Someone says: Emma Swan has had the worst character journey ever depicted on TV. You say:
Lizzie: I’m sorry that, for whatever reason, you can’t appreciate the journey Emma Swan has gone through. I really am, because I think that it’s actually one of the best character journeys on TV, for many reasons, most of which are covered in these brilliant roundtable. You might not see it that way, as is your right, but I strongly disagree with your opinion, even while I respect your right to express it.
Truth is, Emma Swan went from a woman who was afraid of loving to a woman who loves so much that you can see it on her face, and she gained a family, friends, a partner in life. I’m sorry you can’t see that, that you can’t appreciate it, but I’m really glad I do. I wouldn’t want to live in a world where Emma Swan isn’t the hero I know her to be.
Sameera: Are you sure you are watching the right show? Seriously, maybe you caught a How I Met Your Mother rereun, saw Jennifer Morrison’s face and got confused? I wouldn’t blame you, she does have a pretty face. Anyway a) Stop watching How I Met Your Mother. The ending does NOT pay off and b) listen:
Emma Swan started the show celebrating her birthday alone with a sad vanilla cupcake. Six seasons later, she is planning the wedding to the love of her life with her family by her side all while facing an uncertain future and possible death. For a character to grow from being determined to be alone even on her birthday to one who refuses to be alone even as she faces death is incredible, riveting character growth.
It is also refreshingly not tied down to her romantic history the way other female characters’ journeys often are. Emma started growing before she even met Hook, she continued when she considered him an an enemy. When she fleetingly thought Hook abandoned her (as if), she didn’t regress- she let her mother and Regina take care of her and attempt to cheer her up. Emma Swan has had a fantastic, realistic character growth-one rarely allowed to female characters on TV.
Stephanie: I would say, “What the hell show were you watching? You clearly haven’t been paying attention.” Each season she’s grown immensely. From closed off to open. From skeptical to trusting. From alone to filling her life with love and family. From doubting her strength to taking on the greatest evil in all the realms. She’s made a complete 360 degree turn from where she started. I barely know how to even put her transformation into words. I think if someone who has watched Once Upon a Time, even a little, said that to me I would honestly want to smack them in the face (not really, but yeah kinda).
Ginny: We are obviously talking about a different Emma Swan, as the character on Once Upon A Time’s journey has been one of the most beautiful and stunning progressions ever seen. Her slow, but overwhelming groundbreaking removal of barriers and walls is honestly astounding. The way that she let family and love into her life after losing so much, having had one of the roughest upbringings imaginable. Her ability to forgive has progressed to the point of being willing to see the good in every single person, despite before expecting the worst in people. If that’s not development and a beautiful story, well, I just don’t know what is.
Pip: I’m sorry somebody would feel that way. Truly sorry. Because the Emma Swan I have come to know and love has had one of the strongest character journeys I’ve seen in any medium. It makes me genuinely sad that people can’t see her the way I do. That they can’t experience such a complex, emotional, fierce, loving, open character in the same positive light that I do. They are missing out on something truly spectacular when it comes to Emma and her journey. To have a woman on TV be the way Emma is, and to have a female character betrayed so realistically and openly, is a dream come true and anybody who can’t have that same experience is missing out.
Lindsay: It’s one of the most realistic. She isn’t perfect, she makes mistakes but she admits it and learns from it. She grows into the character we see in 6B who might be in danger but she is going to make the most of what she has. Emma will fight for what’s right and those she loves. I think certain people get caught up in the stereotypical idea of strength, when really in season 1 it was her lashing out in an attempt to protect herself. If that’s what they want from Emma, then they want her to be miserable and that’s not development at all.
Charles: I feel a great swell of pity for this individual. Has Emma Swan been perfect through these 6 seasons of Once Upon A Time? No, not at all. However, in these 6 seasons we have seen her grow into a character that I would love my nieces to emulate. Emma has made errors but that just makes her more realistic. She’s went from running away from even the slightest hint of family to running towards her family while embracing the love it brings to her. Her journey has been one I’ve enjoyed witnessing through the years.
Katie: The beauty of fiction is that we bring our own interpretations to it, so my interpretation of Emma’s journey is incredibly different. I think she’s had one of the most beautiful, relatable, and realistically inspiring journeys I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching on television. She’s grown from a woman who was alone because she wanted to protect herself to a woman who has laid her heart on the line (literally) because she knows that the bravest thing a person can do is love. She’s grown from a woman who clothed herself in armor to a woman who knows that she can wear pink dresses, flowery prints, and even a wedding gown and not lose one bit of strength in the process. She’s become comfortable with every aspect of herself, and in growing more comfortable with the whole of who she is, she has inspired myself and so many others to own every part of who we are—and to accept that we don’t have to fit one definition of “strong woman.” Emma’s journey has allowed us to see this realistic female character—one who is so much more than one fashion style, fighting style, relationship, character trait, strength, or weakness—find a place in the world where she is loved and accepted for everything she is, and that is a journey I am so glad I got to experience.
Maria: To quote Frank Reagan from Blue Bloods, “I’m going to give you the respect you don’t give me.” I respect opinions, sure, but there’s a time when people let bias cloud their judgement. In all honesty; opinions are like butts, everyone’s got one (haha); this is literally an asinine, ignorant statement. Emma Swan was a woman who faced abandonment and heartbreak. She never expected happiness or anything remotely close to it. You look back on her from Season 1 and you see a woman who closed herself off as well as someone who was irritable and wary of others. Like when Mary Margaret cared about her, Emma never understood why because she never experienced it. This new life of hers was foreign and it did not make sense.
It took her SEASONS to be open and to understand that not everyone will leave her. I never experienced what she had, and I understand the difficulty it is to let go of your insecurities and fears. Sure she can be frustrating for some people, like why can’t she get it together? But once you understand her, you can see that she has went through SO MUCH. You never know what a person goes through until you take a step in their shoes. Just because Emma doesn’t dress like her old self, does not mean she is the “worst developed character.” Hogwash. To even think that clothing defines development is utter nonsense. If anything, her clothing becomes more free and more defined.
To me, she gains confidence in her vulnerability and wears her clothing just how she wears her new found love for herself. When Emma was a teenager she wore similar clothing and no one said anything. Why are we defaming her character now? Because she found a home in a man who loves every part of her? A man who let her lead the way? A man who will always, always be by her side? Anyways, love is not weakness. Finding a monogamous, healthy (no argument, haters), beautiful relationship is not weakness. It is not weakness, got it? Having the courage to even take a leap of faith in someone is incredible! That is strength. Putting faith in someone is not easy by any means, and Emma Swan developed into a woman who finds strength in love after being wary of it is what makes her one of the BEST DEVELOPED TELEVISION CHARACTERS EVER. Boom. Mic drop.
Heather: I respect everyone’s right to their own opinion. That said I feel that opinion is biased. The Emma Swan we see today vs. the Emma Swan we met in the pilot are two completely different people and that’s an amazing thing. Her transformation over the years has been astounding. She went from keeping everyone at arms length to embracing her life, her family, the town, and most importantly her own happy ending. She’s had one of the best character arcs I’ve ever seen.
Meredith: Tell me why you think that way; then after hearing all the reasons, I would simply respond “Thank you for sharing your opinion. I actually don’t see it that way. Would you like to hear why?” and hopefully go from there into a different dialogue. Right now, we live in a world of contradictions. We accept that there are gray areas in life but hold up opinions in the extremes, and then to a scarier extent: facts. “This show is the best and your argument is invalid” and other variations of that phrase dominate social media scene, particularly Twitter. Someone else’s opinion of a fictional TV character is not the be-all-end-all, nor should it ever be put on such a high pedestal. Do not let anonymous online hate rob you from enjoying something you love.
On that note, I’ve enjoyed the narrative of Emma Swan, from her rough past to where we are today. For a character who has a history of being an enemy of love, she is getting her happy beginning with a man she loves. Her story has given myself (and clearly many of other people) hope. For those who subscribe to this belief that she’s had the first character journey, I’m sorry you feel that way and you are not getting the same joy out of this character journey like so many others. I would say there are worse character arcs out there, but that is a matter of opinion. If not Emma Swan, I know there are a plethora of great TV female protagonists out there to check out and see their stories.
Funmbi: I respectfully and vehemently disagree. Since Once Upon a Time’s first season, we’ve watched Emma grapple with very dangerous challenges and make heartbreaking sacrifices. In the process, she has learned about herself: her desires, goals, and limits. This journey is the epitome of what it means to be human, to struggle, fall, and (in time) overcome. But what’s most fascinating is that, through Emma’s journey, she has opened up those same opportunities for growth for others, like Henry, Killian, her parents, Regina, and even Rumple. Emma Swan is, without a doubt, one of the best protagonists on television.
La Shawna: Are you watching the same show? Because the Emma Swan I have seen has gone from being alone (look at the premiere, she was celebrating her birthday alone) and not believing in love or happiness to being surrounded by her family, significant other (soon to be husband), and her friends. She now has a support system and has only gotten stronger because of them. She smiles more often and enjoys the little moments she get from her family and friends. Emma Swan is HAPPY!! I for one have been inspired by her journey and I am so proud of the person she is. I can’t wait to see what her future brings.
Rose: You obviously haven’t been watching the show with your eyes and your heart open For anyone to say that you want season one Emma back, that makes you scratch your head and say why would you want to see a woman not open herself up to her son, to Her family, to believing in the power of hope and true love. Emma’s whole demeanor changed because she was no longer alone and it does change you, love does change you, just because you’re a certain way at one point in your life does not mean that you will always be that way forever. Life’s experiences change us, the good ones and the bad ones and with Emma she has let the good ones change her more than the bad ones rule her heart and soul. She is so open & vulnerable & it’s the most beautiful thing to watch unfold over these past six seasons.
She finally planted her roots in one place. To see her at one time not be able to call her parents mom and dad and how freely it is an easy it is to say that the way she embraces her son and how loving she is with Killian in front of everyone, to be able to be that way in front of people to wear your heart on your sleeve for all to see that was the biggest step for her. I’m happy to see her planning her future, living near her parents, living in her own home getting married to the man that she truly loves, having her son spend time with her there, them being a real family and hoping that Emma and Killian down the road have their own children is everything you could ever wish for for Emma to have! No character deserves this true happiness, this happy beginning, more then Emma Swan and if you don’t agree with that then you obviously aren’t a real fan of Emma Swan.
Agree? Disagree? Have anything to add to this roundtable? Share with us in the comments below!
Once Upon A Time airs Sundays at 9/7c on ABC.
