ABC's Once Upon a Time - Part 5

[Donut]

Regina's time will come. There is a house waiting for her

 

[SuperT]

What a terrible way to end Neal's story. He doesn't even get to reunite with his own son?

 

[Specter313]

I'm not gonna completely miss Neal. I should have seen it coming with the scenes between him, Emma, and Hook that were actually nice character scenes, and with this being by people who did Lost, that should have spelled out his doom.

And it will be nice to see Regina get her ass kicked next week.

 

[marvelrobbins]

I certinly hope they didn't kill off Neal so they can make emma/Hook shippers
happy. After the mother/son relationship with Emma & Henry the only guy I liked her with was Neil.

Rumple Is now slave to wicked witch.She better hope noone ever gets the
dagger away from her.

 

[Specter313]

I highly doubt two of the people behind Lost are gonna do anything just to please "shippers".

Luminaire effects are GREAT

Yeah, they looked nice. And Belle got him the hell out of there before the Witch could recover, when I thought she would and destroy him, so there's a chance he'll be back for more.

So it's for real? He's really gone?!

Yep, the producers said they'd kill off a regular for good, and it looks like it's him.

 

[Prison Mike]

I haven't been this disappointed since Graham's death. Seems like any man who gets close to Emma will eventually bite the dust. Hook better watch his back!

 

[A Dollar Short]

Didn't feel anything for Neal, it all felt forced. Although, I think it's ****ed that they didn't allow Henry to say goodbye.

This is the first time I actually liked Robin Hood. He and Regina had great chemistry going on there.

Evil vs Wicked SHOWDOWN next week!! Loving the second half of this season so far.

 

[Frodo]

The Neal's character, as an adult, always felt kind of nondescript to me. Its like the writers couldn't really seem to figuare out what to do with him as an adult and frankly , I didn't think he had chemistry with Emma. The actor's a good actor, but I think the role was just lacking. They wrote Bay pretty well though.

 

[DrDoom]

Um, when Rumple was trying to protect him and Neal in TEF, why didnt he throw his dagger to Belle instead of right in front of Wicked?

 

[Maximus One]

So ****ing mad. Neal was my favorite character. Ugh

 

[Sawyer]

Disappointed with the death for two reasons:

1. The blow was sort of softened by them already (temporarily) playing this card at the end of S2.
2. Of all the main characters, Neal feels like the easiest one to do away with, which was exactly why I didn't want it to be him. I wanted it to be someone who would shake the foundation of this show.

That said, I did enjoy the episode and the way the writers played it out. It gave Rumple a good moment of sacrificing the dagger (and his sanity) to keep his son with him, and then Neal sacrificing himself to get his father back and save the town. At the very least it was better than the sloppy ass way they wrote August out last season.

 

[SuperBatman]

Um, when Rumple was trying to protect him and Neal in TEF, why didnt he throw his dagger to Belle instead of right in front of Wicked?

Probably because the Wicked With was pulling the Dagger from his grasp so he couldn't throw it to anyone.

 

[Specter313]

Once Upon a Time said farewell to yet another character on Sunday night after the Wicked Witch of the West claimed her first victim.

Desperate to resurrect his father, Neal (Michael Raymond-James) and Belle (Emilie de Ravin) enlisted the help of Lumiere (Henri Lubatti), who — under orders from Zelena (Rebecca Mader) — pointed them to the Dark Lord's vault without first revealing that in order to bring Rumplestiltskin (Robert Carlyle) back to life, whoever opened the vault would take his place in death. Unfortunately, that person was Neal -- but is he really gone for good? TVGuide.com caught up with executive producers Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis to get the scoop:

Is Neal really dead?
Adam Horowitz: He is really dead. The decision was one that was not made lightly. Eddy and I, as we've been developing the larger story of Once beyond each individual episode, saw where it was going. Earlier this year, when we realized this is the time that Neal would die, we talked to Michael Raymond-James. We all discussed how to best do this. We did our best. We thought that Michael was brilliantly emotional and amazing on Sunday night as we brought that character's life to an end.

Is there a chance that we could see him more in flashbacks since there are still decades of his life we still haven't seen?
Edward Kitsis: I would be so disappointed if we didn't. It was not an easy decision to make because we love Michael and we love writing him and watching him bring that character to life. For us, it was the evolution of his character. What we loved was this idea that we watched his father sacrifice himself for him after years of setting a bad example. He set a good example, and they made peace. So, when Neal found himself following a similar pursuit of obsessiveness to get back, he realizes the price he made and was willing to sacrifice himself for his family because he's a hero and wanted to set that example for Henry (Jared Gilmore). And we wanted him to help everyone out the only way he could.

How will Emma be dealing with the loss of Neal? Is she more determined than ever to kill Zelena, and might that cause her to cross some lines?
Kitsis: Emma is absolutely determined. The Wicked Witch killed somebody who means a lot to Emma and also [to] his father, who I'd be worried about.

A portion of the fandom rooting for Emma and Neal will be crushed. Another portion will see this as good news for Hook (Colin O'Donoghue) and Emma. Are you putting her love life on hold during this mourning period?
Horowitz: Emma's love life is only one facet of who she is. Right now, there's a lot of really pressing things to deal with, which is the fact that someone very close to her has just died. Her son is also in a precarious position and everyone she loves is in danger.
Kitsis: If you look at the season, Emma, as a character, always has her wall up. She's very resistant because Neal hurt her before she knew the truth. Henry was the only one she ever really let in. What you're seeing is Emma and Regina (Lana Parrilla) are very similar in a sense that they both reject love for fear of being hurt. Is Emma concentrated on her love life? No, I don't think she ever is. It happens like the thing in New York happened, but even that turned on her. Her natural inclination is she's skeptical about love even though maybe deep down she wants it. I don't think she's thinking about it now. Just like in Neverland, when she said, "I choose me."

Speaking of Regina, was her showing up at Robin Hood's (Sean Maguire) camp an indication that she's opening herself up to love?
Kitsis: It certainly looks like it. She might just be one mixed tape away.

It's only a matter of time before Henry gets his memories back. How upset will he be not only to learn that his father is dead, but also that everyone was lying to him?
Kitsis: If that happens, Henry will understand that his memories were like everyone else's. There is no way to bring them back or else they would do it. While he will feel sad about Neal, he will understand that his father sacrificed himself for everyone, so it'll be bittersweet. He'll understand that his dad was a hero, but he will, like all people when you lose someone you love, mourn him.
Horowitz: It's a sad thing, but it's coming full circle for Henry. In Season 1, Emma told Henry that his father died a hero, and it was a lie. Now, in Season 3, she gets to tell him again, and it's the truth.

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Once-Upon-Time-Death-Spoilers-1079832.aspx

 

[SuperT]

I hated the death for four reasons:

1) I really liked Neal

2) As Sawyer said, it was such an easy choice and a complete cop-out, especially since it was an exact repeat of the events that happened in season two. They don't have the cajones to ever truly kill off a character that would change the entire landscape of this show (i.e Rumple, Regina, Snow, Charming, Henry etc.). Which is surprising coming from the creators/writers of Lost.

3) There was absolutely NO closure between Neal and Henry which is just AWFUL from a storytelling perspective.

4) He was the roadblock that was stopping all the Hook/Emma nonsense because they make absolutely zero sense as any sort of legitimate couple.

 

[Sawyer]

I hated the death for four reasons:

1) I really liked Neal

2) As Sawyer said, it was such an easy choice and a complete cop-out, especially since it was an exact repeat of the events that happened in season two. They don't have the cajones to ever truly kill off a character that would change the entire landscape of this show (i.e Rumple, Regina, Snow, Charming, Henry etc.). Which is surprising coming from the creators/writers of Lost.

3) There was absolutely NO closure between Neal and Henry which is just AWFUL from a storytelling perspective.

4) He was the roadblock that was stopping all the Hook/Emma nonsense because they make absolutely zero sense as any sort of legitimate couple.

Agree with all but the bolded part. LOST killed a lot of characters, but I don't think they really took out one of the biggies until they killed Charlie at the end of S3. And even then, Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Hurley, Locke (in a sense), Sayid, Jin/Sun made it to the finish line (or at least close, in the case of the last three) of the series. The Charmings, Regina and Rumple are the core of this series. If they get killed off, it's not happening until we know it's the end.

 

[Specter313]

I, personally, didn't care much for Neal, even kinda actively disliked him around the beginning of his run for how self-righteous he was when he was just as in the wrong for sending Emma to jail, but they started to turn it around a bit towards the end. I couldn't care either way whether Hook and Emma end up together, though I do think they have better chemistry, so that doesn't effect my feelings on it either.

I will agree though that he was the easiest choice in the death pool, so it wasn't that much of a shocker to me. It was more of a shock in that him and Rumple were sharing a body than his death. Though I wouldn't call it a cop out. It gives Emma more drive, Rumple more motivation for revenge, and Henry some possible storylines after he regains his memory. I think it also makes Zelena more of a threat because she basically orchestrated the whole death.

As far as killing a main character, there's very few shows these days that actually do that in general. It usually doesn't happen unless an actor wants out, or a show like Game of Thrones that has already laid out the major deaths. I think we can blame that on studio interference as well as viewers reacting negatively to those kinds of deaths in the past and ratings being affected.

 

[Specter313]

Tinkerbell sightings!

 

[Sawyer]

It pleases me. I wonder how many appearances she might make for the rest of the season, with her pilot and all. Luckily that one also films in Vancouver.

 

[Milos]

Regina looks great at Neal's funeral!

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

I felt half and half about what went down. Part of me really felt it when DEUS EX MACHIMA'd Rumple took Neal in his arms and was holding off the Witch, dagger in hand. Having been disappointed in Rumple's choices in the past, I was 50/50 that once she said it was the power or Neal, Rumple would look for some way to finesse a third option (which he did sort of) but he made an unambiguous choice to save his son and it surprised me. The Neal/Rumple connection was also a surprise once revealed. I was so sure that Neal was going to turn out to be a monkey, especially when he was talking to Emma in the woods about he life in NYC. I also liked the small moment between Hook and Neal. It was easy (too, easy perhaps show runners?) to forget that they too had a connection and bond, one that went even beyond Bae's mother in some ways. But.... Something was off about the build up. I really liked Robin Hood going all Han Solo on Regina (he really does seem like the type a fragile and ego bruised woman like Regina would go for.), however maybe this episode should have been all about Neal/Bae. The stuff with Robin/Regina didn't move anything forward all that much. Yes, she saw the tattoo and she now knows that the thief of Sherwood was destined for her... Still, that could have been saved for any other time, it added little or nothing to the main plot of the episode or to the arc in general. It could have been saved for another time to give Neal's goodbye episode some more weight. Neal could have gotten a short scene with Henry at least.

I will say that it does feel like **** just got real in Storybrooke. The Savior and The Dark One are totally on the same page I think. This means war.

So, Charming's courage, The Dark One's brain... Is it Regina's heart next? Or Snow's or her child's? Henry's? And who just wants to go home? Emma?

 

[Teelie]

Despite it being "for good" this time I'm always wary of anything these writers say. There is a boldness of late for writers to outright lie about things and deny something will or won't happen, then the opposite comes true. This goes for more than just the writers on Once. Look at HIMYM, Doctor Who, Star Trek Into Darkness, etc.

So Neal is dead for good, for this season. Next season? Who knows.

I thought it was a good ending for him although somehow it felt underwhelming, probably because if this is really his true end, it didn't feel built up or powerful enough.

 

[flash13]

I'm just disappointed that one of the relationships that defined the show is gone so easily. That is completely unsatisfying to me, I'd rather see Bae and Rumple have a happy ending than any of the stupid ships.

 

[spideyboy_1111]

Neal's death was bleh. honestly.. i felt his lines and acting seemed not only forced.. but all kinds of bleh...

in good ONCE news though, it looks like Wonderland's Knave of Hearts is joining the cast as a regular next season. Maybe we will get some of the other's popping up too. I really want a scene with Cinderella and Anastasia before ONCE upon a Time is over... as well as Jefferson and Alice. (that and who wouldn't love an all out villain fest in the final season with Jaffar included?)

 

[Kelly]

Neal's death was bleh. honestly.. i felt his lines and acting seemed not only forced.. but all kinds of bleh...

in good ONCE news though, it looks like Wonderland's Knave of Hearts is joining the cast as a regular next season. Maybe we will get some of the other's popping up too. I really want a scene with Cinderella and Anastasia before ONCE upon a Time is over... as well as Jefferson and Alice. (that and who wouldn't love an all out villain fest in the final season with Jaffar included?)

Can they use Anastasia? That was a 20th Century Fox movie.

 

[spideyboy_1111]

Can they use Anastasia? That was a 20th Century Fox movie.

Anastasia aka The Red Queen from Once Upon A Time: In Wonderland is the same Anastasia from Cinderella... aka one of the 2 step sisters.