In this episode, there are many attempts at dramatic performances. Of them all, only Robert Carlyle gives a compelling performance while all others try, but don't really reach you. Perhaps though watching as Rumplestiltskin is ripped to shreds, mentally, by Peter Pan and then witnessing him losing his son twice is what gives him the edge. For, when you compare Jennifer Morrison, Emma, and Ginnifer Goodwin, Snow, trying to get your sympathies with Emma realizing she still loves Nick and Snow saddened that she can't comfort her child, it makes you wonder whether it is the acting or writing which makes Carlyle's work consistently compelling, as the rest of the show seems to rely heavily on the fairy tale of their characters.
Still though, while much praise is due to Carlyle, Robbie Key, who plays Peter Pan, probably deserves just as much. As I've surely said before, this show hasn't had a quality villain since Regina in the first season, and since then we had almost every villain since humanized and made into anti-heroes. But Pan has yet to falter and yet to not impress. Peter Pan may not have injured or hurt anyone yet, physically, but he has become far more fearsome than Cora and Regina ever were when they wield their magic. Perhaps it is because Pan doesn't try to physically hurt you, but mentally manipulate you. He does this to just about everyone, outside of Emma's rescue group, in this episode. We watch as he, while somehow in the Enchanted forest - in the past before Regina's big spell, tears down Rumplestiltskin to the point where he is once more a bit more diminished and not seen as the fearsome dark one, but simply a man who happens to have powers and tries to compensate for his mental weakness. Then, with Neil, he poisons him against his father and like how on Scandal we learned this week Eli Pope has long term control over people, Peter Pan reveals how long he has had control over Neil. For, part of this episode the big deal is Neil escaped, something only people Pan let go can do. However, Pan reveals that maybe he was let go for a reason, making Pan get build up better than any villain we thus far have seen. Heck, he even turns Henry who has been the beacon of this show even when Snow, Charming, Emma and everyone else were on the brink of despair. I mean this truly, he is what is saving this show and season.
Overall, as long as Pan is alive and stays as strong of a villain as he is, this show keeps my attention. Though it is interesting for the writers/ ABC/ and Disney to present a bi-sexual character in Mulan, we don't know yet if it will be something they'll develop with vigor or just use for ratings. Still, with the writing being on two extremes, it is hard to tell where Mulan may fall. Will she succumb to the mediocre writing which Emma, Snow, Charming and Hook are dealing with, or will she be given something meaty as Rumpelstiltskin is consistently given, and what Peter Pan seems to be given as well? Only time will tell, but hopefully whoever writes Emma's crew's story starts taking notes.
Still though, while much praise is due to Carlyle, Robbie Key, who plays Peter Pan, probably deserves just as much. As I've surely said before, this show hasn't had a quality villain since Regina in the first season, and since then we had almost every villain since humanized and made into anti-heroes. But Pan has yet to falter and yet to not impress. Peter Pan may not have injured or hurt anyone yet, physically, but he has become far more fearsome than Cora and Regina ever were when they wield their magic. Perhaps it is because Pan doesn't try to physically hurt you, but mentally manipulate you. He does this to just about everyone, outside of Emma's rescue group, in this episode. We watch as he, while somehow in the Enchanted forest - in the past before Regina's big spell, tears down Rumplestiltskin to the point where he is once more a bit more diminished and not seen as the fearsome dark one, but simply a man who happens to have powers and tries to compensate for his mental weakness. Then, with Neil, he poisons him against his father and like how on Scandal we learned this week Eli Pope has long term control over people, Peter Pan reveals how long he has had control over Neil. For, part of this episode the big deal is Neil escaped, something only people Pan let go can do. However, Pan reveals that maybe he was let go for a reason, making Pan get build up better than any villain we thus far have seen. Heck, he even turns Henry who has been the beacon of this show even when Snow, Charming, Emma and everyone else were on the brink of despair. I mean this truly, he is what is saving this show and season.
Overall, as long as Pan is alive and stays as strong of a villain as he is, this show keeps my attention. Though it is interesting for the writers/ ABC/ and Disney to present a bi-sexual character in Mulan, we don't know yet if it will be something they'll develop with vigor or just use for ratings. Still, with the writing being on two extremes, it is hard to tell where Mulan may fall. Will she succumb to the mediocre writing which Emma, Snow, Charming and Hook are dealing with, or will she be given something meaty as Rumpelstiltskin is consistently given, and what Peter Pan seems to be given as well? Only time will tell, but hopefully whoever writes Emma's crew's story starts taking notes.