General
- Emma's life takes a nosedive when she learns that she was Melinda in a past life. Unlike the other incarnations who were awakened when they were already adults and did not have much to lose, Emma had a happy life with loving parents and fell in love with Winston, and was to marry him until Copernicus interrupted the occasion and awakened her. Because of this, Emma develops conflicting feelings about her own identity.
- Much like Emma, all the other people throughout time had their own lives and families prior to having the Unicorn's souls forced on them. Unlike her, however, their personalities became subsumed with the implication their loved ones never saw them again.
Episode specific
The Awakening- Emma's parents and Winston are devastated when Emma is awakened and leaves.
The Past Within
- The Evil itself becomes more tragic upon the revelation that it was once Morgan, Melinda's mother as well as Merlin's wife. When she learns that her daughter had magical abilities, she tried to strip them from her for her own safety. However, Melinda, refusing to comply, accidentally causes her mother to incarnate into the Evil. This also explains why Merlin was indifferent when Melinda was nearly killed in the first episode: he never forgave her for her mistake. Her mistake has lingered within Melinda's conscience for so long, she angrily lashes out at Emma for invading that part of her mind.
The Heart of Kings
- Edred was to marry another elf in accordance with their thousand-year unbroken deal. However, since he was in love with Melinda, he escapes leaving his wife-to-be devastated. Worse, this caused both tribes of elves to war each other for years.
- Aelwulf spelling out to Edred exactly what leaving the kingdom and joining Unicorn cost his people. Because Edred refused to follow his Arranged Marriage, the Unbroken Line was severed, causing the Heart of the Forest to lose its power, the forests withering and dying, and the Elven lands descending into civil war. And as Aelwulf pointedly tells Edred, it's all his fault.
A Love's Last Light
- Edred comes to realize that the individual who he thought was Melinda, the woman he loved, is someone entirely different and is heartbroken upon this realization.
