1st scene, me: “Finally! See? Regina loves Henry! She IS a good mom! FU haters, I was right!”
2nd scene, me: “Of course they had to have Emma out-mom Regina. Of course. FU show!”
So many things wrong with these scenes…
1st: Henry, how about a little gratitude and compassion for the mother who is trying to make you smile… with a video game that as it turns out, you absolutely love! Who clearly feels terrible about your book being lost? Who you still don’t believe she didn’t destroy it on purpose or even got it from the super-secret hiding place?
2nd: What should’ve happened when Henry got his book back: “I guess mom was telling the truth after all, about not having the book…”
What we got instead: “Great! Operation Cobra [in which we destroy my mother, who has just given me a video game that I love and has been completely exonerated of all blame regarding the lost book] can resume!!”
Seriously show? Seriously?
This is really starting to bother me about the show, especially considering how hard Regina works for her happy ending (especially with regards to her relationship with Henry) and how Emma seems to get good things literally because she asked for them (birthday wish, finding the book).
It comes down to the Show vs. Tell thing. We’re told that Regina is evil/bad/wrong/awful/horrible but shown a flawed person who is desperately trying to hold on what matters to her. We’re told that Emma is good/wholesome/awesome/right, but her choices rarely show that.
Heroism is not simply being nice to people it’s easy to be nice to. It’s also about making hard choices — taking real risks and making real sacrifices — because it’s the right thing to do.
The only time Emma makes a real decision that reveals heroism is in episode 1x08 (“Desperate Souls”), where she risked herself to save her nemesis because it’s the right thing to do. It would have been easy for her to walk away, but she didn’t. Wait, I forgot episode 1x05 (“That Still, Small Voice”) where she volunteers to be lowered into the mine to get Henry, not the least because she empathizes with Regina of all people and truly responded to her plea for help.
Funny how in both cases where Emma shows what she’s made of, it’s when she does something for Regina.
I want to see Emma making real choices between Dumbledore says “what is right and what is easy.”
I’m not asking for Emma to be perfect or without flaws. Hello, my favorite character is Regina! But I need to see more complexity and more awareness when it comes to the choices she makes.
(Source: docbrucebanner)
