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
Sidebar. This is just a casting note. We all know OUAT's casting employs the dark arts, and with magic, there's always a price. For nigh on forever, now, fans have been complaining that Michael Raymond-James (adult Neal) and Dylan Schmid (teen Baelfire) look nothing alike. And they're not wrong. If I recall correctly, the youngest Baelfire, Sebastian Wilkinson wasn't a terrible match to teen Bae, but he wasn't his mini-me, either. When I look for a semblance of resemblance in all the Stiltskin males, i.e. Papa, adult Rumpelstiltskin, wee Rumpelstiltskin, adult Neal, and Henry -- well then, Dylan Schmid's teen Bae is the odd man out. I can buy that Stephen Lord, Robert Carlyle, Wyatt Oleff, Michael Raymond-James, and Jared Gilmore are great-grandfather, grandfather, father and son. No, Dylan Schmid does not grow up to look like Michael Raymond-James, but I'm not so sure Dylan Schmid would pass as Robert Carlyle's son, unless his mother was a lot darker than Rachel Shelley (Milah), whose hair is the only dark thing about her looks. I just want to put this out there for those fans who enjoy MR-J as adult Neal, because I imagine they're a bit tired of hearing the objections. And now, let's jump to...
Neverland. When Emma notices things are thawing between her parents, she asks Snow about it. Snow isn't sure the hatchet is buried, but they've put it aside for now. That's good, because last week, Snow seemed ready to bury the hatchet in Charming's neck. Emma asks Snow if she's going to stay on Neverland with Charming. Snow says the thought of leaving Emma kills her, but if David leaves Neverland, he'll die. Emma chides her mother for giving up on finding a way for the whole family to stay together. Snow argues that there's no other way. Emma says, "Maybe this is just you rubbing off on me, but I don't believe that. There's always a way." Atta girl, Emma. That's how you do it up, on Neverland.
Up ahead, the party stops and draws their weapons. Snow and Emma rush to join them and follow suit. It's only Regina and Rumpy emerging from the jungle. Regina tells them about their plan to trap Pan in Pandora's box. Neal is less than thrilled to see his father and apprises Operation Cobra Rescue of the prophecy. The team, including Regina, is quick to believe Rumpy would kill Henry to save his own snaky skin. One by one, they train their weapons on Rumpy and make it clear they won't allow it. Commercial.
In the Enchanted Past, wee, forlorn Rumpy's spinning impresses the spinsters. He hopes that if he can make money, he and his father can be together. The spinsters tell him his father is a coward and a cheat. They tell him if he wants to have a happy life, he must go somewhere where his father's name cannot follow him. They give him a magic bean and explain it can open a portal to another land or even a realm where he can start a new life, but he must do so without his father. Rumpy objects. "He's coming back for me as soon as he gets a job." They tell the boy his father doesn't want a job. He's at the pub. Family can be a strength, but it can also be a burden. "And your father will always be your burden, Rumpelstiltskin." We flash forward to...