Once Upon a Time EPs: Same-Sex Romance in the Works for Season 5 

It may or may not be “Mulora,” but there will definitely be a same-sex love affair in

“We know that [the LGBT] community has been a big supporter of the show, and we would love to be able to tell a love story that reflects that,” executive producer Eddy Kitsis said Friday at a press screening of the Season 5 premiere.

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Added EP Adam Horowitz: “We want the show to reflect the world as it is now. Whether that’s going to be with any particular character” — Mulan being the obvious choice given her previous feelings for Aurora, and her return to the action this fall — “we’re not going to say.”

Kitsis, meanwhile, confirmed that the ABC fantasy series

make good on that desire to explore a same-sex relationship. “It 

something we’re going to do this year,” he revealed.

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“It’s something we think is due and important to do on the show because it’s the world we live in,” Horowitz explained.

returns next Sunday, Sept. 27 at 8/7c on ABC.

fans, do you think Mulan will be the character at the center of the arc? Who else would you like to see explore an LGBT love story?

As all the shows women are kickass it’d be difficult to avoid eh?

Disappointed that our request for representation with the 2 lead characters has been reduced to a guest star appearing in few episodes.

We don’t care about Mulan, and we surely didn’t spend 4 years supporting Mulan, but Emma and Regina.

As the two leads have been portrayed VERY straight for those 4 years such a wild turn would have never been seen as organic to the show.

Very straight? Please. I’m a guy and even I can see the gay subtext they’ve been throwing at these twords since season.

Unfortunately for supporters of the ship its queerbaiting at best. Something they’ll toss into the script to give LGBT fans hope for it but never actually going through on it. Did you really think there was more to Regina’s “And now she’ll taste my forbidden fruit” line back in S1?

The fact that you’re even asking that indicates that they haven’t been portrayed as so very straight as you claim.

@Jennifer: Do you not comprehend the idea of queerbaiting? I explained perfectly above that question why there’s not more to it than what was shown. All they’re trying to do is pander to the LGBT community without actually doing anything for them. That’s actually extremely problematic.

@joey I’m not saying it’s not queerbaiting. I’m saying it can’t be queerbaiting and very straight at the same time.

And I’m saying that it can be queerbaiting and straight at the same time. I mean this isn’t something like Destiel we’re talking about here where they all but come out and say it.

I am by no means an expert on the subject but the terminology indicates a deliberate invitation to interpret beyond the main text and thereby not restricted to any one definition.

Emma and Regina have NEVER been the intention or were the story going there. Its all a idea that is formed in some fans head and want to force into the show, when it was never there. Not in context and not in subtext.

Many times Adam and Eddy have addressed this, that there has been no intention of that in Regina and Emma.

Its either you are purposely ignoring everything else this show and story is showing it seems.

This idea that A&E have repeatedly shut down the notion is a persistent myth. Even if it is never maintext, Adam HAS specifically acknowledged the subtext. Regardless, neither the article nor above comment claimed otherwise so I’m not sure what the point of your response is.

What the most common term for the notion that a female heroine can’t have a close, non-blood relationship with someone unless it’s somehow romantic or sexual?

That goes for almost all TV characters (especially leads), whether male or female.

I feel really stupid but last time Mulan was on the show I thought that she liked the prince not Aurora. I had no idea lol

It was ambigous at first but then when they literally had Mulan hold Aurora’s heart in her hands you could tell something was going on (at least if you really looked for the subtext like some people do)

Beyond that, the last time they were together, Mulan was about to confess her love and Aurora broke her heart telling her she was pregnant w/ Philip’s child. That’s when Mulan decided to leave.

I don’t think it’s needed. I actually wish they found a story that would’ve better followed the movie. But looks like we have to sit through ABC forcing another gay storyline just because they think every show needs one instead of just the story unfold organically

Totally agree. Might have to stop watching this show too.

I agree. Mulora feels shoehorned in at this point. Swan Queen is organic.

I do, and, look I’m not a shipper who hopes for particular outcomes and I tend to take things at face value, and what I see is Emma/Hook, Regina/Robin, and Mulan/Aurora. I think that’s what they’ve wanted me to see. So I can’t see Mulan/Aurora as shoehorned, because there it was in the show.

Although I’ll admit to being kind of slightly in love with Jamie Chung and maybe I ship her with Aurora more than I think I do.

@Ben What I’m trying to say is that Mulan and Aurora could be completely extricated from the show and it wouldn’t impact the larger story. There is no show without Emma and Regina. However you define it, their relationship was established in the first episode and has been a driving force ever since. It has slowly evolved from antagonistic to allies to friends to something so deep that they protect each other and make sacrifices for each other and it can and likely will evolve even further and continue to be integral to the story as a whole.

No, but seriously, I’m over the moon about this. Because generations of queer people have loved fairy tales too and have longed to see themselves in a world where love truly does conquer all.

And I hope it just won’t be Sleeping Warrior, but a pair of men falling in love as well.

Yeah, it would be nice to see a storyline on this show with two princes too. It still feels like its more common to see a lesbian couple than a gay couple/characters on TV nowadays that aren’t just guest stars or characters that get lost in the shuffle.

I’m hoping that the LGBT story is Swan Queen because I don’t want a rushed storyline for us. I want a deeply layered and well written, developed story like Emma and Regina. Anything with Mulan will not measure up and that’s not what I want ir asked for.

Emma and Regina. I would love to see Emma and Regina as queer because that would be quality representation and quality storyline. A real slow burn since season 1 so why not see then be canon. They already share a son and a true love. They’ve been through so much together.

I would love to see OUAT explore Emma and Regina as a couple.

All I have to say is it is becoming more and more obvious that swan queen I.e Emma and Regina is becoming more and more inevitable. I’m extremely excited to see what Adam and eddy have in store.

Emma and Regina. OUAT should explore Emma and Regina as a couple. #SwanQueen ftw

Can OUAT explore #SwanQueen as a romantic couple this season or if not next season? That would be such a great and groundbreaking love story. So my vote goes to besides mulan I would love OUAT to explore Emma and Regina as a couple.

If they want to give the LGBT community quality representation, they should go with Swan Queen, not a side character.

so basically a same sex couple is only acceptable if its Emma and Regina wow are all pro gays such hypocrites I thought equality for all was your slogan.

Excuse me but we are allowed to CHOOSE our representation. We shouldn’t have to just accept whatever scraps are given to us, just like heterosexuals don’t have to.

You saying this is extremely homophobic because you’re basically saying we should just take whatever, shut up, and be happy with it. That’s not right.

We want representation and we want it with Swan Queen.

you couldn’t be more wrong if right were a country. The fact they introduce a same sex couple and its not the characters you want characters who have been portrayed straight as arrows for four seasons only proves for you its not so much about representation so much it is of getting your way and to lable those who call you out for it as ‘homophobic’ only shows how little these alleged values or beliefs you have mean to you. No wonder Kentucky isn’t a fan.

Well who are you?! I am gay! I know what I want in representation.

Captain Swan CHOSE Emma and Hook over Emma and Neal! Why is it okay for them and not for me?

And if you’re against LGBT representation, don’t comment on an article about it. Seems like you’re the one with the issue, not me.

@maria – I am not much of one for shipping of any orientation, but “Captain Swan” shippers didn’t get to choose anything, the writers did. You are most entitled to want any outcome you can think of on a TV show. But I don’t think anyone is entitled to accuse writers of being, essentially, homophobic for not choosing to make specific characters gay, which is what some people in this comments section are saying. Yeah?

I am straight and I want to choose my representation of Emma as completely straight. (I say that not because its true, but to point out to you the stupidity of your argument. It’s like saying that, after a President is elected, you should get to choose that they are gay. That’s not how equality works.)

Exactly. One side story in a show full of romances is NOT equality.

Probably will be Mulan but there is nothing they could do that would be as meaningful or impactful as Swan Queen. The only thing that would even come close would have to be another story that involves Emma or Regina because they CAN’T be relegated to the sidelines or the footnotes of History.

It’s obviously Mulan and Merida. Feels contrived but I’d like to see where it goes.

Emma and Regina have gone from “I don’t care what happens to you” to “I saved you, now save me”. THAT’S the representation the LGBT want, not a rushed side story. Gay characters are always side characters (the quirky gay friend, the gay cousin) and I’d love to see this show do something different.

This could help make a social change for many groups and if that’s going to happen, the story should be at the level of Swan Queen.

Im very excited about the new Mulan romance!! This season will be amazing. I cant wait for more Emma and Hook development. They are my favorite relationship

Wow. You could have left out any mention of Hook and Emma to make your agenda a little less obvious but you couldn’t resist the urge to push your het ship on an article about LGBT representation. Classy.

As far as I could read the OP was excited about the LGBT prospect, but also excited about their particular ship. Why is it ok for you to push your Swan Queen ship, which since they are both paired off with male series regulars, probably won’t happen, but not ok to talk about a current couple? We all get to enjoy the show, no need to attack someone.

So excited i really swanqueen about to happen, can’t wait

I dont care about the subject at hand, but what does “the world we live in” have to do with OUAT? Seriously. That was a stupid comment.

Um, fairytales have always been metaphors for the real world.

Yes, they have. But this is OUAT. Maybe in season 1 they could have sold the idea that they were using fairy tales to mirror the real world. But the show hasn’t attempted anything that deep for a very long time.

I think they just mean they that they want to reflect the diversity of our world within the OUAT world, showing all different types of people and human relationships.

Except they don’t really do that. There are all kinds of people that they have no interest in representing. Which is fine, because the show has nothing to do with reflecting the world we live in.

Some of these comments remind me why a well written LGBT story is needed. There needs to be more tolerance and understanding.

Hopefully Swan Queen (Emma and Regina) are the ones to do it.

Hey, I’m pretty comfortable with how Empire is doing it.

Btw, reality check, fictional characters on TV don’t do much to create tolerance and understanding. You know what does? REAL people who are role models.

Actually, TV and movie characters do a great deal when it comes to creating tolerance and understanding. True, as an adult the impact is minimal, but as a child/Young adult, we really do take a lot of our cues from TV. The average American spends about 33 hours in front of the TV (of some form) each week. They -are- real. They make us think, dream, laugh, cry. Just because you can’t touch them doesn’t mean they don’t have an impact. Whoopi Goldberg comes to mind. You know how she became an EGOT winner? She saw Lt. Uhura in the original Star Trek role and and that made her realize, truly, that she could do anything. Without that representation, we’d have one less EGOT winner around.

But if I can shift the conversation to something you mentioned in a post above (That I can’t reply to) that when it came to the ships in the show and the straight romance, “I think that’s what they’ve wanted me to see.” I think that’s actually the TV and its impact talking. We’ve been shown, again and again, that the female character should be together with the male character. Pick up any movie, any TV show, and 95 times out of a 100 you’ll see just that. But what’s interesting about the narrative of OUaT is that even though they’ve thrown them together with males, the story structure itself doesn’t support it. They’re -telling- us they belong together, they aren’t -showing- it.

I’m making a mess of that, and I’ll continue to do it so I’ll leave you with a little exercise. If you have time, go back and watch, or simply try to remember back to earlier episodes, and image Emma as, say, Emmet, and go over the interactions between Emmet and Regina. Because if you do that, if you change Emma to a guy, you’ll probably see what Swan Queen shippers already see, the narrative and character interactions that forms the basis for our current storytelling culture.

Some people say that if you changed Emma into a guy lesbians would stop shipping them. As a guy that ships Swan Queen, I say that if you changed Emma into a guy -everyone- would ship them. (No, not everyone, but the majority of the people that refuse to see Swan Queen does it simply because that’s “not how we’ve been told stories are told”)

(Oh, and please don’t see this as an attack. You actually seem quite reasonable, especially in comparison to the hate and personal attacks that’s usually spewed in places like this, and you merely provided a good opening)

I think it is fairly simple. The show takes Mulan, who has clearly been established as gay and pairs her up with one of the main female characters on the show. It can be Swan or Regina, does not really matter.

Only Swan Queen and nothing else?!?! I’m sorry but what show have you been watching for the past 4 years? Eddy and Adam have stated that they didn’t write Emma and Regina as romantic partners but as friends. Are you a fan? Did you follow the Comic Con coverage? Colin and Jennifer stated that Hook and Emma love each other. Lana and Sean also said that Regina and Robin they love each other. Regina had been in love with Daniel and is now in love with Robin, also her soul mate, per pixie dust. Emma is in love with Hook and told Regina in the AU that she was and then told Hook. I’m very happy with OUAT including Mulan’s story. I think they will write an amazing story for her.

Sometimes it makes you wonder what are they watching and following, and also purposely ignoring it seems

I ask myself this question every single time but I’ve come to realize that there’s no point in arguing with them because they will never believe anything you say so I just leave them to their fantasy.

You said yourself that Regina loved Daniel and now she loves Robin. She could love Emma next. One does not negate the other.

You’re right. She loved one man, she was sleeping with a man (Graham), and now she’s in love with another man. A woman must be next.

Honestly I am not shipping in this show but this comment made me want to argue… there is a thing called bisexuality i know it is unheard of… but bisexual girl here… i was in love with a guy for years, then another then another guy, had sex with guys, and fell in love with my best female friend wow unheard off… :o wow but yeah sorry that can happen…

I’m pretty certain the storyline will be with Mulan, and I’m glad she may get her happy ending. Maybe with Ruby, since she’s coming back too, or Merida or Lily? I don’t really like Lily, so I’m hoping it’s with someone else — Mulan deserves better!

I think some fans are simply upset that their fanon ship is obviously never going to happen. (Of course, that’s been obvious for awhile.) Emma and Regina are CLEARLY in love with other people, and it’s also clear that Captain Swan and Outlaw Queen are the love stories the writers are telling. Why not celebrate actual LGBTQ representation instead of complaining that it’s not the ONE ship they wanted? It’s looking like it was never actually about LGBTQ representation at all but trying to force the writers to change their vision and make their fanon ship canon. I think their response is incredibly telling: Change your story and give me the exact thing I want or it’s no good!

Why do Captain Swan and Outlaw Queen get to choose their representation? Why were CSer’s happy with SwanFire?

Answer: We all have preferences. I prefer Swan Queen. And you calling it fanon is extremely rude. Captain Swan was NOT canon for 2 seasons and they weren’t called fanon.

It’s a double standard that is rooted in homophobia.

CS were happening in context and subtext as a romantic pairing building up since they met…. Thats how the scenes were, and the way the actors talked and even the creators. Hell even Season DVD specials and commentaries back that up.

There is difference between building a couple you writing till they get together as that was the aim and journey then just a fanon ship that ppl like but wasnt there at all building up in the romantic sense.

Even OQ were presented a romantic couple in development.

for people who preech equality and acceptance as their principles and values its ironic.

I’m sorry, but I’m just not seeing SwanQueen like others are and I think it would be very strange at this point. It’s pretty much wishful thinking. Emma has never really expressed interest in Regina in that way nor has Regina in Emma. I like Emma with Hook and support the continued growth of their relationship. I’ve always enjoyed the development of Emma and Regina’s relationship from animosity to genuine friendship and co-parenting. I just don’t see it as romantic.

It’s good they’re doing this storyline, but I’m not that crazy about it being Mulan. Don’t hate the character necessarily, just indifferent really. I’m guessing the relationship would probably be with Mulan and Merida or Mulan and Red (just a guess since she’s back for multiple episodes).

For the record I am a gay man and I’ve been a fan of the show since season one I do not see you Regina and Emma as a couple and why does it have to be a lesbian couple and all everybody believes that

Had feelings for more it was never explicitly stated as such it was very ambiguous whether or not

Had feelings for fill up or Aurora and the fact that I wore was pregnant yes that cosmological leave but we don’t know if that was because she had feelings for Philebar were all we know is that she did not want to break up a family and why can’t it be a gay male couple why couldn’t Pinocchio where Dr. whale or Archie turn out to be gay why do something completely out of left field and have Henry be bisexual I mean there are 1 million different ways they can go

Why are the homophobes taking over this comment section?

Anyway, I’m rooting for Swan Queen because a side character isn’t enough.

to you homophobes are just people who agree Emma and Regina are not in anyway in romantic relationship. But to supposed gays or whatever they’re called these days demanding for realistic portrayal of same sex relationship if the relationship in question is not Emma and Regina then its not a true portrayal of a same sex couple relationship. For people who cry for acceptance and equality to indulge in such hypocrisy is amazing.

Disagreeing with SwanQueen and not seeing a romantic relationship between Emma and Regina doesn’t make people homophobes. Many people are more than happy to see Mulan have a relationship or for the show to bring on two gay male characters such as two princes or other fairy tale/Disney/whatever characters and put a twist on the story and turning it into a same-sex relationship.

I can’t believe somebody just said that being a fan of Captain Huck and Emma swan as a couple is basically gay bashing I am a gay man and I am a fan of that relationship I did not see this supposedly subtext of Emma and regina as a couple but apparently I’m not as gay as I think I am since according to many people commenting here the only way you can truly be homosexual and or support the LGBT community is if you insist that they turn Swan queen which is a fandom not cannon on the show into a couple smh in my opinion I don’t think it’s accepting scraps if they make other characters besides Regina and Emma Gay

I 100 percent agree with you. I just read through all the comments and it’s truly mind blowing how angry people are getting. I’ve watched the show since the beginning and never once felt that Regina & Emma should be a couple. I fully support Hook and Emma because they actually are in love. I too am a gay man and honestly don’t think every show needs LGBT representation but if they are going to include a same sex couple I am fine with it being a side character. It doesn’t make it less impactful if it’s a side character and honesty if people don’t want Regina and Emma together it doesn’t make them a homophobe. I swear everyone is just looking to label someone as a bigot or homophobe whenever they can.

Oh it’s easy to understand: that’s the cheap way to try and shut down an opposing viewpoint. Especially one they can’t effectively counter.

The part I find sad is the show confirms a positive gay storyline and the alleged pro-gay posters mostly dump on it.

I think its going to be with Mulan and Merida which I’ll be excited to see. I liked Mulora but I don’t think that’s going to happen seeing that Aurora is married to and has a baby with Phillip. All in all I’m excited for this new season…

Incredibly happy about this news. Give us Sleeping Warrior AND ANOTHER same-sex couple, please!

I’m crossing my fingers for male couple instead. Who knows it could be #Merthur. Merlin and Arthur. FTW.

It could be either Swan Queen Red Beauty since Meaghan Ory’s character Ruby aka lrrh is coming back or Sleeping Warrior since Jaime Chung’s character Mulan is coming back.

I really hope it’s Emma and Regina. Finally, after four years of subtext and slow buildup, going from hating each other to caring deeply about each other, to maybe something more…that would be such an amazing fairy tale ending! But it needs to happen over several more seasons. It’s been slow-burn so far and that’s what makes it great. Maybe Mulan and another character will be the first LGBT relationship in the show, and that will pave the way for Regina and Emma. To have that kind of representation in a mainstream Disney show would be such a wonderful feeling :)

while i am always more than supportive of any show writing same-sex romances, i despise it in the case of mulan/aurora.

mulan and philip were in love. this was so painfully obvious from everything during season 2, from the premiere episode to that belle-flasback episode where we see mulan and philip meet for the first time. but then season 2 came along and suddenly mulan and philip were never in love with each other, and mulan is suddenly head over heels for aurora.

sorry, but in that case, it really felt to me like the writers were trying to please a certain part of the fandom, rather than continue their original story.

Am I watching a different show than most of the other people here? I have never once seen or thought that there was ever anything but a growing FRIENDSHIP between Regina and Emma. They have only ever been portrayed as straight and believing anything else is just wishful thinking. Trust me, I am all for some LGBT representation but expecting the two STRAIGHT leads to be that representation is ridiculous. Also, saying that anyone who disagrees with that is homophobic or something of the like is ridiculous. Why can’t two people of whatever gender or sexual orientation ever be just friends? I get shipping characters that are either possible or wishful thinking, I’m guilty of it but I don’t expect the creators/writers of the show to completely change who a character is just to make me or a portion of the fans happy. Of course I am excited that my community is going to be represented on one of my favorite shows but I want it to be done organically not just because they think they need a gay couple. It’ll obviously be Mulan and someone since they have already established her as having feelings for another woman. I don’t think it’ll be Aurora since she is straight and happily married and if they do go that route somehow it will feel totally forced. It’ll probably be a new character and I’m excited to see what happens. For the record, I am a member of the LGBT community and I totally ship Emma and Hook, Regina and Robin.

I can understand wishing that people on the LGBTQA+ spectrum would be represented by main characters rather than guest stars, which seems more likely. I can understand being irate that it took them 5 seasons to get around to it at all. But I will never understand the popularity of Swan Queen when it comes to arguments of representation. We need more representation, we don’t’ need any more toxic representation like this so called friendship. Regina is an emotionally abusive sociopath who treats Emma like crap and constantly tears her down. That she occasionally deigns to be civil to Emma, usually either for Henry’s sake or because Emma has recently done something specifically nice for her, but that doesn’t undo all the times in between where she is a horrible toxic person. Bisexuals exist, I have no problem with the idea of pairing Emma or Regina with women just because they’ve always been with men. But arguing that they’re the only proper way to do representation on this show? Yuck, please no. We need better representation than that dreck.

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