This was a week filled with penultimate episodes, as season finale time is right around the corner. On Sunday, motherhood was the central focus on Once Upon a Time, and that focus produced one of the strongest episodes of the season. Also on Sunday, The Good Wife took a big step toward big changes at the end of its season; Game of Thrones continued to deviate from the books in shocking ways; and Brooklyn Nine-Nine reminded us all why Jake and Amy would be perfect together (before putting another roadblock between them, of course). Monday’s Castle was a light pre-finale bit of fun with a healthy dose of Martha feelings, while Wednesday’s Nashville was one of its most emotionally devastating hours of the season. And Saturday featured an episode of Orphan Black that brought the Leda and Castor clones closer than ever, as well as an episode of Outlander that took Claire on a long quest to find Jamie.

With the stress of season finales looming on nearly every television show I watched this week, I appreciated the moments that showed the calm before the storm even more than usual. This was especially true on Once Upon a Time. With huge plot twists and major revelations paving the way for what looks to be a game-changing finale, it was nice to have a moment in the penultimate episode where Emma and Hook were allowed to breathe, share a drink and a view of the horizon, and talk through things like a real couple. I loved the scene between them at the docks because it felt like a moment of grounded realism in the middle of crazy fairytale action, which has always been one of my favorite things about them as a couple.

The strongest relationships are ones in which both parties feel secure enough in the stability of their love to be honest with one another, and it makes me so happy to see that Emma has found that in Hook. While he never pushes her or makes her feel bad for her emotions, he isn’t afraid to tell her when she’s not being her best self. That’s the sign of a great partnership—one in which both parties help the other to be better. Hook knew Emma was hurting herself by continuing to shut out her parents, and his gentle but pointed advice helped her make the decision to finally move beyond her anger and arrive at a place of healing with the family she loves. That kind of support is wonderful to watch, and it was a nice reminder—before the insanity I’m sure will come with this finale—that Hook and Emma’s relationship has helped both of them grow into the best versions of themselves, which is the basis of True Love on Once Upon a Time.

What was the best thing you saw on TV this week?

This week in television started off with a look into Ursula and Hook’s past on Once Upon a Time. Also on Sunday, we made it through Election Day along with all the characters on The Good Wife. On Monday, Castle gave us another great Ryan-centric episode, and Tuesday was season finale night for The Mindy Project. Wednesday featured a Nashville concert special and an episode of The Americans that highlighted the complexity of Elizabeth Jennings and the brilliance of the actress who brings her to life. And this entire week was filled with plenty of March Madness fun for basketball fans.

Some weeks, it’s incredibly difficult for me to choose my favorite TV moment of the week. And then some weeks, I know from the minute I watch a particular scene that it’s going to be nearly impossible to beat. This week was an example of the latter. There were a lot of strong moments to pick from, but none made me happier than Hook telling Emma she’s his happy ending on this week’s Once Upon a Time.

Sometimes you just want to feel good when you watch television, and that’s what this moment was all about. It was a moment of deep, almost unbelievable joy for two characters who spent so much of their lives believing that kind of happiness would never be theirs to have. Throughout the episode’s flashbacks, we were reminded that Hook spent three lifetimes in darkness and despair. But in that scene with Emma, he told her in no uncertain terms that she makes him happy enough to believe he’s living out his happy ending just by being with her. And Emma spent so much of her life believing she was never enough to make the people she loved happy just by being herself. But in that moment, she finally had someone look at her and tell her that she’s enough exactly as she is to make someone she loves happy forever.

That scene was powerful on its own merit, but was even more powerful because of who we know these characters to be and how long we know they’ve struggled to find the kind of love shown in that moment. Colin O’Donoghue and Jennifer Morrison did such a fantastic job of conveying how monumental this was for both characters without ever making it feel heavy-handed. It was the first moment of this half-season of Once Upon a Time to make me cry, and it came by those emotions honestly.

What was the best thing you saw on TV this week?

Another strong week in the world of television began on Sunday with an hour full of secrets on Once Upon a Time, a look into Jake’s relationship with his dad on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and a trip through Alicia’s mind on The Good Wife. Monday’s season finale of The Bachelor ended with a proposal in a barn (which I’m sure is very romantic for some people). On Tuesday, The Mindy Project gave us a humorous and heartfelt exploration of Danny’s Catholicism and how it will factor into his future with Mindy and their unborn son. And Wednesday’s episode of The Americans brought Martha into the spotlight in the most tense episode so far in this fantastic third season.

There were plenty of great moments to choose from as my favorite of the week—from Danny letting go of his Catholic guilt because he’s never been happier on The Mindy Project to Elizabeth and Philip opening up to each other about their children on The Americans. However, my favorite moment of the week was a moment that brought a character farther in their development than I ever could have hoped for this soon into their journey of redemption—and that moment was Regina apologizing to Geppetto on Once Upon a Time.

Regina’s story is developing into a beautiful story of choosing to be better than who you once were, and this scene epitomized that theme. Lana Parrilla brought such sincerity to Regina’s apology, and I was incredibly moved by the way this scene showed that growing as a person isn’t a perfect journey; you’ll have missteps and setbacks and relapses into dark places because you’re human, but the important thing is to choose to move beyond those moments of giving in to your worst self and choosing to be better afterwards. Regina isn’t a perfect person, but the important thing is she’s acknowledging that now and making the conscious choice to be a better version of herself. That’s how you change the way the world sees you; that’s how you find hope. And that’s a story I can believe in.

What was the best thing you saw on TV this week?