I do have to agree with a comment I read that there is no real reason for Robin to love Regina and no reason for Regina to love Robin excpet for fairy dust and a pixies word. I don't think they have much in common but I suppose it was a physical atraction that drew them together and perhaps a relationship developed. But I have a lot of respect for Robin (except his cheating on "Marian") but he has his honour and he will live by his strict code. A code that is perfect for the world he was born into. A code that does not always work in anyones favour when applied to this world. We see him make choices vi his code that end up hurting people he loves or in Marians case thought he loved. This world is not all black and white so his code can lead him anywhere. Acting not as good as our first Robin but good enough. Hook is a pirate with a hard life, he has done dark things from pillaging, to theft, to murder but there is something I see in Hook that compels me to watch, I am not even sure why. I loved his interaction with Rumple especially crocodile Rumple. His relationship with Emma is a interesting one. She does seem to like the bad boy. I think this could also be a side effect of Snows all light and goodness, especially in regards Hook. I actually think his badness seems to lighten Emma and as a rebound seems to light up Hook. He makes choices that put his relationship with Emma in dangerous teritory for her sake or for the sake of those she loves. Colin also great in the role.

Belle: Oh Belle. I like Belle but she does have flaws but I put that down to bad writing on her part and not down to natural character flaws. I do love the fact that she is the ONLY one to still stand up to Regina, I love she has not forgiven her for locking her up for however many years, that she tells her helping her would go against who she is as a person. She is generally taked into helping despite her disike for Regina because she is a decent person. She wants to be this keen adventureer and be the kind of person that helps anyone (except for Anna, again bad writting) She freed Robin and was adament that he may have stolen Rumples wand but he only did it for a good reason. Believing the best in people is not a bad trait, but can seem wrong when it is messed up with bad writting. The way her and Rumples relationship has gone through so many twists and turns, ups and downs, she stuck by him through so much because she believed he was a good person. She finally realised that was not the case and did the best thing she could ever do and force him across that town line. That scene was played so heartbreaking I was fighting back the tears. I actually felt sorry for Belle, notmally my feelings would be with Rumple but Belle was the hero and she did something that will forever haunt her, even now Rumple found his way back. She has to come to terms with what she did and the reasons why she did what she did. She says she still loves him but can he ever be the man she hopes he is, his heart is pureer but is it going to be enough to change Rumples mindset? I can not wait to see how their reationship will play out in season 5.

Henry's acting skills have definitally changed but beter or for worse? I really can not say. I did prefer his acting ability when he was younger but now he seems to have the maturity he needs to have to deal with all these difficulties. I always thought Henry was a bit of a plot driving force then an actual character but since season 3 and his trip to Neverland he seems to have come out and developed slightly. I did love the idea of him being the one with the heart of the truest believer. That made perfect sense and I have to point out in regards Neverland storyline Jarad played his most memorable scenes as the body swapped Peter Pan. He was brilliant. He had just the right amount of mix between what Peter Pan thought Henry would do in a situation and Peter Pan himself. I defo prefered him playing Peter Pan then Peter Pan playing Henry, I mean what was that?? Season four built up his character again and gave him the posotion of the next Author. I mean that was perfect and actually I may be the only one but It never occured to me that Henry would be choosen, so that was a nice twist for me.

Now I also loved the secondary characters from season 1 and 2. Red being my top. Meggan was brillant at playing the confident Red and the not so confident Red about to change into dangerous animal with no control. Playing Ruby was brilliant and again seeing the difference in Ruby after she left the diner for a few days and worked with Emma. It was very interesting. My only regret for this show is she is no longer a series regular.

Bue is an interesting character and I have high hopes for her as the show progresses. She has so much more to give.

Dr Whale was just excellent. I loved his interactions with Red/Ruby, it has been great seeing Frankenstien and werewolf on the same show. Plus he seems to play a male version of Ruby as  bit of a ladies man who sleeps with Snow, which gave us the best quote in my opinion: David: "You slept with Dr Whale?" Snow: "We were cursed!". Has me in stitches. (Even though no mention of the fact that David slept with Kaythryn, mmmm?)

I love the whole disney thing and Once so I simply loved Ariel and Prince Eric, loved Elsa and Anna, loved Mulan, loved Rapunzel and loved Cinderella and Prince Thomas.

I also have a real love for Aurora and Philip. I think that Aurora was a brilliant character in season 2 and had that mix of living as a princess and being the strong character that she needed to be in any scene. To me she was the enchanted forests equivilent to Snow, while she was in Storybrook. Both were good leaders, both knew about sacrifice (althoug in Auroras case we have not seen that) both were willing to do what was needed to serve their kingdoms. I really hope there is ore to her story and we will see her relationship with Mal and how it went so wrong. I also think Sarah played the role beautifully. Philip again is the forest version of Charming. He did things for his love and for his kingdom only Charming would do. Plus being born a royal (or at least I believe he was born a royal, that they both were) adds a level of complexit to him that Charming does not have. I am still hoping and hoping we will see the flashback scene that showed Aurora and Mulan getting his soul back.

Cora and Zelena. Wow. Power houses! I love how Cora started off as the Millers Daughter, then mother to Regina then the Queen of Hearts. Then back to being mother and wanna be dark one. So many levels to the charcter it is hrad to pin point my favourite. She has gone through life thinking love is weakness and ripping out her own heart. That puts her on such a unique path. The moment Snow gave Regina Cora's heart after cursing it was heartbreaking. You could see the emotional connection with what Snow was saying to Regina about having a mother who truly loved you, you could see in in her eyes. When she puts her heart back inside Cora and Cora wakes up and there is so much love on her face for Regina. She even said Regina would be enough just as she was. Another scene that breaks my heart every time I see it and its breaktaking. I loved her role as the Queen of Hearts and loved her teaching Anna magic in the Spin off. I iked the bond they were formng as she kew she would never have that with Regina. Zelena wow again. I love this character and I love the crazy way she is related to to the charming family. The way she was abandonded and sent to Oz must of actually been difficult for Cora. Zelenas magic being their even as a baby was cool and intriguing. I would have liked more back story on how she grew up and had magic in a world that seemed to reject it. How did she cope with her "mothers" death on Oz? Did that incident cause her magic to spill out in uncontrolable methods? She did seem quite adept at using her magic, despite her father scolding her for using magic. Did she have a teacher before Rumple? Her back story is very intriguing to me but the story we have seen has thrilled me too, I have really enjoyed her whole jealously thing and wanting something you cant have. It added complexity to her search for Rumple and her family which we see when she realises her real mother abandoned her and raised Regina. The whole her replacing Marian thing is a bit strange but I guess the writters did not want to get rid of the actress. But again thats more down to bad writing and cant see how Robin would not have realised she was not his wife. A little habit he knew Marian had but Zelena didn't, a memory shared between the real Marian and Robin. Never mind. Not her fault and as the writters will prob agree the actress is brilliant.

Cruella and Ursula were the only QOD I was looking forward to seeing. Ursula was interesting, I admit more could have been done with her, perhaps an interaction with Ariel (I know it woud not relate to their story as they are different characters then in the film) but I would love to have even the slightest conversation, even a hello as Ariel walks past her or something. I would have loved more story explaining her powers and whether she ws just a princess or deity. I think I think she has wasted potential. Cruella was one of the most fasinating characters on the show. The main point of the show alongide magic has a price is that evil is not born its made. Well Cruella shoves that theory down her mothers throat before letting her dogs tear her to bits and stiching up the dogs as a fur jacket. She was evil for the sake of being evil. One of the scarest things about a pyschopath is when they don't have a reason for doing the evil they commit, Cruella has no reason for her evil except her own pleasure. Her ability to control animals was an intriguing twist the show added which I did not expect. I also loved she could not take a life, thanks to Issac. She was always the safest QOD, in fact there was no way she would have left her car on the railway while she was trying to convince Regina to join them. I think Emma killing her was a major step in her turning dark. Her death gives me goosebumps and shivers everytime I watch it. Victoria played her role so fantastic. Oh and we also have a great reference to Tangled when Snow hits Cruella with a frying pan. Genius!

Will Scarlet had to come into the discussion somewhere and I am saying I actually like him. I loved him in the spin off and loved his appreances on the main show. His attachment to Belle is interesting, there is a lot we don't know about this chaarcter and his appearence in Storybrook is also a mystery. But I my mind he is using Belle (not in a particularly evil way) as a source of infromation about Wonderland. He takes a book of Alice in Wonderland from the library so I think something has happened and he needs to get back and as he knows there are no more portals he needs to keep close to Belle and her library and Rumples shop. I want a bit of a flash back to see his relationship with his sister develop. She seems to have played a huge part of defining the character of Will Scarlet. I also hope the writers keep him on the show and hopefuly we might proof that Anna is Cinderellas stepsister after all.

Oh and speaking of the spin off I really loved Jafar. Brilliant casting and interesting backstory. His punishment as a genie is still waiting to be developed so I hope we will see him come back in season 6 or 7.

Right I have to also say I hate Emma! I am hoping we may see something from her in season 5 and I hope being the next dark one adds a bit of depth to the character. I know I will be hated here but again most of what I dislike about Emma is a error on the shows writers. When we first met Emma as a bail bonds woman on a date with a perp was the only time I liked the character. Her whole personality during season one was just strange. Henry and her develop some relationship which I did not buy for several reasons. I have nothing whats so ever against Jennifer Morrison and my problem is not how she is portrayed. She is flat. It is as a smimple reason as that. If the show was just about Emma and Henry they both would be perfect and I would not dislike her a much as I do. I also feel Henry was very flat in season 1 and 2 but at least he showed a different side to his personality and an new side to his character, Emma though? No she is nothing against the other characters in the show. Put her besides Snow, Charming, Regina and Rumple who have so so so many sides to their personality even if we just compare their enchanted forest and their Storybrook counterparts there is so much depth. Then in the cases of these four we see even their counterparts have different variations, not even slightly but if we look at Regina we see her go from normal princess, to learning magic from Rumple, Evil Queen mode prior to Snows wedding, Evil Queen post wedding to Major Mills, to Evil Queen/Mayor Mills to Reedeming Regina and we have in comparison Emma. Who is just Emma. Yes we can argue she went from thief to bails bonds woman but thats all you can say. Even if you want to say she went from having no children to being a mom but that has only really occured recently during their year apart, they had their moments during season 2 and 3 but it did not happen till you took all the other characters away.

Her magic skills could cound as a new side to her character but it did not seem like a problem till Elsa came to town. and plot needed her powers to go a little funky to find a link between the two characters.

Her realtionship with everyone in the town also seems a little werid to me but again I am placing the blame on the writing. She just ends up being whatever she needs to be for the plot to move forward. Her personality changes when needed and she will lose the focus she had built up to ask silly questions and take peoples words they have changed. I know I am being harsh but I do hope season 5 changes my opinion. I hoped season 2, 3 and 4 would but I do have faith the show can do it at some point. Sorry for all the Emma lovers out there.