OUAT: Sentimental Man

On the last episode, our intrepid heroes discovered that Rumplestilskin was alive and well and living in the Witch’s storm cellar. Yet they still seem to trust Zelena. Go figure.

We open in the Enchanted Forest. Neal and Belle decide to break away from everyone at Regina’s castle and go to Rumple’s old manor. Being the genre-savvy ones, they figure there’s no way the producers would’ve killed such a popular character who borders on villain and antihero so well. So there has to be a way to raise Lazarus and the one person who would know would be…Lazarus. The two are determined to scour Dark One Manor for the answers they need. Have fun, you two!


Now that our intrepid heroes know that Rumple is Zelena’s prisoner, they go to tell Belle. She’s happy, of course, but worried. Everyone figures that since Rumple’s escaped his cage, he’ll try to contact her. A reasonable assumption. So they’ve elected Hook to stay and keep Belle company. Belle is none-too-happy as she reminds the Charmings that Hook tried to kill her last season. Twice. He’s like “Water under the bridge” and promises not to kill her.

(Belle is going to kill him)

As they go about the day in awkward silence, someone starts to bang on the door. Belle and Hook have barricaded it using all the books from the library, it seems. The door though knocks everything down and a figure collapses on to the floor? Is it Rumple? No, it’s his son! So for anyone betting that Neal was a flying monkey, you lose.

(You know, I think the floor has more partners than anybody in the cast)

Belle and Hook rush forward to see that Neal isn’t looking too good and is unconscious. He also has the symbol of the Deathly Hallows burned into his palm. Perhaps he took a detour through Harry Potter? They rush him to the hospital and contact Emma and David. Everyone now wants to ramp up their efforts to find Rumple while Neal wants to see his son. Emma has to tell him that Henry doesn’t remember him and it will be too confusing to re-introduce them. Neal’s like “Damn. You.” Emma and David go off to continue looking, leaving Hook behind with Neal now. He even brings the man green jello. They put aside their animosity over the fact that, you know, Hook is in love with Neal’s baby mama to have one last heart-to-heart. Hook lets Neal run off to find his father.

In the Enchanted Forest, Belle heads straight for the library once they reach Dark One Manor. She is certain there is an answer in one of her books. And she’s probably right. But then the candelabra starts speaking. Since Dark One Manor is also Beast’s Castle, no one is really surprised. As you may have guessed, this is Lumiere. He says Rumple turned him into a candelabra many years ago, so while he knows how to rescue the man, he won’t tell them. Neener, neener. Belle pleads with him, saying that Rumple’s changed and he’ll make Lumiere human again in thanks for helping. So he agrees and tells them they have to go into the woods, to a secluded glen. They agree to go and take the candelabra with them.

(Don't expect him to sing you off to sleep as you digest)

As they prepare to leave, Zelena magicks herself into Dark One Manor. Yep, Lumiere is working for her. This is all part of her grand plan. For some reason, she needs Rumple alive as well. Lumiere doesn’t think Neal and Belle will fall for it. But Zelena thinks they are about as smart as rocks. Her plan will work.

Emma and David patrol the woods, hoping to find Rumple. As they walk, David asks his daughter about her plans after the curse is broken and the witch is defeated. Emma pretty much wants to take Henry back to New York and be normal again. David is not thrilled to hear that because it means his grandson will never remember him. And his daughter in some ways is rejecting him. Before they can go over their issues, Rumple emerges from amongst the trees. Unfortunately, he is mad(der than usual) and isn’t much help to them. He quickly runs off again.

Missing his father, Neal meets up with Emma, who pretty much wants to throttle him at this point. But he wants to help find his father. They may have had a less than a perfect relationship, but there’s a chance to repair it. So she lets him continue with her and they exchange stories. You know, like how she nearly married one of the Wicked Witch’s flying monkeys. He understands—after all, Tamara ended up being one of Pan’s agents. A shadow moves in the woods and they think it’s Rumple. They give chase.

Belle, Neal and Lumiere trek to some glen in the forest. There’s something there (no pun intended) that can bring Rumple back. And it bears the seal of the Deathly Hallows too! Umm, we sure Rumple is coming back and not Voldemort? Belle even has her doubts. She asks Lumiere how long he had been trapped in the library. He replies two hundred years, falling into Belle’s trap. Rumple built the library for Belle, only a year or so prior to the curse. She wants to know who he is really working for. He comes clean and admits he’s working with Zelena. Belle wants to call off the plan but Neal’s determined to get his father back. He presses down on the lever with the Deathly Hallows symbol on it.

In Storybrooke, Mary Margaret calls Zelena. She hasn’t felt the baby move and is worried. Zelena says everything is fine and gives Mary Margaret some orange juice. After one sip, the baby starts moving again. Oh Lord, who knows what that witch put in the OJ. Mary Margaret thanks Zelena, who is smiling like she’s looking at a beautiful treasure. I have a bad feeling about this guys.

Meanwhile, Regina explores the farmhouse our intrepid heroes discovered last episode. As she explores, she realizes she is not alone. Regina stands her ground and orders the flying monkey to show itself. Instead, an arrow flies at her. She catches it easily as Robin Hood pops out of some bushes to apologize. He feared she was the Witch. He introduces himself. “A thief,” she says, handing him back his arrow. Robin replies that she is technically known as the Evil Queen. She asks him what he is doing and he replies looking for the Witch. Regina tells him that she is long gone but he thinks there may be a trail. Which is what she is looking for. He says they are now partners. Regina warns him not to get in her way. “Wouldn’t dream of it,” he replies. Regina is it with a feeling of déjà vu and asks if they’ve met before. Robin replies that he doubted he’d ever forget meeting her.

Excuse me while I go die of the fangirl feels.

(Regina likes what she sees) 

Inside the house, Regina can’t find a trail. She and Robin end up in the kitchen and he points out to several bottles. He asks if they contain anything magical. She doesn’t think so but tells him to be patient—she’ll uncover the Wicked Witch’s tracks. Robin has no problem relaxing as he watches Regina. He’s attracted to her and he says that the Evil Queen moniker isn’t fitting—she’s not evil. Regina smiles and actually flirts with him when he pulls out a bottle, asking if the liquid is something magical. It’s not—just whiskey. But they are so close, they almost kiss.

(So close, yet so far)

But they don’t. Robin does pour them drinks. As he hands Regina hers, his shirt sleeve has been pulled up to reveal his tattoo—the lion one. Regina recalls Tinker Bell’s quest to find her her second true love and that it was the man with the lion tattoo. It’s all too much, so Regina bails, leaving behind a confused Robin.

Belle puts in a frantic call to Emma. She’s been doing some research and has discovered something important—if Rumple’s back, he’s been brought back by the power of the Deathly Hallows symbol tattooed on Neal’s hand. But it comes with a price—a life for a life. So it’s related to that candle used to kill Cora last season? Anyway, if Neal has the symbol on his hand and Rumple is back…doesn’t it mean that Neal is supposed to be dead? As this realization sinks in, Neal sinks to the ground.

In the Enchanted Forest, Zelena steps forward from the shadows to break the news to Neal and Belle—the cost of bringing Rumple back is Neal’s life. Rumple starts to emerge as Neal grows weaker. But Rumple isn’t about to lose his son yet again. He absorbs Neal, keeping him alive but trying Rumple insane. Zelena doesn’t care—she just wants Rumple. She even has the Dark One’s knife, the one that can control him. Belle wants to retrieve it but Lumiere and Rumple convince her it’s better for her to flee. She takes the candelabra and runs away. Rumple becomes Zelena’s insane prisoner.

Neal is convulsing in Emma’s arms, his face morphing into Rumple’s every other breath. He begs her to use her powers to separate his father from him. Emma objects, saying it will cost him his life. And she just got him back. But he says they need Rumple more than they need him. And…he’s actually kinda right. So Emma does it. She pulls Rumple from his son’s body. Once free, he tries to save Neal but he pleads with his father to let him go. He tells Emma to be happy and find Tallahassee without him. And he and his father have a heartbreaking father-son moment before he is gone.

A moment for Neal Cassady/Baefire.

Rumple finally clues our intrepid heroes into the truth: The kindly strange woman with the giant emerald brooch is the Wicked Witch of the West. Bet David feels like an idiot now, huh? He and Emma leave the woods to warn the town and giving Rumple a moment alone with his son. Zelena emerges from the woods to mock his pain but Rumple says he warned our intrepid heroes about her. So…neener neener neener?

Our intrepid heroes return to town and break the bad news. Mary Margaret can’t believe she trusted Zelena but then falls back into mommy mode to comfort her daughter. And Belle, who is torn between happiness that Rumple is alive and sadness over the fact Neal is dead and Zelena has control over Rumple. Emma, meanwhile, has to go break the news to Henry that the dad he currently considers a deadbeat is dead.

She brings him to the lake and explains that the reason they came to Storybrooke was to help his dad. That he had gotten into some trouble. She wasn’t able to save him in time and he was killed. But she promises Henry to get her revenge. And we end with the two in an embrace, mourning Neal.

(Emma will get that Wicked Witch. And her flying monkeys, too)

Since Rumple came back, does it mean Neal will come back from the dead too? Sorry, Oncers, but the producers and the actor have confirmed that Neal is truly dead. I am sorry to see him go but I think this will propel the plot for Rumple and Emma.

(Screen caps from here).