‘Once Upon A Time’ Spoilers: Henry Taking ‘A More Pivotal Role’ And Regina Evolving Into The Hero

Everyone’s talking about Emma going dark and becoming the Dark Swan in Once Upon a Time Season 5, and it’s going to be up to her loved ones to try to help her. So what’s going to be going on with them? What can you expect from characters like Henry and Regina?

Well, at the end of Once Upon a Time Season 4, Henry became the Author, but he also broke the quill in half, having seen the damage that Isaac did because of the temptation of the role. However, as TV Guide has reported, co-creator Edward Kitsis has shared that that doesn’t mean that’s the end of that.

“Being the Author doesn’t go away,” he shared.

But what’s coming up for him now that his mother is turning dark? Will he be able to help save her? He is, co-creator Adam Horowitz has teased, going to have a bigger role in some things than he has previously.

“What we love with Henry is that he’s growing up, and he can take a more active part in the adventures now. I think you’re going to see that he’s going to take a more pivotal role in some of the things that are coming up.”

That’s not all that’s coming up for Henry; he’s also going to get his own love interest, as Kitsis shared that “love for Henry is coming.”

“We wouldn’t go to Camelot and not have Henry fall in love,” the EP continued, naming Episode 2 as the one “where we might meet Henry’s first crush.”

With Emma going dark, Henry’s other mother, Regina, is going to have to step up this season on Once Upon a Time, as Lana Parrilla told Entertainment Weekly – whether she wants to or not.

“Regina is going to [become] the hero. It’s really her journey of exploring that. It’s an immense amount of responsibility. We’ll see her evolving into this role and we’ll see where she ends up.”

“Emma sacrificed herself for Regina’s happiness, and if you know Regina, nothing pisses her off more than owing someone,” Kitsis added.

Horowitz pointed out that two of the people she’s closest to, Hook and Regina, have both dealt with darkness before, and “how their experiences can inform what she’s going through and either help or hinder her” is going to be part of more than just the first half of Season 5.

However, just because Regina is now good and is working towards becoming the hero doesn’t mean that everyone is going to jump on board with her playing that part, as Kitsis explained that people will still fear her.

“It’s one thing to ask everyone’s forgiveness, it’s another thing to lead people. We’ve seen Regina on our side helping out the heroes, but she’s going to be thrust into a leadership position in saving the town with a town that, quite honesty, a lot of people are still frightened of her.”

Regina’s knowledge of the Dark One comes in handy in the sneak peek ABC has already released from the premiere. Hook tries to summon Emma back using the dagger, and that’s when she brings up the dagger’s rules and why he can’t bring her back: she’s not in this world.

Once Upon a Time Season 5 premieres Sunday at 8 p.m. on ABC.

[Image via ABC]