Episode Report Card 118 USERS: A- YOU GRADE IT PANdemic
By Cindy McLennan | Season 3 | Episode 4 | Aired on 10.20.2013
Rumpy's Hovel. When Bae and Rumpy materialize back in their home, Bae is furious. He says the piper is friend, but Rumpy insists he would have hurt the boy. Bae assumes the piper is yet another person Rumpy has abused with his power. Rumpy's expression further solidifies my earlier speculation about his relationship with Pan. And I don't think his words do anything to DQ it. You be the judge. "His name is Peter Pan. I've known him since I was a boy. Growing up, we were incredibly close. [...] He wasn't always [immortal]. He went to a place called Neverland. He betrayed me, Bae. He can't be trusted." When Bae and I want to know what Pan did, Rumpy doesn't give us the details, darn the luck. "All that matters is that he fooled me for a long time, before I finally seen (sic) his true nature. And it is darker and more repulsive than you should ever be exposed to." Bae thinks Pan can't be worse than Rumpy. Rumpy insists he had to protect Bae and had no choice but to magic him back home. Bae knows otherwise, because Pan told him the deal he'd offer Rumpy. "...all you had to do was ask me if I wanted to come home. [...] he said that way, I'd know if you really trusted me -- if you really cared. [...] You didn't need to. I would have chosen to come home. I would have chosen you." Oh, so no harm done, then? Not so much. Bae runs out of the cottage, leaving Rumpy at a loss. We flash forward to...
Neverland. Rumpy asks Neal how he can gain his trust. Neal tells him to give him the Dark One dagger. Rumpy says he doesn't have it. He had his shadow hide it so Pan couldn't find it. Neal laughs as he tells his father he has an answer for everything. Neal can believe that Rumpy wants to do the right thing in this moment, but that can change in a day. The prophecy still says Henry will be Rumpy's undoing. TWITS. Maybe he'll undo all the evil Rumpy has wrought. Maybe he'll undo Dark One curse. Maybe he'll make him a better man -- a real father and grandfather. Rumpy says he's still willing to die for Henry, but Neal fears that if they get back to Storybrooke and Belle and the possibility of a happy ending, Rumpy might decide "undoing" doesn't sound so appealing. Rumpy shakes his head as his eyes well with tears. "You're my happy ending. This is, because it's my redemption. I can be strong son, if you have faith in me."
Neal grabs his father's hands and clasps them in his own. "You know, when I was living here and sleeping in a cave, I used to dream of you coming here and rescuing me, but then I'd wake up and remember how you left me behind. You left your own son behind for the power of that dagger. How can I think that things would ever be any different?" When he lets go, Rumpy looks at his right hand. There's a leaf in it. When he shakes it off, Rumpy can see he too has been dosed with squid ink. As its magic subdues Rumpy, he asks Neal what he's doing. Neal taking off with Henry slung across his shoulder. He'll find Emma and bring his family home. Rumpy warns him against going into the jungle alone. Without the power of the Dark One at his side, Pan will capture both Neal and Henry. Neal says he has no other choice. They're safer without Rumpy. "Goodbye Papa." Rumpy cries us into commercial.