Why Did Henry And Violet Break Up In Once Upon A Time?

Henry and Violet's break-up in 'Once Upon a Time' was so so bittersweet for me to watch. Violet is a very down-to-earth, kind, caring girl and I think Henry needed that in his life so badly, especially when he was living in Storybrooke with all of the Sanders kids and the constant threats of villains in the town. Henry's life was so centered around his parents and his destiny as the Savior, and I think in many ways Violet was just another aspect of Henry's life that he loved so much. However, as time went on it became very clear that Henry's life was not one that he could fill with too many aspects of love and normalcy because of how much his parents needed him in their fight against villains and the constant chaos that they faced in their battles. Violet deserved so much better than a boy who was constantly being pulled in so many different directions and could never fully give her the love, care and attention that she so rightfully deserved.

What ultimately sank their relationship was Henry’s trip to the New Enchanted Forest. The Author willed Henry into existence in Storybrooke, and once his purpose was fulfilled, Henry was given a new role as author and hero of the Disney realm. Violet, on the other hand, remained in the mundane world of Hyperion Heights. The two tried to make it work, but Henry was changing so much and Violet’s world was devoid of magic. Eventually, the two realized that they were on two completely different paths and good people can’t be on paths that are so contrary to each other. The breakup was quiet and uneventful, which is so cool because there were no villains, no angry arguments, just two good people growing apart. It was so realistic even for a show set in a world of fairy tales.

A lot of people see so much into their breakup but I think the truth is, they were kids. Kids' relationships end for lots of reasons. No need to get all hung up on making it into some sort of grand, behind-the-scenes plot point. Henry got a job as the Author and is now traveling between worlds and Violet is back in Storybrooke. Long-distance is so difficult to make work and I think they just grew apart. That's it. Not everything in a fantasy world has to be some sort of metaphor. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar and sometimes a teenage relationship ending is just that. The simplicity of it all is sort of believable in a town full of fairy-tale characters.

The show took a really weird turn after that, by the way. There was a huge time jump between seasons 6 and 7. Henry Taylor, once a teenager, was now in his late 20s and had a completely new life. He had a way of brushing off his relationship with Violet, but unfortunately, most of their breakup was handed off to the viewer to fill in during the years of his life that we never got to see. It would’ve been great to see those years of his life with Violet, and that’s not exactly what happened in the end. However, the reasons behind the character’s development were pretty clear: the show was trying to start fresh.

So ‘Once Upon a Time’ is a show about hope and happy endings but it’s also a show about the journey to those happy endings. This journey contains many a heartbreak and setback, and Henry and Violet’s break up is no exception. It makes his subsequent happy ending with Ella all the more earned, having experienced and learned from the loss of the first. If every relationship was perfect then Henry would have grown no and there would be no story. The break up was a small part of Henry’s story and, whatever the show did or didn’t do with it, served its purpose as a step on the way to his subsequent happiness with Ella.