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In the Enchanted Past, Rumpelstiltskin's father (Stephen Lord) is a swindler, whose signature sleight of hand game is Follow the Lady. When he's outed as a cheat, he leaves his boy with two spinning spinsters and lies that he's off to find honest work. The spinning spinsters don't swallow the father's spin, but they are impressed with Rumpel's ability at the wheel. Feeling for the lad, they give him a magic bean and encourage him to use it to find a new land, one in which he won't be sullied by his father's reputation. Being but a boy, Rumpel finds his ne'er-do-well father, tells him about the bean, and says they can have a fresh start together. The father uses the bean to transport them to a place he visited as a boy in his dreams -- Neverland.
Once on Neverland, Papastiltskin finds that he can no longer fly, so he climbs a tree to harvest some pixie dust. There he encounters the Shadow (voiced by Marilyn Manson) who is, at the time, Neverland's sole inhabitant. It makes some sort of a deal with Papa. The Shadow turns Papa into the boy we know and loathe as Peter Pan, and takes Rumpel back to the Enchanted Forest, because the boy is Papa's only challenge to believing he never has to grow up. There's a magical hour glass at Skull Rock. Since Neverland was only meant for children's dreamtime visits, when the sands run out, so will the days of Pan's childish life. Since anything is possible on Neverland, Pan vows to find a way to thwart this rule.
In Neverland's present, Pan has wooed wee Henry into believing his hype. He convinces the boy that by giving him his heart -- literally -- he will be saving magic. Rumpy and Regina have joined the rest of the gang, so Operation Cobra Rescue is at full strength. They find and free Wendy who lies to them at first, but once they assure her they can keep her brothers safe, she comes clean to them about Pan's plans. He wants to take Henry's truest-believer heart, which will allow him to absorb all of Neverland's magic, and remain an immortal, eternal child.
Rumpy, Regina, Neal and Emma head out to Skull Rock. Because Pan has cast a protection spell (which keeps out anyone with a shadow), at first, Rumpel is the only one who can get past the beach. With Pandora's box in hand, Rumpel squares off with his father, the child. Pan offers him a deal -- this can be their fresh start. The only fresh start Rumpel is interested in is one with his own son, so he refuses. When he tries to magic Pan into the box, Pan digs into his old bag of thimblerigging tricks and produces the real box, because on Neverland, you don't even have to use sleight of hand. You only have to believe something to make it so. Pan deploys the box, which mist-ifies Rumpy and sucks him in.
By then, Emma has figured out that by blocking the moon, she, Regina and Neal will also be shadow-free. Working together, Henry's mothers do just that and the trio goes off in search of their boy. By the time they get to the center of the cave, Henry has already ripped out his heart and is about to give it to Pan. Neal, Emma and Regina all plead with their son not to do it, but Henry is too deeply in Pan's thrall, and a little too chuffed at the possibility of being a hero. He thrusts his heart into Pan's chest, then falls to the ground. Magic whooshes out of Pan, knocks down Regina, Emma, and Neal, then swooshes over everyone back on Neverland proper, too. The parents rush to their unconscious (dead?) son's side as Pan levitates above them. Dun dun dun. Somebody had better start believing they can still save Henry.
I'll be back with the recap, ASAP. In the meantime, please grade the episode up top, and then join us on the boards, where we are awaiting the fabulous prizes and cash award we're due, for figuring out Pan is Rumpy's father.
Want more? The full recap starts right below!Previously, on Once Upon A Time, in the Enchanted Past, Rumpelstiltskin meets a Seer who knows he's scared of turning out like his cowardly father. He hobbles himself and heads home to meet wee baby Baelfire. When Bae is a teen, he procures a magic bean to take him and his father to a land without magic, but Rumpy is too cowardly to take a chance. He lets Bae fall into the portal and a whole new world all alone.
And we're back to the Seer. She tells Rumpy "The boy will lead you to your son." In Manhattan, Henry asks, "What's going on?" Back in the past, the Seer tells Rumpy, "The boy will be your undoing." Charming is dying of Dreamshade poisoning. Hook provides him with magical Neverland water, but warns that once our fair Prince drinks this water, he can never leave Neverland. Bae flies off to Neverland. Wendy asks Peter Pan what he needs Henry to believe in. Pan says, "Me. Pan shows Henry Skull Rock and tells him it's where their salvation waits, then asks the boy if he's up to the task.
And now, on Once Upon A Time, we open in the Enchanted Past at a village marketplace. Wee Rumpelstiltskin (Wyatt Oleff) watches as his father (Stephen Lord) swindles the locals with a "Follow the Lady" version of Three Card Monte. Let me say right now, that I see some sources referring to Papa Stiltskin as Malcolm, while IMDB.com currently has the character's given name listed as Colin, so Papa Stiltskin it is, unless and until I learn his name from the show. (That said, Malcolm makes more sense, since their accents are Scottish.) The losing mark objects, grabs Papa and pounds the shite out of him. Rumpy tries to intercede, but the mark just tells the boy, "You'd be better off without him," rips off Papa's purse and storms off. Papa assures the boy he'll figure something out. "I always do, Rumple." The title card features Skull Rock.
Neverland. Present day. As Henry keeps a watchful eye, Peter Pan gently lays Wendy down on a jungle-side cot. Apparently she's no longer too much of a contagion danger to be that near to the Lost Boys and Pan's camp, but Henry is 11, so what does he know from germ theory? When Henry asks about Wendy's condition, Pan says he fears she's doing worse. Henry asks, "But what if I save magic -- she'll live?" Pan says yes, then tells the boy that if he saves magic, he'll save them all. "But to do it, you have to truly believe." Wendy lets out a fake cough, that I'd never buy -- not even at 6:00 AM, and ask my daughter, I'm ready to buy any excuse at 6:00 AM, so long as I don't have to argue. What's that you say? When you grow up, you want to be a pole dancer? Very well, then. Follow your dreams. Henry assures Pan he does believe. Pan: "Good, because we don't have much time. Follow me."
Pan leads Henry back to his camp, proper and announces: "My brothers, tonight, the dream of Neverland will awaken from its slumber. Tonight, the heart of the truest believer shall fulfill its destiny." As what, a good main course accompanied by fava beans and a nice Chianti? Pan's been talking over me this whole time. His main point is: "Tonight, Henry saves magic." His "for me" is implicit. The Lost Boys cheer.
In another part of Neverland, Rumpy holds Pandora's Box as he leads Regina through the jungle. She says that despite their differences, she can always count on him to get things done; the others are just a liability. "Pan told them Neal was alive, and of course Emma took the bait. Such a waste of time." Regina takes a beat to remember herself. "Oh, I'm sorry." Rumpy tells her not to be. "He is alive." Regina is all, "WHAT?" Rumpy confirms he's seen his son alive, right on the island. Regina can't believe he saw his son and then parted ways. "You realize he might have a way off the island." Rumpy tells her they'll worry about their travel plans after they get Henry. Regina knows there's something he's leaving out. He tells her all she needs to know is that the time they'll see Baelfire is when Rumpy is putting Henry in his arms. "When father and son are reunited." I think Rumpy's forgotten his audience here. Regina's hooded glare backs me up. We flash back to the...
Enchanted Past. Papa Stiltskin knocks on a door. Wee Rumpy asks where they are. When there's no answer, Papa opens the door and reveals two spinning spinsters who finish each other's sentences. Our lovely and talented forum members speculate that they're two of the three Fates. Who am I to disagree? Papa is dumping his child with the spinsters, while he goes off in search of what he claims is real work. I already don't believe him. He ignores wee Rumpy's tearful objections and pleas, and tries to placate him by giving him a straw doll. Papa tells the boy the doll will be with him, when he can't be. He advises Rumpy to give it a name. "Names always make things better. They make them real. Trust me." What a lovely echo of the Rumpelstiltskin tale. Papa tells his son the doll will protect him. "And I'll be back before you know. I promise." While the spinsters have been kindly and welcoming to the child, their expressions make it clear they are familiar with the stench of Papa's bullshit. Once he's out the door, wee Rumpy sobs. We cut to a...
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...
Neverland. Rumpy assures the team he has no intention of hurting Henry, even if the boy is destined to be his undoing. Neal doesn't believe him, but proposes he might, were his father to give him Pandora's box. It's not easy for the Dark One to work in this much light, but he does hand it over. As the party again heads off, Rumpy stops Neal and says, "Look, look, you may think you know who you're up against, but you don't." Neal says, "Tell me what really happened between you two." Rumpy says, "Peter Pan destroyed my father." Right, like Darth Vader destroyed Anakin Skywalker. Why are you being so frigging cryptic, Rumpy -- especially with your own son -- the one whose heart you so desperately want to reclaim? We flash back to the...
Enchanted Past. Wee Rumpy finds his father in the village. He's back to swindling the locals with Follow the Lady, and lies that he's just taking a break from looking for work. Disenchanted, the boy walks off. Papa runs after him. Rumpy yells at him about saying he'd look for work. Papa says no one in town would hire him, which is probably the truth, but I doubt he even gave it a go. He's a grown man who wants to play games -- games that abuse the trust of others. Rumpy says no one would hire dear old dad, because no one trusts him. Papa says, "But you do, don't you, son?" Rumpy says he wants to. His asks his father, "What if there was someplace we could start over -- somewhere where no one knew you?" When his father asks how, Rumpy shows him the magic bean. Papa is already familiar with it and tries to snatch it, because it would fetch so much money. Rumpy won't let him gamble away their one chance to be a family. Papa's eyes light up as he says, "A fresh start." He tries to think of a place to go. "Think think think. Think...lovely thoughts. That's it!" When Papa was a boy, his father sold him to a blacksmith. Every night, he'd tell himself to think lovely thoughts, and in his dreams, he's travel the most wonderful place -- Neverland. Rumpy says that's where they should go. Papa casts down the bean and a portal opens. Father and son hold hands and jump in. Well, now I can already understand why adult Rumpelstiltskin let go of teen Bae, and I haven't even seen how this will play out. Commercial.
After the break, we return to present-day Neverland. Emma pulls Hook aside and says, "We need to talk." She wants to find some way for David to leave the island. She knows this is a sore topic for Hook, because of his brother. Hook shuts it down. If David leaves the island, he'll break his connection to the cure. Emma suggests taking some water back with them to sustain the connection. Hook asks, "For how long? Once the water runs out the Dreamshade will take his life."
Rumpy and Neal have been standing a few yards back listening. Rumpy suggests there could be another cure. He snarks at Emma for finally being interested in what he has to say. "I thought I wasn't to be trusted." Emma says he isn't, but she'll take her chances. Rumpy reminds them that he too was poisoned by Dreamshade, thanks to a "cowardly pirate." Emma rolls her eyes at that. Hook just smirks. Neal breaks eye contact with his father. Emma knows it was the life-for-a-life candle that saved Rumpy. "David is not that selfish." Rumpy sneers. "How noble. The point is after my near-death experience, I believe I could create an elixir, back in my shop." Emma asks him his price. Since this is a big favor, Rumpy expects an equally large one in return. Neal puts the kibosh on that. "No. When we get back to Storybrooke, you're going to save David because it's the right thing to do. No deals. No favors. Understand?" Rumpy seems impressed with his grown son. He nods, and says he'll do as he asks. Of course I think in part, Rumpy did all this to allow Neal to play the hero in front of Emma. I don't mean to say that Neal is in on it, just that Rumpy has a clear favorite in the 'shipping wars. I think Hook realizes it too. He cocks an eyebrow as he passes his crocodile.
Tink, who has been up ahead with Charming, Snow, and Regina, announces to the laggers that they've reached Pan's perimeter. Emma says, "It's time." Tink will sneak them in, and they'll grab Henry. She asks Neal if he's ready for Pan patrol. Neal says, "Locked and loaded." His hand is on his man purse in which he put Pandora's box. Rumpy grabs Hook's sword. "Do you mind if I borrow this? You said no magic, I agreed, but I'm not walking in there with nothing but my good looks." Heh. Hook: "Now I, on the other hand..." Charming tosses Hook a dagger. "Here, in case your good looks fail you." I've been trying to quote less, but I love this scene. Emma heaves a heavy sigh. "Let's get Henry."
Team Operation Cobra Rescue hides in the greenery and spies on the Lost Boys. Rumpy asks if he can use magic on the boys. Neal says, "No." Regina says, "I'll do it." Rumpy asks if she remembers the spell. Regina gives him a look that should turn him into a snail, and then works her magic. Magic whooshes over the boys and they're knocked out. The team can find neither Henry nor Pan. Emma hears a young voice cry for help. She runs in the direction of it and finds the encaged Wendy, who says, "You're an adult." Emma introduces herself and says she's looking for her son. Neal comes through the brush. "Wendy?" Rumpy appears behind him. Wendy asks, "Do I know you?" And Mr. I-Go-By-Neal-Now smiles. "It's Baelfire." He breaks her out of the cage and hugs her. When he asks what she's doing there, Wendy says, "I came back to save you. [...] I couldn't bear for you to be without a family, not after you told us that your mother and father were both dead." Rumpy: "You told her I was dead?" Neal says it was easier than admitting that his own father abandoned him. We flash back to...
Neverland's Past. The Stiltskins land on the beach. There's daylight! In Neverland. Papa extols the island's virtues and explains how whatever you believe there comes true. To test this, wee Rumpy imagines a slice of cake, and it appears in his hand. Papa says you can fly in Neverland, too. He climbs a rock and throws himself off only to accomplish a spectacular face plant that dwarfs even Charming's thud, last season. A badinaging bird leaves a postcard at his feet that reads, "Nailed it." Rumpy suggests that perhaps Papa can no longer fly, because he's no longer a boy. Papa remembers that even as a boy, flying required Pixie Dust. He and wee Rumpy set off in search of some. A menacing black shadows follows. We flash forward to...
Neverland. Neal asks Wendy if she's seen his son Henry. "Pan needs his heart." Emma asks if Pan has said anything about the heart of the truest believer. Wendy lies, "No." Rumpy calls her out on this. I've seen people very upset that lie-detector Emma wasn't the one to do so, but that doesn't bother me. While I've never liked the development, it was set up in season 1 that Emma's emotions hinder her ability. She's been in an emotional whirlwind ever since Neal got shot and fell through that portal, and Tamara and Greg...Owen...GROAN snatched Henry. Besides, I suspect at least part of the reason Emma can detect lies, is that the way she grew up, she was lied to a lot, and probably lied a lot. Who has lied more than Rumpy? Oh, I know Regina is standing right there, but he has 300 years on her. I think it's fine that Rumpy is the one to call B.S.
Eventually, Wendy explains that Pan is keeping John and Michael alive, only provided she does as he says. Rumpy assures her Pan will go back on his word. Wendy is disinclined to trust a man who abandoned his own son. Regina explains John and Michael's involvement in getting Pandora's box to Rumpy. Wendy says, "They're okay?" Rumpy says, "For now, and only if we succeed." Neal swears to Wendy that they'll save her brothers, but right now, he needs her help. Wendy confesses that Pan told Henry he needs his heart to save magic. "It's a lie. He needs it to save himself." Neal asks what she means. She explains that Pan is dying, so he needs the heart of the truest believer to absorb all the magic in Neverland. Once he does, he'll be omnipotent and immortal. Snow asks what happens to Henry. Wendy says it's a trade. "When Pan lives, Henry will die." We cut to the...
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.
Papa climbs up to where the flowers are in his grasp. He smiles, grabs some dust and sprinkles it over himself. Closing his eyes, he says, "I want to fly." It's then that the ominous Shadow whooshes past him. Voiced by Marilyn Manson (because who is creepier), the Shadow says, "I am the sole inhabitant of Neverland." Papa asks if the Shadow can tell him why he can't fly. The Shadow says, "You have to believe." Papa says he's trying, but it doesn't work. The Shadow says, "Because you don't belong," then whooshes off, and knocks off Papa's wallet or something, as he goes. Wee Rumpy is sitting below, clutching his straw doll. When the (let's call it a wallet) falls, the boy looks at it then up into the tree. He cries for the father who is out of sight. We flash forward to...
Neverland. Neal rows Rumpy, Regina and Emma out to Skull Rock. Once ashore, Emma follows Henry's footprints to the staircase, but smacks into the magical barrier with such force that she back flips down onto the sand. Neal rushes to her side, and asks what that was all about. Rumpy says Pan cast a protection spell. Regina says there must be a way to break it. She flings a fireball at it, which comes rushing back at the team. Silly Regina. How are you this impulsive after all these years? Rumpy has no problem passing the barrier. He explains the spell is designed to keep anyone with a shadow from entering. Neal says, "And you don't have one. You were telling the truth about ripping your shadow off." Rumpy agrees and says, "And Pan knows it. That's why he cast the spell he did. This isn't about keeping you out. It's about drawing me in. He knows I won't give up the chance to finish what I came here to do." Neal: "You really did come here to save Henry." Rumpy tells his son, "I gave you my trust with that box. Now I need you to give it back." Regina's smirk says more than words could. She grabs the box from Neal's hand, and closes in on Rumpy. "You'd better come through, Gold, or I'll make whatever Pan has planned for you look like child's play. You understand me?" Rumpy's features float up off his face to form the words, "Oh, please." He reaches through the barrier, and takes the box. "Well, a simple 'good luck' would have sufficed." Commercial.
Regina doesn't know how to remove shadows, so Emma suggests magically blocking out the moon. Regina says she needs help. It will require a lot of magic. Like the newbie in aerobic class, Emma follows her lead. They raise their hands. Neal stands behind them. As they waggle their fingers, Emma sneaks a sidewise glance at Regina, and they hide the moon. I'll just say it here, before I forget. A lot of people are pooh-poohing this approach, because there are torches on the beach, right where the staircase is, and certainly those torches provide enough light to cast Henry's parents' shadows. Sure. But if Emma and Regina can hide the fricking moon, I'm pretty sure they're competent enough to put out a couple of torches. I don't want to be spoon fed such minor details. You shouldn't want to be either.
Henry and Pan have reached the top floor of the Skull Rock structure. Pan says this is where Henry will save magic, since this is the place from which Neverland's magic emanates. There's a huge, golden hour glass there, and Pan explains it marks how much time is left before Neverland's magic runs out. His, "For me," is implied, but again, Henry is 11. I don't expect him to pick up on that. Pan senses that Rumpy has crossed the barrier, so he leads Henry off to the side and tells him he has to take care of something before they start. We cut to Rumpy who has the box in one hand and his doll in another, then flash back to...
Neverland's Past. Wee Rumpy is crying at the foot of the tree when his father climbs down and asks what's wrong. He was afraid for his father, but Papa assures him he's fine. Papa says he got the Pixie Dust, but when he tried using it, it didn't work because he's no longer a boy. "You were right. Neverland is just for children. Adults don't belong here." Rumpy says they can leave and go somewhere else. All that matters is that they're together. Papa says that wherever they go, he'll go back to his old ways. He's too weak to be the father his son needs. There is however a way Papa can remain in Neverland, get the Pixie Dust to work so that he can fly again -- a way to ensure it can be just like it was when he was a boy. He has to let go of the thing that's holding him back. That's you, wee Rumpy.
The Shadow swoops in and grabs Rumpy. He cries for help and grabs onto his father's arm. Papa says the Shadow isn't a monster, but a friend. "It's part of the island. After I do what it told me -- let you go -- it will become part of me, too. Rumpy begs his father not to let the Shadow take him. Papa claims he has no choice. "To stay here, I have to believe that I'm young again, and with you here to remind me, I can't. [...] A child can't have a child, Rumple." Remember, they're in a world without reality TV. Papa continues, "I'm sorry, but it's true. Don't fight it. We both know that you're better off without me. I was never meant to be a father." He wrests his arm free of the boy's grasp, and the Shadow spirits wee Rumpy away. The straw doll falls at Papa's feet. The man is enveloped in a swirl of green Pixie Dust. The Shadow pauses in the air long enough to show his struggling, scared, small prisoner, just what is happening. When the sparkly green magic clears, Papa has indeed to reverted to childhood. Rumpelstiltskin's father is Peter Pan. I think I'm supposed to care about the emotional turmoil evident on Pan's face. Bitch, please. We flash forward to...
Skull Rock. Present. Rumpy finds Pan waiting for him. "Hello, laddie." Pan notices Pandora's box. "Oh, I see you've come bearing gifts." Rumpy asks where Henry is. Pan refers to the child as his great-grandson. "You still haven't told the others who I really am. Why?" Rumpy says it's because Pan is nothing more than a coward to him. Pan figures if that was true, he'd already be in the box. Rumpy wonders if he drew him here just to taunt him. Pan says he wants to give Rumpy one last chance. "Stay with me. Let this go. Let's start over." Rumpy says he could never forgive his father for abandoning him. Pan thought that since he did the same thing to his son, he expected him to be more understanding. "You traded Baelfire for the power of a dagger." Not exactly. He only got the dagger to save Bae. He was afraid of jumping in a portal, but probably because he feared he'd end up back with you, you smug brat. Rumpy denies that they're anything alike. He regretted leaving Bae the moment he let him go. He's spent his whole life trying to get him back. Pan swears he never forgot Rumpy. "Why do you think I call myself Peter Pan?" Rumpy says, "Don't think for a moment it's because I believe you care for me." Pan insists he does. He tells Rumpy to put down the box and he'll see it's true. They can finally have their fresh start together. Rumpy says, "Oh, I'm gonna make a fresh start, just not with you." He waves his hand over Pandora's box, and nothing happens. Pan laughs and takes out the real Pandora's box. Rumpy says, "You switched them." Pan says, "Follow the Lady. Still having trouble believing? In Neverland, all you have to do is think of something to have it, even something fake. But the real one -- well, let's see what it can do." I scream at Rumpy to think he has the real box in his hand, but he can't. Pan magically activates the real one. Rumpy turns into red mist and is sucked into the box as Pan says, "You had your chance. The choice was yours." Commercial.
The Shadow returns Rumpy to the Enchanted Forest village. The boy knocks on the spinsters' door. They take one look at the poor little thing and take him in. As they tuck him in, he tells them that his father used the bean. He left and he's never coming back. The ladies assure him he'll always have them. They tell him to rest, and later they'll spin. One of the spinsters asks where Rumpy's doll is. He tells them he lost it. They say they'll make another for him. "You can give it the same name." Rumpy says, "Peter Pan is gone forever."
Back in Neverland's past, Pan picks up the doll. Pixie Dust swirls around him. He flies over Neverland and out to Skull Rock. The Shadow flies out from behind the still full hour glass. Pan asks what Skull Rock is. He doesn't remember it from his dreams. The Shadow says, "That's because it didn't exist. It was created when you made the decision to stay here." Pan declares it glorious and asks what the hour glass is for. The Shadow says, "It represents the magic fueling your youth -- the magic allowing you to stay here -- to stay young." When it runs out, Pan's youth will be taken and he will die. Pan says he thought he was going to stay young forever. The Shadow says, "Neverland is a place for children to visit in their dreams, not a place for them to live. You were the first to try to stay, and in doing so, you're breaking the rules." Pan says any rule can be broken, "...especially here." He gestures at Skull Rock. "I made this place without even thinking about it. There has to be a way." He swears he'll find it. "I believe." We flash forward to the...
Present. Henry is standing before the hourglass when Pan returns to him and announces it is time. Pan explains that Henry needs to give him his heart. Like for reals. Henry asks, "What will happen to me." Pan blows Pixie Dust up the kid's ass and tells him he'll become the greatest of heroes. Henry assures Pan he can tell him the truth. He already knows all magic comes with a price, so the same must be true of saving it. Pan says he'd never lie to Henry. "There is a price. You have to stay here, on the island, with me. Neverland will become your new home. I know this is a huge sacrifice, but isn't it worth it?" Henry says his family taught him heroes have to make sacrifices all the time. Pan tells the kid his family would be proud of him if they could see him, because he's about to save them all.
Once Henry is ready, Pan enchants the boy's hand. It glows red. Henry sticks it in his chest and rips out his heart, just as Neal, Emma, and Regina rush to the scene. Neal screams at his son to wait, and tells him not do whatever Pan's telling him to do. Henry says, "Dad, you're alive?" Neal says he is and tells Henry he has to listen to him. "Pan is lying to you." Pan says it's a pleasure to see Baelfire as well, then shouts out to the "Savior" and the "Evil Queen."
Emma tells Henry he needs to get away from Pan, because he's trying to hurt him. Henry says, "No. The heart of the truest believer -- it's what's going to save magic. It's going to save all of you." Regina tells him it won't. This isn't about magic. "You have to believe us. The only person Pan's interested in saving is himself." Henry insists that's not true. Pan says, "Of course it isn't."
Neal yells, "Yes it is. Pan can't live without you dying. If you give him your heart, it's going to kill you." Pan tells him they're trying to stem his belief. "But don't let them. Remember, every hero gets tested." Henry looks down at his heart. Emma calls out, "Henry, I know what being a hero looks like, and this isn't it." Henry asks Pan why his parents would lie. Pan says, "Because that's what adults do, Henry. You know that better than anyone." Regina pleads with Henry to believe them. Pan says Henry's parents don't care about Neverland. They know if Henry gives his heart, he'll have to stay there. "They're being selfish, because they don't want to lose you." Emma says, "Henry, you have to trust us." Pan scoffs at that and says he's the only one who has ever been honest with Henry. "This is your choice, not theirs." Checking the hourglass, Pan tells Henry they're running out of time. He must choose now.
Neal smiles at his son. "We believe in you, Henry." Emma adds, "Because we love you." Regina finishes, "More than anything." Henry says, "I love you too." Hope washes over Emma's face, until Henry adds, "But I have to save magic." Neal cries, "No, no, no, no." Henry says he's sorry and shoves his heart in Pan's chest. Magic explodes out of Pan. Henry falls lifeless to the floor. It knocks Neal, Emma and Regina off balance, then spreads from Skull Rock over to Neverland, proper, where it rocks Tink, Hook and the waking Lost Boys. it hits Snow and Charming. Charming grabs Snow's hand.
Back on Skull Rock, Pan levitates. Emma, Neal and Regina rush to the fallen Henry's side. Pan smiles down at them. We fade to black.
So many viewers are so mad at Henry. I'm not. Here's why: he really is a true believer, and every time he's believed hard enough, and then taken drastic action, it has paid off. He had the faith to believe his fairy tale book was true, and it was. He had the faith to track down Emma, so that she would come to Storybrooke. She did. When Emma couldn't believe in herself, Henry ate an apple tart he believed to be poisoned, and it was, but he did it, because he believed Emma would save him. Emma did save him, with her true love for him. Also? Henry is 11. He's a little kid, raised for 10 years in a weird world where no one changed or grew -- except for him. I'm not mad at Henry.
The only thing that really bothers me about this is, is that Henry wants to save magic at all. Last season, in "Welcome to Storybrooke," Henry set out to blow up the wishing well and destroy magic. In terms of the story, has it even been a month since that happened? It's because of that, that I expect Henry to wonder if magic should be saved. The thing is, I understand why he now thinks it should. He has been deceived not only by Pan, but also by Wendy. He thinks he's going to save a sick young girl's life. That's how Henry got reeled in. Now that he's already in hero mode (which, let's face it, is in his matrilineal DNA), saving Neverland, the Lost Boys and Pan is just a bonus. Henry is doing what seems to be exactly the wrong thing, but I can't fault his reasoning, nor his expectations. And all three of his parents have let him down in one way or another, so he has reason to doubt them too.
I don't think the show is going there, but part of me still wonders if, once the heart of the truest believer beats within Pan's chest, if it won't change him. A good part of me thinks it should change him. It should taint him with goodness. Ah well, that's empty speculation, since I don't expect it to pan out that way. (Sorry.)
Looks like I'm getting a little unexpected break. So much for 11 straight episodes without interruption. I'll be back with coverage of the December 1, 2013 episode, "Save Henry." In the meantime, please grade the episode up top, and then join us on the boards, where we are awaiting the fabulous prizes and cash award we're due, for figuring out Pan is Rumpy's father. Happy Thanksgiving, America.