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
Water. Pan rows Henry out to the torchlit Skull Rock. Henry smiles as he looks up at the monstrosity. On shore, Pan secures the boat. At the stairway, Pan draws a line in the sand. I so seldom get to type those words in a non-metaphorical sense. Henry asks what he's doing. Pan says he's casting a protection spell. Commercial.
After the break, Team Operation Cobra Rescue makes plans. Snow and David offer to stay behind and guard the Lost Boys. Snow says when the get Henry home, she should tell him they love him. Emma's having none of that. "Tell him yourself." She orders her parents to go to Deadman's Peak and informs them that when they get back home, Gold can cure David. They just need to bring some water with them. Snow rushes to Emma, hugs her, and praises her for not giving up. Charming's smile is pride mixed with relief. Snow thanks Rumpy. He cracks that thanks are apparently all he gets these days. Neal's holding Pandora's box in his hands, and contemplating it. Hook says he and Tink will take care of things at Pan's camp and will meet the crew back at the Jolly Roger, once they find Henry. Snow turns to Emma. "Promise me if your father and I don't make it back, you'll get [Henry] home." Emma says they're all going back home, together. Charming hugs Emma and kisses the side of her head. Regina's gaze is wary as she eyes Rumpelstiltskin. We flash back to...
Neverland's Past. Papa and Rumpy are at the end of a long trek. The boy is tired. Papa distracts him with talk of Pixie Dust. They finally reach the trees which bear the flowers in which Pixie Dust is made. Wee Rumpy is too afraid to climb the ginormous trees. His father tells him if he wants to fly, he can't be afraid of heights. The boy says, "Well, I don't want to fly. You do." Papa tells him he'll change his mind once he sees how it feels. He lets out a very Dark-One giggle and says, "The wind whipping in you hair. The world below you. It's like you've no got a care in the world. You're all alone. You're free." Yeah, free from your responsibility to grow up, man up, and face the everyday challenges of being a parent, you twit. I knew you were a coward, but I never knew you were afraid of just acting like a damned grown up.
Rumpy begs his father not to make him climb the tree. Papa apologizes and tells the boy to wait there. He'll go get enough Pixie Dust for them both. Rumpy asks him to promise he won't take long. Promises are cheap, so Papa does so. Once he's back, the boy will see how wonderful Neverland will be.