Regina-stans look away, but I still feel astonished about the fact that apparently the writers wanted us to feel sorry for Regina when Hook came back to life and arrived at the Granny's. Yes, she had lost the love of her life and it's very sad and unfair, but that moment wasn't about her. Why should've Hook stayed in hiding when he sensed the danger like the others and wanted to come and check that everyone he cared about was alright? If the people of Storybrooke - and the ones outside it as well - had to constantly treat Regina with kid gloves so that she wouldn't lash out and return to "the dark side", had she ever truly grown as a person? She herself said that her first instinct was to rip Killian's throat out. If the situation was reversed and Robin had been the one to return, such a thought would've never even crossed Emma's mind. I also find it very hypocrite that when Emma was grieving Hook's death and wanted to help, Regina told her to basically "sit that one out", because she could've not been objective because of her loss and no one bat an eye. But - of course - when Emma suggested the same to Regina after Robin's death, everyone was judging her for it. Damn double-standards.
I will never like Regina. Her "redemption" was bullshit. Like you said, her first instinct was to kill the person her supposed friend loves who just came back to life (though I like to believe that if she did that Zeus would just send him back again... 🤣)
And she just never took accountability or faced actual consequences for her actions. She just separated herself from the Evil Queen as if she was a whole other person and not just her in different outfits.
I've said it before and I'll continue to say it. Her redemption could NEVER be real until she gave back all the hearts that she still had in her vault in s6!! And honestly, that would've just been common decency. Returning the literal hearts you've stolen from people wouldn't be redemption, but it would be a step in the right direction. As long as she had those hearts, she could NEVER be redeemed. You can't claim to be a hero now when you've got a crypt full of innocent people's hearts that you took. There was so much more they needed to do if they wanted to actually redeem Regina though... Having her own up to raping Graham for like 30 years for one, and to being abusive towards Henry, taking responsibility for the way Emma grew up instead of putting the blame on Snow and Charming as if the had a choice... The hearts are just the physical proof she never changed...































