#**whookweek

Probably one of the most important scenes in his narrative, not just for Wish Hook, but for Killian Jones as a character as a whole. This sweet, touching, emotionally heavy scene packed such a punch on so many levels. Not only did we finally find out just who Killian’s mother was (a mother who stayed with him as long as she could), it was also revealed who his daughter was (hello, Alice Jones, of Wonderland and other places!). Even beyond that, it was the confirmation that deep down, what makes this man who he really is doesn’t change simply because his experiences turned out different from the “original” after a certain point. Just like the original Killian Jones had done for Emma Swan, this Killian gave up everything he had ever known and loved and stayed alive for (his revenge, his ship, his crew) because someone needed him to be a better man. This is who Killian Jones always will be, at his core - no matter what universe or realm he is in - a hero who sacrifices for the greater good and for those he loves deeply. On Day 1, I talked about him repeatedly making me a proud fan. This was another one of those moments (one I can’t even watch or talk about without tearing up, honestly).

Wish Hook Week ⚓ Day 5: KnightRook Day Easily, the strongest and most compelling dynamic of Season 7 and in Wish Hook’s narrative, in my opinion. Finding out the motivation behind Old Hook’s action was a daughter he couldn’t be with was a shock to the system, and the eventual reveal that this daughter was none other than Alice (named after his mother) was so damn satisfying. Getting to see Killian Jones as a father is something the show has been hinting at for a couple of seasons now, and seeing them find a way to finally tell that story still, despite circumstances, has been the highlight of this current season. The moment I first saw Alice, I had a gut feeling this was a child of Killian Jones. The flair for the dramatic, the unyielding loyalty, the sass... she’s all his, in every way, and though they’ve been through hardship, I know they’ll find some way to be together again. Because that’s what Jones’ do - they don’t give up on each other.

This line is my favorite, like many of my other selections for Wish Hook Week, because it’s another perfect example of showing who Killian Jones - any version - is at his core. Divergent paths and different experiences can’t change the nature of who a person really is. Killian Jones, in the wish realm, proved this. He had no Emma Swan to shape his destiny, but he found something of equal importance that showcased his good heart. It never fails - you give Killian Jones something, or someone, to fight for that’s bigger and more important than his own selfish desires, and he’ll always choose the right path, will always be a man who sacrifices in the name of those who need him, ultimately becoming the hero he was always meant to be.

I went into Season 7 most excited about the continued friendship between Henry and Killian. And even though the parameters changed a bit (Killian is a different version than the one we all first originally expected), it’s still the dynamic that isn’t familial that I am the most excited about. Because though it’s a relationship that was started from scratch, what made Captain Cobra so special in the first place is still very much there. Killian is still the centuries old pirate and Henry is still the young man in need of guidance and someone he can rely on. Even more interesting is they are now on more equal footing (especially in Hyperion Heights), with Rogers seeming to need Henry to lean on as much as Henry always had Killian there in the past. And the excitement that these two had me riding into the season on remains because there’s a Captain Cobra 2.0 adventure to come that I can’t wait to see!

Wish Hook Week ⚓ Day 3: Old Hook Day I know going for the bumbling ol’ coot that is Old Hook is probably most people’s first reaction to showcasing this verison of Killian Jones. And don’t get me wrong, I love the bumbling old man (though definitely not as much as Colin loves playing him, that’s for sure!). The sexy beast, as I call him (sorry, I’m still attracted to him!). He’s so extra (he’s like the extraist of extras) and his level of dramatics makes OG Killian look tame and timid in comparison. It’s hard not to focus on those aspects of him, really. But for Old Hook Day, I wanted to slow it down and make mention of this brief moment right here. It’s a mere glimpse behind the curtain, really. But, as is often the case with any version of Killian Jones (thanks in large part to Colin’s flawless acting), this small moment speaks volumes. Up to this point, he’s the over-the-top showboat, and immediately after he’s right back to that, but here we see what’s really going on. Much like all of Killian’s showboating from previous seasons, it’s an act. The facade slips and we see the depth of this man’s pain - you don’t just hear him says ‘misery... and heartbreak’, you feel it. Whatever he’s gone through in the years since his path diverged from were it originally intended to go, it’s broken him. More so than anything ever broke Killian Jones before. We don’t find out what that is until later in the episode, but here we see the depth of the pain he’s been carrying, and why he is so willing to do anything (or so he thinks) to put an end to it.