Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-5094906-20130211185818/@comment-6402365-20130224213541

I think that Regina did control it, at least to quite an extent. Remember when Jefferson asked her for a new memory of a new life? Their conversation definitely made it seem like Regina was in control. She definitely seemed to be the one in control of the fact that he was left with his memories intact to begin with. Perhaps the curse did, in some way, simply enact what her desires were, but that seems rather vague. I think she must have had a very clear idea of the lives that she wanted for the people in Storybrooke beforehand.

On the other hand, now that I think about it some more...how could she have known what typical jobs and lives on Earth would be like? She wouldn't have been familiar with our culture. So, the truth is likely that she knew what she wanted each character's lives to be like, but the curse took care of the "minor" details like exact occupations.