Page 2: ‘Once Upon a Time’ Lover’s Duel: Neal vs Hook, who should Emma choose?
Captain Hook, the man with a distaste for crocodiles and one sharp back hand, begins his intertwined relationship with Neal earlier than Emma’s existence. The magic of frozen time ensures Hook remains a strapping young man even though his first true love was once Neal’s mother, Milah.
Hook operates under two motives, love and revenge. Swearing vengeance against Rumplestiltskin for taking Milah’s life, Hook takes to the seas of Neverland where he happens upon a young Baelfire. A softer side of Hook shines through when he takes Bae aboard the Jolly Roger and trains him to sail and navigate the stars. (Neither Hook or Neal fully disclose every detail of their past to Emma.)
When Emma eventually arrives in the picture, it is at the height of Hook’s plan to kill Rumplestiltskin. Hook may swear off deep romantic entanglement, but that does not stop his flirtatious attitude causing anyone in a mile radius to swoon. His icy charm does little to move Emma Swan, yet the pair discover they understand each other more than they think during a climb up a beanstalk. Any hint of romance is erased after Emma abandons Hook and he confronts her with a dried up bean.
Something that was once magical, full of hope, possibility… Now look at it. Dried up, dead, useless. Much like you. The time for making deals is done, just as I’m done… With you.
In spite of the dark persona he gives off, Hook realizes that once he exacts his revenge, he will have nothing to live for. It is not until the crew is gathered to set sail for Neverland at the start of season 3, that Once Upon a Time‘s long awaited “hook-up” starts to spark.
Emma may be reluctant to offer Hook insight to her past, but soon Hook recognizes the way to Emma’s heart is through action, not prying. After taking charge on the mission to save Henry and guiding the search party through Neverland, Hook manages to save David by temporarily stopping the dreamshade poison. As an act of thanks, Hook and Emma share quite the passionate kiss, after which Emma asserts that it was a one time event. “As you wish,” replies the broken-hearted captain.
Neal’s return tosses Emma into a romantic frenzy, suddenly faced with the man she loved but believed dead, and hearing Hook reveal their kiss reminded him that his capacity to love did not die with Milah.
After all is sorted in Neverland, and right before the memory spell is cast upon Emma, it looks as though Neal has the clear advantage. But does Hook’s arrival in New York one year later indicate a head start for Emma’s heart?
Once Upon a Time returns Sunday, March 9 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC
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