Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: A | 193 USERS: A- YOU GRADE IT PANjandrum
By Cindy McLennan | Season 3 | Episode 8 | Aired on 11.17.2013
Neverland's Past. The Stiltskins land on the beach. There's daylight! In Neverland. Papa extols the island's virtues and explains how whatever you believe there comes true. To test this, wee Rumpy imagines a slice of cake, and it appears in his hand. Papa says you can fly in Neverland, too. He climbs a rock and throws himself off only to accomplish a spectacular face plant that dwarfs even Charming's thud, last season. A badinaging bird leaves a postcard at his feet that reads, "Nailed it." Rumpy suggests that perhaps Papa can no longer fly, because he's no longer a boy. Papa remembers that even as a boy, flying required Pixie Dust. He and wee Rumpy set off in search of some. A menacing black shadows follows. We flash forward to...
Neverland. Neal asks Wendy if she's seen his son Henry. "Pan needs his heart." Emma asks if Pan has said anything about the heart of the truest believer. Wendy lies, "No." Rumpy calls her out on this. I've seen people very upset that lie-detector Emma wasn't the one to do so, but that doesn't bother me. While I've never liked the development, it was set up in season 1 that Emma's emotions hinder her ability. She's been in an emotional whirlwind ever since Neal got shot and fell through that portal, and Tamara and Greg...Owen...GROAN snatched Henry. Besides, I suspect at least part of the reason Emma can detect lies, is that the way she grew up, she was lied to a lot, and probably lied a lot. Who has lied more than Rumpy? Oh, I know Regina is standing right there, but he has 300 years on her. I think it's fine that Rumpy is the one to call B.S.
Eventually, Wendy explains that Pan is keeping John and Michael alive, only provided she does as he says. Rumpy assures her Pan will go back on his word. Wendy is disinclined to trust a man who abandoned his own son. Regina explains John and Michael's involvement in getting Pandora's box to Rumpy. Wendy says, "They're okay?" Rumpy says, "For now, and only if we succeed." Neal swears to Wendy that they'll save her brothers, but right now, he needs her help. Wendy confesses that Pan told Henry he needs his heart to save magic. "It's a lie. He needs it to save himself." Neal asks what she means. She explains that Pan is dying, so he needs the heart of the truest believer to absorb all the magic in Neverland. Once he does, he'll be omnipotent and immortal. Snow asks what happens to Henry. Wendy says it's a trade. "When Pan lives, Henry will die." We cut to the...