Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: B+ | 364 USERS: B+ YOU GRADE IT How I Met Your Mother
By Cindy McLennan | Season 2 | Episode 6 | Aired on 2012.11.04
During their climb, Hook plays beanstalk psychologist on Emma. He says she's silent because she's afraid to reveal herself and to trust him. He claims she's an open book. It's clear she doesn't want to abandon Henry the way she was abandoned. He says she has the same look in her eyes, he once saw in the eyes of Neverland's Lost Boys. When he notes that love has been all too rare in her life, he asks if she's ever been in love. Taking a page from Regina's book, Emma lies: "No. I've never been in love." We flash sideways and back to...
Speculation Sidebar. More than ever, I think Neal is going to turn out to be Baelfire. I know the magical bean that Blue gave Bae was supposed to take him to a land without magic, but I can't shake the feeling that he might have done some time in Neverland as well. After Milah's death, it would be understandable if Hook searched for her son, provided he knew the boy road a rare magical bean away from the Dark One.
Portland. Neal and a visibly pregnant Emma are in a convenience store. Neal grabs a road map to distract the clerk while Emma does a little shoplifting, which I guess we're supposed to accept is justified, because the clerk is a jerk. At the counter, there are two racks of key chains for sale. The leather keychains bear names, and both Henry and Alice are prominently featured. The Alice one reminds me of the White Rabbit clues in Neal's Manhattan flat. I can't decide if I should ditch my Neal = Bae speculation, or enhance it. There's plenty of speculation that Neal may be both Bae and the ever-hurrying bunny. Given Rumpy's many identities, I don't see any reason to rule that out.
Anyhow, there are also some metallic keychains. Neal swipes one bearing a swan for Emma. Isn't theft romantic? I'd better call my dentist once I'm done. Another customer enters, just as Neal is pocketing some Apollo Bars. He tries to warn the clerk, but Emma creates her own distraction by pretending to go into labor. Neal rushes her out of the store. The customer tells the clerk that the couple was robbing him blind, but that's all we'll see of them, so who cares.