Subtitle: My teen AU Swan Queen fanfic come to life
When people ask me why I still watch this show, why I write about it, why I get so invested, why I CARE SO MUCH… I point to episodes like this one. Episodes that play like the fanfiction in my head, like I wrote the actual show. Teen AU Swan Queen is a thing I have Very Strong Feelings for and
this is it. This is everything.
Lili (I’m calling her Lili instead of Lily because it’s a diminutive of Lilith but the wink-wink of Lili/Lily wanting to be “special like Harry Potter” is not lost on me at all. Nor is Lilith being Emma’s first girl-friend and betrayal. Names always mean something.) is extremely well cast to resemble a Mini Regina. Seriously this episode explains EVERYTHING about Emma and Regina’s relationship and I LOVE IT.
Once upon a time in Minnesota lonely street rat Emma Swan tried to shoplift pop tarts.
She was very bad at it. Luckily for Emma, a quick witted, raven haired Latina appeared to help her out.
They became fast friends.
Running from the Law virtually
Having romantic lakeside picnics
Bonding over feeling invisible
And wanting to be special
Breaking into mansions
Virtually running from the Law
Directing their own story
Falling asleep
Falling in love.
But then, Lili’s lies catch up with them.
She’s Lilith. She was an orphan like Emma but she was adopted. She has a father (the guy who was chasing her) and a mother. This is their summer home.
Lili begs Emma to listen. To find her again. They can run way together and live happily ever after!
But Emma feels betrayed
She turns away and never looks back
Until…
She meets another quick witted and raven haired Latina
Whose lies also catch up with them. But then so do her truths.
Emma begs Regina to listen, but Regina feels betrayed. She turns away
She wants to never look back
But Emma won’t let her
Emma will never stop trying. Even if Regina still wants to kill her.
Every happy ever after starts with once upon a time.
Meanwhile!
The Snow Queen is super creepy. She never raises her voice…! There are definite parallels to our Evil Queen but Regina makes noise. Neither her motivation (she wants a family) nor her big reveal (she was Emma’s foster mother) are a surprise because that is EVERYONE’s motivation on this show and OF COURSE foster mothers are Evil, just like adoptive mothers (SUGH*).
*SIGH + UGH
Sidney… well, first read this really great analysis of why Sidney and Regina’s relationship is super screwed up on both sides. Second, I’m interested to see what Sidney does without a powerful and beautiful woman telling him what to do. He fell right into his EQ habits with the SQ and looked almost scared to think she wasn’t going to pick him up (and didn’t need him) the way Regina did. I’d love to see an actual conversation (confrontation) between Regina and Sidney come out of this but follow up with orbital characters is spotty at best with this series so WE’LL SEE.
Elsa spent most of the episode trying to get Emma and Regina back together.
But she also got to save Swan Queen in a more literal way.
The Snow Queen is a Sith, pass it on.
In other shipping news, Snowing are the biggest idiots.
Idiots.
Captain Swan are almost annoyingly adorable.
And like…they suddenly have this supportive and mature relationship based on trust???? Yay?
Oh wait, he’s still lying to her. Nvr mind.
Captain Knave Bros is clearly a thing that is happening. But I prefer Swan Knave Bros. Red Knave MAKES MY HEART BURST despite (or because of) Anastasia being MIA. Short version:
I love Will so much.
Finally this?
Melted even my anti-Rumbelle heart. How about you?