Once Upon A Time SEASON 3 EPISODE 15 FULL LENGTH REACTION

Quiet Minds- Thank you so much for a new reaction for more Once Upon a Time, Timothee!! So... I really do enjoy this episode overall, and I'm glad you enjoyed it as well, my friend! In spite of any sadness that comes from Neal's death. And yet for me... I have to sadly admit that this episode is among my least favorite episodes throughout this season because of how Neal's death and Rumple's resurrection comes about. And because they paint Neal as some kind of hero for his actions throughout this episode, when in my eyes, I don't necessarily see him as such. Not because I don't enjoy the acting between everyone involved within these powerful and heartbreaking scenes, but because I disagree with how Rumplestiltskin's resurrection comes about and how its written. And especially because of how everyone blames Neal's death on Zelena. Oh... She's happy to take credit for his death, given that she is Wicked after all. Zelena is a villain. Nonetheless... To me, she doesn't deserve to be blamed for Neal's death in the eyes of all our heroes, when I fully see it to be Neal's own fault. Neal chose to resurrect his father knowing full well what would happen to him, given that he understands that all magic comes with a price better than anyone with him being the Dark One's son, and knowing very well what could happen to his loved ones. But first... I appreciate that this show's creators and writers understood the need to kill off, or write out Neal's character completely so that Emma can now be fully free to fall into a romance with Hook. Which in a way, is really unfair to Neal's character because his return to the show ever since he came back from supposedly being dead the last time everyone believed him to be dead, cheapens his death now. At least, I think so. Yet, I still appreciate that Neal is now gone for the sake of the romance that I have been excited for ever since Hook and Emma first meet back in season two's fifth episode, titled... The Doctor!! Now... I also feel that the cost of resurrecting the Dark One... A life for a life, is a great way to make Rumple's earlier death no longer feel as cheapened upon him being seen alive again in the next episode after his death in the previous episode, titled... Going Home. And Neal's death is somewhat sad. Even sweet too. But I have to admit that I have troubles with so much of how it all comes about. And I know that I am very much in the minority towards how I feel about this episode, as well as Neal's death and sacrifice. Nonetheless... This is how I feel. And I will come back to this storyline shortly... First... There is so much more to come in regards to Emma's feelings about not wishing for Henry to regain his memories and her wanting to return with Henry to New York. Whether she is right or wrong to keep the truth from him... Everyone feels differently about it. Personally, I do believe that Emma should definitely tell Henry because I know that Henry would want to have his memories returned. Nonetheless... Everything is most certainly complicated right now too. And second... During Emma's talk with Neal in the woods just before the reveal that Neal should currently be dead, it confirms for us that Emma and Neal have already put any chance or hope of rekindling their romantic relationship behind them, knowing that they both need to move on. Regardless as to whether or not Neal is about to die. There is definitely too much between them caused by Neal's betrayal, no matter his good reasons for doing so, that would prevent Emma from fully accepting him romantically back into her life again. And they've both come to this acceptance, which is really great. So... Even if Neal didn't die, I feel very strongly that she and Neal still would have put their romance behind them. Although, had Neal lived past this episode, him simply being alive and around town, would still create problems and friction between any kind of feelings and romantic relationship Emma and Hook might develop moving forward. And his survival would also likely cause friction and troubles within any kind of bond and relationship that would inevitably develop between Hook with Henry too. And now... This episode is certainly very sad of course with Neal's death. He dies so that Rumple can live again, and so Rumple can tell Emma who the Wicked Witch really is. For me... Neal isn't one of my favorite characters. I've never really been too big a fan of his either. He's not bad. He's just okay. For many reasons. Like I said above... This episode is among one of my least favorites within this season. And I only say so, because I can't help but feel a bit underwhelmed every time I watch it. And it's not even because I've never really been too big of a fan of Neal's character. He's fine, really. I somewhat like Neal overall. I just don't love him at all. There is a lot about him that I don't like as well. There are multiple reasons why this episode annoys me more than I wish it does. Don't get me wrong... I really do like this episode. Neal's death in this episode is tragic in some perspectives. And I absolutely feel terrible for everyone who cares about him and loves him. And I especially feel so badly for Emma and Rumple. Belle, Henry, and Hook too. However, this just isn't the first time we've seen Neal supposedly die, as we were led to believe he had been killed by Tamara back in season two's part one of the finale... Second Star to the Right, until it is discovered a short time later that he is actually alive in part two of season two's finale... And Straight on 'Til Morning. His real death within this episode is much worse. And yet I feel that if he wouldn't have supposedly died beforehand, we wouldn't have had to suffer twice through everyone's grieving of him, and I would have felt much worse about him really dying in this episode. Another thing I really hate about this episode, is that when Neal talks to Belle about paying the cost to bring his father back, Neal completely disregards her. And Hook is absolutely right about Neal being the "villain" here. Maybe villain is a bit harsh, but Neal is definitely in the wrong. Neal is just so careless, and he doesn't care about how his actions in doing so could make it so that a number of people may very well suffer for his reckless decision now that Zelena is in control of the Dark One. And it's absolutely one of the biggest reasons why everyone's in so much danger from Zelena now. Neal didn't care about how his decision would make those who love him feel either. He says so to Belle despite her pleas to him. And of course, bringing someone back from the dead, especially someone as powerful as the Dark One, there's going to be a terrible price to pay. And Neal would know this better than anyone, given his past with his father and his hatred of magic. And yet Neal still does so regardless, despite Belle's pleas for him to wait so they can try to find another way to save Rumple. I understand he's desperate like Rumple was desperate to find his son after so many years and therefore cast a dark curse over everyone. Honestly, I think it is a foolish decision on Neal's part. I know Neal is desperate to save his father, and rightly so. I get it. But he should have trusted and believed in Belle. And he should have known right away that the cost for bringing someone back from the dead would mean another life would have to be taken in return. Neal of all people knows the price of magic. He knows better than anyone. It just really kind of bothers me how reckless he is. He may not have known that the price of saving his father's life would cost him his own life, just like Zelena says. But honestly? And for all we know... The cost could have very easily been Belle's life too. So, I have to admit that I am also kind of angry with Neal for acting so reckless, especially knowing that Zelena is now in complete control over the Dark One because she possesses the dagger. Now, with all this being said... I really do feel so badly for Rumple, Emma, Belle, Henry, and Hook too. And the acting from both Jennifer Morrison and Robert Carlyle upon Neal's death is absolutely heartbreaking, yet sensational!! Also... It is definitely sad to see Rumple take Neal into himself in order to try to save him for a little while, even though doing so makes him go crazy upon gaining Neal's mind inside of himself too. This is a nice touch on the episode's storyline, and I really like that all of our questions about what happened to Rumple and Neal during the missing year are finally answered. And in regards to Rumple being unable to give Belle the dagger... I think it is simply because it appears that Rumple is only able to drop the dagger out in front of him, because he is using all of his strength to hold onto his son and to absorb him to try to save him. And plus... Rumple may not have known Belle was still behind him. To me... It makes sense that Zelena would gain possession of the dagger. Even if he had been able to give it to Belle. After all... Belle doesn't possess magic, whereas Zelena is extremely powerful. Like I said... The acting from both Jennifer Morrison and Robert Carlyle throughout this episode is absolutely phenomenal! My heart breaks for the both of them. And I feel most of the emotion throughout this episode coming from them. Now, if I have to pick my favorite scene from this episode... I absolutely love, love, love the brief moment between Killian and Neal in the hospital, when Killian suddenly hugs Neal much to his surprise, then states that he still sees the boy in him whom he once knew all those years ago!! And once again... This moment for Hook makes me love him even more than I already do! It's quite sweet and very unexpected coming from Hook. I think that's what I absolutely love about this moment!! And it really shows just how far Hook has come and grown since Captain Hook was brought into the show as a villain in season two's fourth episode, titled... The Crocodile. And once again... Colin O'Donoghue's (Hook) acting in this scene is phenomenal as well!! :) And I can only imagine the tremendous guilt that would have grown in Hook if he wouldn't have shared all of this with Neal before his death. How Hook would have felt had he failed to share his feelings with Neal. So sad. And of course... I also absolutely love, love, love the moments between Regina and Robin throughout this episode too!!! My gosh... If Robin looked at me the same way he looks at Regina within their moments together in this episode, especially when he's reaching behind her to pick up the whisky from the bookshelf in Zelena's farmhouse... Whew!! I would have fallen in love with him right then and there too! A part of me does fall in love with him. :) And now Regina knows she and Robin are meant to be soulmates like Tink told her all those years ago, upon Regina seeing Robin's lion tattoo on his right wrist. And of course, she's terrified! I would absolutely be terrified if I were her too. Also... I really love hearing them similarly repeat their dialogue spoken to one another during their real first meeting in the Enchanted Forest during their missing year, with a few changes in the wording. Showing just how perfect they are for one another too. The chemistry both Regina and Robin have, as well as their actors, is fire!! It's really beautiful to watch their own love story unfold. Also... I love and appreciate the moments in the end, where David and Mary Margaret come into Gold's shop to tell Belle and Killian that Neal has died, as they comfort them. And then seeing Emma go to Henry to tell him about his father's death, in the only way she could without Henry remembering the whole truth. Such beautiful and sad moments too. You can really see the pain and sadness in all of their faces. And lastly... I love the scene in the ending between Rumple and Zelena once again in the woods after Emma leaves him there with his son's body. Right now... Gold is broken upon having lost his son once and for all. And he's still trapped as Zelena's prisoner. However, ooh... Is he ever angry now! And Zelena is deliciously wicked. It's going to get good! :) By the way, regarding why Emma just leaves Neal's body in the woods with Rumple, knowing that he might not be able to stay with him for long... Rumple most likely reminded Emma that she and David needed to get back into town quickly in order to warn Mary Margaret about Zelena being the Wicked Witch of the West and a threat to their child. So, Emma leaves and finds David in the woods somewhere so that they can protect Mary Margaret, whom they know is currently alone with Zelena in that moment. David would have likely called for an ambulance to come out to the woods so that the town's paramedics would be able to pick up Neal's body for them. But in the meantime... Rumple is looking after Neal's body for them. At least until Zelena's arrival. Overall... This episode is just okay for me. But in spite of what I see as its flaws, I still really enjoy it. I can't wait for this overarching Wicked Witch storyline to continue throughout the rest of the season, and I am excited to continue on with watching each episode going forward with you all over again, as you watch them for the first time! Thank you once more, Tim! Sincerely, Heidi

Heidi Elizabeth Marcum