Once Upon a Time tends to work against Emma Swan when it comes to love. Is Captain Swan the ship that is finally meant to sale for the Savior?
Curses plague Once Upon a Time’s many realms at least once per season. Leroy yells, the heroes band together, and the smoke eventually clears. That process works for most of the smoke-monster/portal style curses. But what about the unspoken curse on Emma Swan?
The so-called “product of true love” does not have a ton of luck in the romance department. It is, perhaps, more of a curse than a badge of honor.
On the other hand, Emma’s other identity is not a title that she entirely understands. Season 6 is working to unpack the mystery of the Savior and with that change the entire show’s perception of Emma’s role.
Emma’s chosen mate is just as worse for the wear when it comes to romance.
Killian understands the of cost of living adjacent to magic. The mythical powers that others command resulted in the three greatest losses of his life.
The first, his brother Liam. The second, the love of his life, Milah. The third, a small lad whose rescue left Killian with someone to look after and care for — Baelfire.
If history intends to repeat itself, these two damaged souls are not exactly on their way to a happy ending. What does that mean for you as a viewer? Are you rooting for them or against them?
Ship it!
Tragic love stories are a tried and true product of the genre. In these tales the meaning behind every small gesture amplifies. Whether it is picking away at an ice wall with a hook or taking a moment to teach a boy the art of sword fighting, your heart aches in appreciation of those small moments.
Proclamations of love do not come easy for this duo. Typically, they arise in the face of death, the damnation of one’s soul to another dimension, or when an ice monster crashes their date.
Captain Swan’s story is chock full of the tiny, wonderful moments that build the foundation of their love. Grand romantic gestures often fall under the guise of sacrifice for the greater good.
Over the course of their relationship, the Captain Swan ship organically developed two stronger characters. No one forced Emma to seek out therapy, no one forced Hook to take Henry under his wing.
Killian rediscovers the man inside the pirate through his love for Emma. He folds himself back into the fabric of community life where each person plays a vital role for the greater good. Hook finds his way back to Killian.
Meanwhile, Emma embraces the uncertainty of her life through her relationship with Killian. She is cautious and caring and Killian allows her the space to act on crazy motives and reground her when she drifts too far away.
Neither one places a burden on the other saying, “I’m doing this for you.” Instead, they allow the other person to see they are comfortable taking those steps. Even if they fail, someone will be in their corner at the end of the day. That knowledge makes the uncomfortable actions easier to repeat.
Captain Swan is not always easy to love, but it is the most rewarding romantic relationship on Once Upon a Time.
Sink it!
What are we working toward here? Another teary-eyed, “I love you, I’ll always love you,” as someone bleeds out on Main Street? We have been here before. That tree looks familiar.
At the end of the day, Emma and Killian are agents of destruction for happiness. Trusting in the success of their relationship is like hitting a beehive — you must really enjoy inflicting pain upon yourself.
The pirate rebuilt himself on the foundation of Emma Swan. Killain’s ability to open himself up to the idea of true happiness depends entirely on his and Emma’s mutual existence.
Emma, on the other hand, worries that without the Savior, she does not know her true identity. If her entire self is tied up in the Savior can she see that part of her belongs to Captain Swan? Forget Captain Swan! What about mother, daughter, friend?
Bettering one’s self is a noble mission. Both members of Captain Swan agree that they need to work on some personal hurdles. But they mutually suffer by making progress and not reflecting on what that progress means.
This is a burden many of the characters on Once Upon a Time share.
As it stands, the Captain Swan narrative is an essential part of the Once Upon a Time’s universe. It would not be wise to send Hook out to sea for a sabbatical while Emma works out her issues on the couch in Archie’s office.
They need to co-exist and be a part of each other’s story. However, the aftermath of Emma’s turn as the Dark One still weighs heavily on their love story. Now that the duo cohabitates, it is time to stir the pot and revisit some of the not-so-pleasant aspects of their relationship.
Just because they share an affinity for leather, does not mean their love story is meant to last forever.
Let us know what you think about all of ‘Once Upon a Time’s’ couples!
Check out our other debate installment featuring Rumbelle!
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Watch Once Upon a Time season 6, episode 5, “Street Rats,” Sunday, October 23 at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC.
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