Giving Regina that reason to be mean/angry/jealous again makes total sense; they killed this season's main antagonist, the Wicked Witch. So they need the original antagonist back. Obviously we've seen that Regina has a...helpful side. I don't know that we can call it "nice" now, or yet, or ever, as she *is* the Evil Queen through and through, after all. She only helped in order to bring Henry and/or Emma (who is a package deal with Henry) back from the other realms. Her motivation is always Henry--which is something SHE always wants. She acts based on her own desires and goals, and everyone else's are secondary to her, don't forget. Just because she joined the team for 12 weeks clearly doesn't mean she's a changed woman.
So, I believe that Marian is a plot device to make Regina bring back her mean side again, but perhaps for only half of next season, the way they divided up the season, this year. And, I also believe that, since it's been stated several times (and as someone above pointed out), she's destined to be with Robin, Marian will somehow be killed off in Storybrooke, thus keeping her own original destiny intact, and also giving Regina and Robin a happy ending by the end of next season.
And then we'll see if they get renewed and come up with another villain for the following year. :)
"There is no use trying," said Alice; "one can't believe impossible things." "I dare say you haven't had the practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." --Alice in Wonderland
Updated On: 5/14/14 at 03:24 AM