The relationship between Emma (Jennifer Morrison) and Regina (Lana Parrilla) is one of the most complex on ABC's Once Upon a Time, and their dynamic continues in the second half of season 5.

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Morrison and Parrilla spoke with Entertainment Weekly recently about the Emma-Regina dynamic and how it's so different from what we frequently see in movies and television.

"I feel like they have a really true friendship," Morrison said. "It's just awesome to see two strong women have a great friendship on television, because usually you have two strong women fighting each other, or angry at each other, or having a catfight. You have these two women who have fought so hard to be the people that they want to be, and they've gone through challenges and both fail in certain ways and pick themselves up and move on, but they now have a real friendship and they really have each other's backs and really are there for each other. I think that's a really great thing to see on television."

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While they were enemies at the beginning of the series, their blossoming friendship has been a sight to behold as the show has moved forward. Now, Regina feels a certain amount of obligation to Emma considering the latter essentially sacrificed herself for her.

"Regina doesn't really hold anything against Emma," Parrilla noted. "Emma became the Dark One because she sacrificed herself for Regina, so Regina feels obligated to help Emma in any way that she needs. She sees that everything that Emma was doing was for the greater good. She accepts that. They're back to being friends and really family. They're moving forward and again working together to try to find Hook [Colin O'Donoghue] and get out of the Underworld as fast as possible."

Of course, the Internet being what it is, there are certain subsets of the Once Upon a Time fanbase that want to see Emma and Regina not only as friends, but as lovers. This storyline possibility probably won't happen, as Parrilla explained that their dynamic is more sisterly than anything else.

"I always see their relationship as best friends and sisters," Parrilla explained. "I'm nervous to say that because there are so many SwanQueens out there that see something else, and I don't want to take that away from them."

Regardless, Morrison thinks that the Emma and Regina's relationship is a good example of women building each other up instead of knocking each other down. It remains to be seen how their relationship will change and evolve through the end of season 5, but for the time being, we should expect a tight bond.

Once Upon a Time returns for the second half of season 5 on Sunday, March 6 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

Tags
Once Upon A Time, Television, ABC