Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: A+ | 379 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT PANic And PANcakes
By Cindy McLennan | Season 3 | Episode 11 | Aired on 12.15.2013
Back inside, Henry asks, "Who was that?" Emma says, "No idea. Someone must have left the door open downstairs. C'mon, let's eat." Fade to black for real. Fade to black until March 9, 2014. How are we supposed to wait so long? Argh!
There seems to be a lot of confusion about Regina's undoing of the Dark Curse. Specifically, people argue that Neal, Hook, Tink, and Ariel should have been able to leave Storybrooke, too. Had the episode been written that way, I could understand how they would have been able to leave Storybrooke, because the curse didn't bring any of them to Storybrooke, in the first place. Since the episode wasn't written that way, what follows is my understanding of the undoing.
Regina cast the first Dark Curse. Emma broke it. Pan used the same scroll to cast a new version. Because Regina first cast the curse, with the scroll in her possession and a great sacrifice (giving up Henry), she is able to undo the Dark Curse, entirely. Undoing it negates the version cast by Pan. Because the first Dark Curse originally brought people from magical worlds to the curse-created town of Storybrooke, the magic that undoes the curse carries anyone from the magical worlds back to where they're from. That's why the curse will carry away Neal, Hook, Tink, and Ariel (and I'm imagine Ariel wants to stay with Eric, anyhow).
Emma is only exempt because she is the Savior. Henry is exempt because he was conceived and born in this world. Cinderella's baby will return to the Enchanted Forest because she was conceived there. This is consistent with what the writers said, when at the end of season 2, Tamara and Greg were going to trigger the failsafe to undo the curse. Also, as I understand what Regina said, only Henry and Emma will lose their memories. When the rest of the Storybrookers return to the Enchanted Forest (etc.) they will still remember Storybrooke and what happened there.
Do you think Gold is really gone for good? I can't believe they'd write him out, because he's such a popular character and Rump/Belle is such a popular couple. On the other hand, it could be that Robert Carlyle feels done or wants to confine himself to flashbacks. On the third hand (don't judge), maybe he'll be back. I love Carlyle, so while I mostly want him back, I really love how his story concluded. It feels rich and right. I can imagine ways to bring him back that won't mess with it, but part of me thinks it should just stay that way. Still, I'll be happy to see him again, in whatever form What about you?