I have always been in love with the magical beings that are Disney Characters. When I found out about a show that dealt with Disney Characters but with a modern twist, I was instantly hooked. I watched two seasons of the show in a week’s time through Netflix. That meant plenty of hours staying up until 4 am. It was all worth it because the show made me fall in love. Watching weekly childhood characters like Snow White, Captain Hook, Rumpelstiltskin and the Evil Queen take on villains while having families was fascinating.

I got my Best friend and Brother hooked on the show as well. After realizing our many conversations of evaluating the show, I realized the deeper meaning of our “fan-demonium”. The reason that many of the fans are hooked, five top-rated seasons later, is because the hope the show brings. One of the main hopes of the show is love. Love is something all of the fans have and long for in their life. This show revolves around love relationships between parents, spouses and friends. This show has taught me five amazing things about love.

1.       It’s never too late to change for the better of those you love. (Regina and Henry) 

After reevaluating the first two seasons, I realized the true meaning of the show wasn’t just on the heroes. I mean it’s pretty evident that Emma Swan is the savior and the main protagonist of the show.  She does help the town realize that they’ve been under the Evil Queen’s, Regina, curse for 27 years. Henry being the ever-so-adventurous-young hero was the first to notice his mother was the savior. However, the show isn’t just on the good being good. It’s about the untold stories of the alleged villains. Villains, like Regina, have a reason behind there evil-wicked ways. Regina wasn’t just born evil. She was driven by her deceased lover’s death. She was driven by her overbearing mother that forced her to marry Snow White’s father. She put all of her wrongfully directed anger on her innocent stepdaughter, Snow White.

 This story of a villain like Regina isn’t really told. Making us, the fans, realize after hearing her story how she too deserves the right to love. Yes, Henry went to help his biological mother, the Savior, Emma reunite with her family and save the town. Also, he needed to help with the healing process of his evil mother. She needed to change for the better. She had such weight on her of anger and hatred that was never addressed. She was taught to be evil and take what she felt was rightfully hers. It was powerful for her to realize that she had all she needed in her son, Henry. It was powerful for her to finally forgive the wrongfully accused. Even though Regina’s anger was balled up for decades it took her ten year old son standing up to her for her to realize she needed to change. Regina’s struggle to be better taught me: It’s never too late to change.

2.       Love is worth fighting for. (The Charmings: Emma, Mom and Dad)

This statement is truthful. When you find love, you’ll want to keep it. There will be obstacles in your way trying to keep, destroy or take away your love. The Charmings from the beginning of their relationship have had to fight. They had to fight to get married, to stay married, to have a family and keep them all together. The main obstacle at hand was the hate that Regina/The Evil Queen had for Snow, which affected her husband and child. She took every chance she could to hurt Snow White.

The ultimate obstacle to overcome for them was when Regina/The Evil Queen performed a spell that made the family live in another Universe not knowing who they are. The family knew that their recently born daughter needed to be the Savior for their people. They regretfully put their newly born child, Emma, in a portal alone to escape the curse. They trusted and hoped that she would return to them. Then, Snow White and Prince Charming were swept away be the curse not remembering who they were and the love that they had for each other. This went on for 27 years.  Until eventually, Regina/The Evil Queen’s adopted and Emma’s biologional son, Henry, went to Emma and told her about the spell and her family that she never had. After Emma finally understood, she did everything she could to stop Regina and help regain everyone’s memories.  Ever since then we’ve seen throughout the show their family continue to fight for love. They’ve overcame battle after battle and have never wavered their love for each other. Even now, they are in the Underworld battling Hades because of the love they have for their daughter. I can only hope that when I find love or love finds me that I’ll keep it just like them.

3.       Timing is indeed everything. (Robin and Regina)

I believe that true love does exist. There is someone out there for everyone. However, I feel like it is important that each person is deeply ready to be in love and all that it entitles. Example, Regina/The Evil Queen and Robin are now happily together. However, they could’ve me thirty years before. The reason they didn’t is because Regina was still going through her struggles of hate, abandonment, and hope for a better life. With the help of Tinkerbell the Fairy, Regina/The Evil Queen was given the option to find who her true love was. They were outside of the bar that he was at and all she could do was stare at him. She never went in.

Tinkerbell, like myself and many other fans, were angry at Regina/The Evil Queen’s choice. There is another perspective to it though. That perspective identifies with many and helped with understanding of Regina/The Evil Queen’s choice. Timing is indeed everything. Everything does happen for a reason. Sometimes you have to go through those obstacles and work out those struggles so that when the time presents itself you are able to truly accept love. If Regina/The Evil Queen met Robin before she did, she wouldn’t have gotten over her anger with Snow. She also wouldn’t’ve gotten Henry. The same for Robin who saved so many people and had his son. Thankfully, Regina and Robin are together. 

4.       It’s okay to be a strong woman. Just find a strong man to understand you. (Emma and Hook)

Emma and Hook’s love story is admirable and relatable. Perhaps it’s because we’ve watched their characters truly develop from being enemies to being lovers. We’ve seen how each gesture and comment has helped deepen their love for each other. Emma is the main protagonist of the show. We have watched her struggle from being abandoned, in countless amounts of foster care homes and more. We’ve watched her trust people to only have them disappoint her. When Emma finally meets her parents, it takes a lot of time for her to even truly forgive them. Emma is tough because she’s always had to protect herself. Eventually, there’s someone that comes along and realizes her exterior and interior being. Hook is determined to love her through all of that. Hook is everything that someone wants in a partner. He is just as strong as her. He understands life’s hardships she’s faced. He longs to understand her and help her anyway he can. Hook sold his most prized possession, his boat, to help Emma in her time of need. Hook had to work hard to get Emma’s trust, respect and love. In return, he states that he is a better person because of her. There love showcases that though you may go through things in life that aren’t fair and hard. Though you may feel that there’s no one out there that may love you or truly understand you. There is someone for everyone.

  5.       Love will always find you. (Snow and Prince Charming)

The most romantic story on this show is Snow White and Prince Charming. Though their daughter is the main protagonist of the show, it is their love that captivates everyone. The Charmings have gone through a lot through their lives, together and separate. They have battled strong enemies and overcame near impossible obstacles. However, it is their love that remains pure and genuine that motivates everyone around them. They are the heroes that even in their darkest times find a way to keep everyone’s spirits lifted and give hope. It’s interesting because most of the people on Once Upon A Time have these magical powers that are unstoppable. However, Snow White and Prince Charming always find a way to win.

Prince Charming and Snow White met in unpredictable incident. He was passing through a rode and she was trying to rob the rich. They had one run in and couldn’t stay away from each other. They always found a way to love each other. Their love for each other wasn’t even unstoppable when Regina wiped their memories for 27 years due to the Storybrooke curse. They still found a way to fall in love with each other. When their memories came back, they weren’t blown away because they always had faith that they would find each other. Their love is the theme for the show. Even when it feels like there isn’t love or it won’t last, have faith that love will win. If you aren’t in love, just know that love will eventually find you.