You know one of the things I love about Captain Swan? They are two of the fiercest, most badass people in any realm and yet together, they are the most adorable, affectionate, adoring couple ever.
Emma is the Savior. This is the woman who flat out told the very first dark one that she wasn’t nothing. That she was never nothing. She doesn’t let anybody tell her what to do or who to be. She takes no crap, not from her parents, not from villains or powerful adversaries, not from Killian.
Killian is one of the most infamous pirate captains in all fairy tale history. He goes toe to toe with dark ones and GODS. He gets threatened by some of the most powerful beings of all time and never fails to sass them back. He has literally been tortured, killed, hit by a car, had his heart ripped from his chest, and yet he still keeps on surviving.
Yet, you get these two in a quiet situation with one another and they are nothing but kisses and hand-holding and cheek presses and nuzzling and gentle touches. They are flirty banter and whispered words of comfort and love.
10 (anti) parallels of Hook believing in Emma / Others doubting in her
Requested by Anonymous
Sure, Snow, Regina, Neal, Ashley and others presented here had believed in Emma through the show, but they all had these moments in which they were doubting her, her good nature, and her abilities. But what is amazing is that even if you try to think really really hard, you can’t find even one situation all through the show that Hook has done the same even once.
His belief in her is a constant fact that was never shaken even a little bit. I have to also add a comment about Henry and David here. Because as much as I didn’t think Henry was doubting Emma, I was happy that I didn’t find a situation like that for David as well (I wish I could have say the same for Snow…). No doubt that Emma’s men have a complete faith in her.
Send me a parallel/anti-parallel and I will turn it into a 10 parallels gifset
This parallel is too amazing because it is both a parallel and an anti parallel at the same time. On one hand, Hook is the one that is putting the bars between him and Emma in both cases, while she is the one that is against it, but while on 2×09 it was all about putting himself first because of the betrayal he felt, in 5×20 it was all about putting her needs first, making sure that she will, this time, go back to her family, to her son (a thing he prevented from her in 2×09).
What’s also very different is that this time around it was him who was “left behind”, he put bars between them to leave himself inside “the prison”, which was the underworld, while she was literally sent up by him, to the world of the livings.
When I first saw the scene on 5×20 I didn’t quite get why they chose to do the ILY and the kiss while the bars were already between them, but this parallel just emphasizes more the power of this script choice (and it was script, I checked back then in the script that Adam gave us of the scene), because while the bars in 2×09 showed their strong separation, not only physically but also emotionally, in 5×20 they showed how nothing can come between them, how they are united even when there is something keeping them physically apart.
I have a lot to say about this anti parallel, but first of all I want to start by saying that I do acknowledge Regina’s redemption. I think she went a long way from being the EQ to the person that she is today. Nevertheless, along the way there were things that bothered me (and still bother me), and I expressed them here in the gifset, and gonna address them below in this meta. I’m gonna do it point by point referring to the order of the gifs.
1) While Hook was always careful about calling himself a hero because he realized the impact of this word, Regina was using/uses it about herself so lightly, even when she’s not being a “true” hero.
2) Like in this moment right here. The second after she talked about her own “heroism” she goes and say this sentence that no real hero would ever say. The real hero here was Emma who told her “What mattered was she was a person. And…whatever she did, she didn’t deserve to die.” This is how heroes should talk and think. However, heroes would end up feeling guilty even for things that weren’t in their control, like Hook did a second after saying that he’s hardly a hero.
3) Another thing that always bugged me was Regina’s motive for change. It always seems like she wanted to change in order to change her “luck” to a good one because “villains always lose, and heroes always win”. When she talked about working to built a future and that she lost it, she meant becoming a hero so she could gain a good future. I don’t like this attitude, because the change should come because you want with all your heart to be a better person, with acceptance that it doesn’t necessarily mean that you will have a good life or good luck. Hook on the other hand always seems to accept the cards that were given to him. In the moment of truth he chose to stay good over a possible future. Any future.
4) Something that was always missing for me was Regina’s guilt. I know she did feel it along the way, but after all she did she should have felt a lot more guilty and take responsibility than we ever saw her. That moment from season 3A was so truthful for her. The truth is that all the bad things she did brought her the best thing she ever had in her life, and although she has change for the better, the regret over what she did could never get strong because of it. Hook on the other hand felt guilty even over something he did while being consumed by the darkness of the DO, and that he stopped at the last second.
5) Another thing I don’t like about Regina’s redemption arc is the constant whining and constantly victimizing herself. She caused to others more pain that she ever experienced herself. Like she once told Zelena: “You can’t keep painting yourself as a victim. It’s absurd.” Hook on the other hand always accepted his fate, and always took responsibility for his own demons.
6) This point was so lately on the show, and it really bugged me. Regina was talking to Zelena about how she saved her because that’s what heroes (like herself) do, but then she comes and say something that heroes will never say: “I can never forgive you”. Because heroism isn’t only about saving people’s lives, it’s also about compassion and forgiveness. Hook had learned that lesson, she hasn’t.
7) I gave Ariel here as an example of how Regina ignores the bad doings that she did to people. In the past she prevented Ariel from reuniting with Eric. A thing that lasted through the entire dark curse and a little more. But when she’s hearing about Ariel she just insults her and call her “that fish”. Hook on the other hand from just hearing that Ariel is there felt that enormous guilt over what he did to her. Not knowing that he didn’t prevent her from being with Eric at all.
8) I gave the Belle example to show how while being after (or better say during) a successful redemption, Regina still manage to be shady, taking out Belle’s heart without her knowing. While Hook is to this day feels guilty about things he did to her before his redemption process began.
9) That author fiasco. Something about Regina is always seeking the easy way out. I’m not happy, I’ll just force someone to write me a happy ending. It doesn’t work like that in life. You make your own story, and you are the one to decide who you are and what you write for yourself. I’m acknowledging the fact that Regina realized it at the end, but it took her an entire season and to place in danger everyone around her. Hook on the other hand always knew his role in his redemption. He knew that he’s the one to decide who he is, and he was even strong enough to resist the darkness of the DO because of it.
10) That EQ fiasco. The entire problem that lead to Regina taking out the EQ was that Regina couldn’t acknowledge that the EQ and “she” were the same person. She started (and later on continued after this sentence) to talk about her as a separated person from her “everything she did”. No Regina, it was YOU who did these horrible things. It is you who needs to live with it. Yes, live with the pain, go through it, overcome it. Again Regina was taking the easy way out in her redemption. To just take out the dark side, blame everything on it and destroy it. Life doesn’t work like that. You need to accept your bad and good side and decide everyday that the good side is wining. Hook on the other hand was always aware of his responsibility. Look at that situation from 5×15. He could have blamed it on the darkness that possessed him. He could have even blame it on Emma that turned him into the DO and didn’t believe in his ability to resist it (which lead to him not believing it himself and let the darkness consume him eventually).
So at the end of this very long meta (sorry!) I want to sum that while both redemption arcs are successful ones, I think the way to it is just as important. And in that sense I can’t be more proud of Killian and the healthy way he got were he is now at.
I reject the notion that Killian manipulated Emma into kissing him in Good Form. He issued a challenge yes, but she’s a big girl and could have easily walked away from him. She didn’t want to because she had feelings for him even though she was far from admitting it. Emma initiated a kiss perhaps partly to settle a score, but they both wanted it and both were clearly screwed afterwards.
Same here. No, he didn’t manipulate her. No way.
And like you said, it was Emma’s choice to kiss him.
He didn’t manipulate her, but like you said Kris @flipperbrain, he issued a challenge and she jumped on the chance. In fact if we put our minds to it we could probably come up with a good argument that she pushed him to challenge her
Another thing to note, and maybe this is just me thinking this. But after saving David’s life and he was getting praised for doing so (though it wasn’t about saving his life), he didn’t want that recognition so he resorts to flirting. It’s who he is when he doesn’t want to be vulnerable. Whip out an innuendo here or there and it diffuses the tense situation.
And like you all said, it was Emma’s choice to kiss him, she could’ve walked away but she didn’t. And never has Killian ever forced anything on her, their entire relationship she’s setting the pace. Hell, she practically had to ask him to tell her how he got to her in New York. Remember how he didn’t want to say anything until she had to get it out of him?
I just get so tired of the ridiculous scrutiny Killian goes through. I mean, I’m a flirty, dirty talking, inappropriate person 90% of the time, lol, as are many of my friends and colleagues. We are adults and interact as adults sometimes do. You always have to consider the situation of course and the comfort/friendship level of the people you’re talking to… but I see things said about what I consider innocuous remarks like the “that’s usually my tactic” line and think I’ve said the same kinds of things myself when I’ve been out carousing. It doesn’t mean I acted on it and roofied some dude at the bar. It’s the literal interpretations and the jump to half-assed psychology that bugs me. This is why I have decided NOT to run for President in 2020. I’m sure my illicit behavior would do me in even though the bar has been set pretty low these days. 😉
Case and point he was literally standing at least far enough away that she had to reach out and grab his lapels to haul him in for a kiss that it shows he was not up in her face or in any way in her personal bubble. Sure he issued a challenge but he probably thought he was going to get turned down yet again. Besides lets look at her face right before she locked lips with him
she hasn’t even grabbed him yet but she is laser focused on his lips and the WANT in her eyes is about as obvious as bonfire in the middle of darkness
This is when she is hauling me in and that is the same look I get when I am about to eat a big old bite of Triple Death Chocolate Cake, She is HUNGRY to lip lock with that flirty Pirate and she is about to take no prisoners. She has been WAITING for this moment and excuse to kiss him and nothing is gonna stop her….
She hits him with such force, her face squishes up against his….
and the force of her attack throws them both backwards… Meanwhile she gripping him hard making sure he ain’t goin nowhere…
THey rock back and lo and behold one of her hands has traveled to the back of his head, further making sure he is not gonna break away from her till she is good and ready…
And now her brow is slightly creased…she must be thinking. “OMG this is waaaaay better that I thought it would be and I don’t want it to end!”…..
Killian is enjoying this too. ;)….
Ok, time to take a breath of air…..
ROUND 2 !!!!!!!!
Killian tries to be a gentleman and disengage here…..
And Emma thinks “Oh Hell NO!!” and chases him for more…
A few more eternal moments of bliss and she disengages but you can tell she is fighting herself here.. she is so far gone and WANTING more that it scares the begeezus out of her…
SO yeah..she wanted it and she wanted it BAD/……sorry I got carried away with the pics. 😉 😉 🙂
Firstly, bless that beautiful analysis and commentary.
Secondly, if I may add….
Emma purposely snuck behind those bushes with intention.
That’s my personal opinion.
Homegirl could have went back to camp with mom and pappa dearest, but she had this look on her face before turning in the other direction to lead Killian underneath the bleachers so her friends and the principal wouldn’t catch them.
Look at that face. She’s all “target locked and ready”.
I mean- look how out of sight from the others she went.
She may as well have said “psst! Killian! over here so we can make out!”
if she didn’t have plans to grab a piece of pirate, she could have stayed where she was *shrugs*
And when Killian teases about gratitude being in order….
SHE IS SMILING.
SHE’S GOTTEN THE REACTION SHE WANTED.
THIS IS CALLED ‘PLAYING HARD TO GET’, FOLKS.
OPERATION ‘LUSTY LIPLOCK’ IS A GO.
Seriously. Emma wasn’t some confused delicate flower tricked into owing the guy a smooch.
She’d been been wanting the same as him for days.
She just didn’t want him knowing it.
eye fucking….
damn, he caught me…
LOOK. AT. HER. WATCHING. THE. BOOTY. WALK. AWAY.
EVEN SNOW KNOWS WHAT’S UP!
Tell me that’s not a mother knowing her daughter is going after the ‘bad boy’ and is mentally planning an intervention.
So I thought about talking some positivity and what better way than going back and looking on CS moments I still can’t believe we were given?
Their first kiss, okay, I mean, they could have cared less about Emma’s stance on this relationship and have her simply out of nowhere start liking Killian and that’s it. I mean, I liked it from the first moment, I was waiting for it to be perfect but never did I feel Emma was nowhere close.
And I appreciated that so much. They managed to balance Emma’s traits of being a mother, a friend, a woman falling in love and an important character of her own and not make her indifferent or boring at any moment. You don’t usually get a female character who gets so much, let alone someone who is so likeable and relatable.
And they did the same with her romance.
All this talk about Killian “pressuring” Emma, and all I can see is Killian waving at her a LET ME LOVE YOU sign. They never make the mistake of showing that Emma owes him anything, instead they have Killian keep showing her that she can open up, that she is loved right where she is. That she can belong there so long as she wants it.
And boy, we all know how much she does want to find a home. But she’s afraid, and the show doesn’t shy away from showing that her fear is justified and normal. And Killian never shows her that her fear is irrational, he simply tries to get her to fight this fear.
Because you know that he is fighting his own fear of losing the people he loves. And ok now I’m touching CS movie material so that’s a whole thing by itself.
This post is an offshoot from the one I made earlier
about the Savior’s birthplace being Agrabah.
Just as a disclaimer, I’m not a religious person, I’m
not religiously inclined in the least, I don’t believe in a lot much to my
parents’ dismay, and my answer to everything is the Big Bang, because the Big
Bang, and also pragmatism. But I do know enough to recognize symbolism when I see it, so of course, research time, and down the rabbit hole.
If you’re not into the religious connotations from
season 5 with regard to Killian’s death and subsequent resurrection, which is a
word I’ve been impossibly gun shy about using, even though that’s exactly what
happened in episode 5×21, if you’re not into the Arthurian Legends and anything
to do with religious symbolism/imagery then this post isn’t for you.
anyways the purest scene in all of ouat that isn’t snowing will always be that one part in the season four finale when emma accidentally runs straight into an un-remembering killians arms in the au enchanted forest death star tower & proceeds to gaze @ him w unhindered and radiant adoration for a solid minute whilst he blushes and looks confused
But I love this so much. He’s stunned, looking at her like she’s literal sunshine after he’s spent his life in the dark, and she looks like he’s air and she’s been dying to breathe.
Honestly I just love that the icing on the cake is that huge ass flame behind them.
Very symbolic.
This moment has made me teary more than once. It’s so beautiful.
I can’t think of a better gifset to open this new hiatus project with!
We always say how similar both of them are (kindred spirits and all), but I decided to take this request to show how they parallel in their treatment to one another in this relationship.
I’ve been hearing things about how Emma isn’t there for Hook as much as he is there for her, and that is absolutely not true! It did take her a while to get there, I’m not saying it didn’t, but she is there for him as much as he is there for her. Their relationship is so open, and healthy. They are there for each other 100%, and all of the above are just a few examples for that.
Send me a parallel/anti-parallel and I will turn it into a 10 parallels gifset
The marriage is a formality at this point. Hook has given up his revenge, his ship, his livelihood, and his LIFE for Emma. Multiple times. They’ve been proven True Love and he’s made it clear – many times over – that his happy ending lies with her.
They already share a home and a life. Making it “official” by getting married is all about ceremony and tradition. That’s what wedding largely are in “Emma’s world”.
Hooks world – well that’s a different place. Where Hook hails from a man like Charming would question Hooks intentions toward his daughter when they just started dating. Where Hook is from a man of honor would ask for a fathers blessing before proposing to a woman. Because, in Hooks world and in Emma’s a marriage is often about bringing TWO FAMILIES together as much as it is about bringing two people together.
And in fact that’s the way it’s always been. So much of the pomp and circumstance surrounding weddings has its roots in the social and economic union between families.
I get that’s where the problem lies for some fans. They don’t like the idea of Emma getting married in a way that reflects that way of thinking. But why not get worked up about the engagement ring too then???
That ring is also symbol with its roots in oppression of women. Wedding bands were not work by men until recently in the U.S. Becuase, like in many other places, the wedding ring was a piece of jewelry that marked a woman as married – taken.
But I’m not going to get outraged if Hook uses a ring to propose to Emma. And I’m not upset by the idea of Hook asking for Charming’s blessing when it comes to he and Emma spending the rest of their lives together. Largely because I see these things as having different meaning now, and for the people involved, than they did in days past.
Hook and Charming had a rocky start and have grown so much since then – I think I’d like to see Hook approach Charming about this – I’d like to see him let Charming know that he’d like to be part of HIS family – that he’s not just looking for a union with Emma, but a relationship with ALL of them. Personally that’s how I see the whole blessing thing.
Now if he asked for Charmings *permission* I’d see it differently – but I don’t expect that, not after the conversation they had regarding his relationship with Emma at the ice wall back in 4a. Hook doesn’t see Emma as loot. We know he sees himself as unworthy of HER. And asking for a blessing isn’t exactly like negotiating a bride price or a dowry!
So I personally wouldn’t mind a little scene where Charming remarks that NOBODY would ever be good enough for his daughter but since Hook HAS grown on him and loves Emma like no other, and she apparently loves him back… maybe- just maybe – he could get used to the idea of being a father in law to a pirate. As long as Hook agrees not to start calling him “Dad”.
cshappybeginning 