Once Upon A Time 3.08
Nov. 18th, 2013 07:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakBy Jove, they got me. I mean, I did figure it out before the actual reveal, but not before this episode, though in retrospect, it makes perfect sense, on both a Doylist and Watsonian level. Writers, I salute you. That was quite something.
Several reasons why this plot twist is genius, but the first one which comes to mind is this: Peter Pan, the idea of a boy who never grows up, who refuses to, who never has to, was of course created by an adult man who at the very least had some emotional problems, whose most famous stories provided first joy and then misery for the children who inspired them; the play Peter and Alice reminded me only this year how tragic the fates of the Lwellelyn Davies boys whom J. M. Barrie adapted (with one exception) eventually were. So to make the Once Upon A Time version of Peter Pan an originally adult man who recreated himself as a boy because he could not handle adulthood, and did that at the expense of his son (with said son then going on to wreck the lives of countless others to repair the relationship with his son) is dead brilliant.
As I said, I had no idea before this episode. I began to vaguely suspect when the characterisation of Rumple's father emphasized the irresponsibility, but the thought didn't become formed until said father, shortly after their arrival in Neverland, crowed. (Crowing: quintessential Peter Pan gesture.) And then as the episode went on it all clicked into place. Incidentally, I now also withdraw my objection to let Rumplestilskin's father appear on the show at all, of course; I had assumed they couldn't do it without making it ridiculous (and not in the good way), but lo and behold, this way totally works.
As far as metaphors are concerned, we're getting some good, if obvious ones here: as long as Neverland is a place for children to escape to in their dreams, everything is fine - imagination is great, and every child needs their dreams - but once Peter Pan actually physically stays, having recreated himself as a child at the expense of a child, Neverland starts to show malevolent sides (the refusal to take on responsibility as the first cardinal sin). At the time of the Piper of Hamelin flashback episode, Neverland still appears to be only visited by children in their dreams, but that's when Peter (also getting more malevolent the more time passes) gets the idea to bring other children there physically as well. By the time the Darlings come into play, it's a full fledged abduction enterprise and nobody can leave even if they wanted to. By the time of the show, we get to the literal draining of one life to maintain eternal childhood; the ultimate consequence of the refusal to grow up.
I've got to say I'm a bit dissapointed by Pandora's Box being the MacGuffin from Storybrooke, because I was somewhat attached to my aging spell idea, but then again, the Shadow after Peter first created himself mentions that Peter Pan's youth will be taken from him again, so I'm still expecting that to happen as his ultimate fate (as opposed to getting locked up in a box), complete with some superfast tv aging and lots of wrinkly make-up on the face of the actor who played the adult dad. As for Rumplestilskin, I'm not worried. He'll get out of the box again. BTW, does that already count as his - temporary - undoing? If so, that's a bit lame, but never mind, the Peter Pan twist is so great I forgive the show everything right now.
Other thoughts: when the two spinsters (ha! show, your bad puns are bad, and I love them) showed up, I was expecting there to be a third, because I'm a myth loving Neil Gaiman reader, but I suppose little Rumplestilskin being raised by the three Fates/The Kindly Ones/ The Nornes/The Triple Hecate would be a tad too much. Also, these ladies may be platonic, or they may be our first on screen ongoing same sex couple? (Since Mulan hasn't confessed her feelings to Aurora yet.) Anyway: I bet we'll see them again, too.
Loved Regina and Emma not waiting but Emma figuring out a way around the no shadows protection spell, too, so they can come to the rescue.
About Henry: of course the temptation of heroism is too much (and it's not like his mothers haven't lied to him before). Am I worried about Henry? Well, I don't think he's dead, only Mostly Dead, to quote Miracle Max. Or maybe not even that, since you can live without your heart (ask Cora), as long as your heart isn't crushed. Though I don't think Cora ever tried deposing her heart in someone else. (Heartless!Henry could be an interesting concept they might go for for a few episodes, though.) I also suspect having Henry's heart will backfire on Peter Pan, either magically or by influencing him emotionally. But at the end of the day, I'm pretty sure Henry and his heart will be reunited (though seriously, if the show doesn't use the whole experience as some handwavy explanation why Henry looks by now three years older than when the show started, not just the one which passed in show chronology, it's missing a trick).
Generational patterns alert: not only did both Peter Pan and Rumplestilskin abandon their respective sons for what they wanted, but both Rumple and Baelfire upon reunion with dad chose to focus on their respective sons instead. And yes, no one in this family is good about this whole forgiving thing (other than Henry, and he was seriously ticked off at Emma in mid season 2 about lying to him re: Fireman!Dad, and of course resented Regina's constant lies for far better reason - but still, he's more ready with the forgiveness for Regina than Neal/Bae for Rumple). Though of course Rumplestilskin is right re: his actually seeking forgiveness, which dear young dad does not (as opposed to wanting to continue the way he is).
In conclusion: well done, show. You're not going into mid season hiatus now, are you? ARE YOU?
Several reasons why this plot twist is genius, but the first one which comes to mind is this: Peter Pan, the idea of a boy who never grows up, who refuses to, who never has to, was of course created by an adult man who at the very least had some emotional problems, whose most famous stories provided first joy and then misery for the children who inspired them; the play Peter and Alice reminded me only this year how tragic the fates of the Lwellelyn Davies boys whom J. M. Barrie adapted (with one exception) eventually were. So to make the Once Upon A Time version of Peter Pan an originally adult man who recreated himself as a boy because he could not handle adulthood, and did that at the expense of his son (with said son then going on to wreck the lives of countless others to repair the relationship with his son) is dead brilliant.
As I said, I had no idea before this episode. I began to vaguely suspect when the characterisation of Rumple's father emphasized the irresponsibility, but the thought didn't become formed until said father, shortly after their arrival in Neverland, crowed. (Crowing: quintessential Peter Pan gesture.) And then as the episode went on it all clicked into place. Incidentally, I now also withdraw my objection to let Rumplestilskin's father appear on the show at all, of course; I had assumed they couldn't do it without making it ridiculous (and not in the good way), but lo and behold, this way totally works.
As far as metaphors are concerned, we're getting some good, if obvious ones here: as long as Neverland is a place for children to escape to in their dreams, everything is fine - imagination is great, and every child needs their dreams - but once Peter Pan actually physically stays, having recreated himself as a child at the expense of a child, Neverland starts to show malevolent sides (the refusal to take on responsibility as the first cardinal sin). At the time of the Piper of Hamelin flashback episode, Neverland still appears to be only visited by children in their dreams, but that's when Peter (also getting more malevolent the more time passes) gets the idea to bring other children there physically as well. By the time the Darlings come into play, it's a full fledged abduction enterprise and nobody can leave even if they wanted to. By the time of the show, we get to the literal draining of one life to maintain eternal childhood; the ultimate consequence of the refusal to grow up.
I've got to say I'm a bit dissapointed by Pandora's Box being the MacGuffin from Storybrooke, because I was somewhat attached to my aging spell idea, but then again, the Shadow after Peter first created himself mentions that Peter Pan's youth will be taken from him again, so I'm still expecting that to happen as his ultimate fate (as opposed to getting locked up in a box), complete with some superfast tv aging and lots of wrinkly make-up on the face of the actor who played the adult dad. As for Rumplestilskin, I'm not worried. He'll get out of the box again. BTW, does that already count as his - temporary - undoing? If so, that's a bit lame, but never mind, the Peter Pan twist is so great I forgive the show everything right now.
Other thoughts: when the two spinsters (ha! show, your bad puns are bad, and I love them) showed up, I was expecting there to be a third, because I'm a myth loving Neil Gaiman reader, but I suppose little Rumplestilskin being raised by the three Fates/The Kindly Ones/ The Nornes/The Triple Hecate would be a tad too much. Also, these ladies may be platonic, or they may be our first on screen ongoing same sex couple? (Since Mulan hasn't confessed her feelings to Aurora yet.) Anyway: I bet we'll see them again, too.
Loved Regina and Emma not waiting but Emma figuring out a way around the no shadows protection spell, too, so they can come to the rescue.
About Henry: of course the temptation of heroism is too much (and it's not like his mothers haven't lied to him before). Am I worried about Henry? Well, I don't think he's dead, only Mostly Dead, to quote Miracle Max. Or maybe not even that, since you can live without your heart (ask Cora), as long as your heart isn't crushed. Though I don't think Cora ever tried deposing her heart in someone else. (Heartless!Henry could be an interesting concept they might go for for a few episodes, though.) I also suspect having Henry's heart will backfire on Peter Pan, either magically or by influencing him emotionally. But at the end of the day, I'm pretty sure Henry and his heart will be reunited (though seriously, if the show doesn't use the whole experience as some handwavy explanation why Henry looks by now three years older than when the show started, not just the one which passed in show chronology, it's missing a trick).
Generational patterns alert: not only did both Peter Pan and Rumplestilskin abandon their respective sons for what they wanted, but both Rumple and Baelfire upon reunion with dad chose to focus on their respective sons instead. And yes, no one in this family is good about this whole forgiving thing (other than Henry, and he was seriously ticked off at Emma in mid season 2 about lying to him re: Fireman!Dad, and of course resented Regina's constant lies for far better reason - but still, he's more ready with the forgiveness for Regina than Neal/Bae for Rumple). Though of course Rumplestilskin is right re: his actually seeking forgiveness, which dear young dad does not (as opposed to wanting to continue the way he is).
In conclusion: well done, show. You're not going into mid season hiatus now, are you? ARE YOU?
no subject
Date: 2013-11-18 07:27 pm (UTC)Anyway, I loved this episode.
no subject
Date: 2013-11-18 09:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-11-19 05:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-11-19 05:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-11-19 11:36 am (UTC)An important question raised on AstroGirls' episode post over on livejournal: does this put Rumple ahead of John Locke in the pan-fandom 'has the Worst Dad Ever' competition?
no subject
Date: 2013-11-19 12:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-11-20 12:21 pm (UTC)It's boggling to think that pretty much everything in the show was indirectly caused by Peter Pan being an utter bastard. Not that Rumple isn't responsible for his own behaviour, but if his dad hadn't done what he did, there's a fair chance he wouldn't have been so resistant to Bae's magic bean plan. And then he'd never have taught Cora magic. No Regina, no curse ... which also means no Henry, so I doubt the Charmings would trade that universe for the one they have.