I was just thinking about this and I’m not sure how I feel about it, anyway. I can’t remember where I read it, but someone was saying that for Rumple to be redeemed, Neal had to die. Neal’s death is the only way Rumple could truly be redeemed since he created the curse and did all these horrible things to get to Bae. So of course, the price for Rumple’s redemption was losing his son forever. I parahrased but I’m sure where-ever I read this idea from probably had some other points as to why they felt this way but I can’t remember. But essentially they are saying that for Rumple to get redeemed he has to lose a part of his happy ending. I say a part because I firmly believe that Belle is part of his happy ending as well. But that seems strange to me. So you have to lose your happy ending to get redeemed? Then whats the point of getting redeemed if not to also get your happy ending? I don’t know… I don’t know if I buy it.
Here’s the thing with that. The Dark One curse being a part of their lives, that was Rumple’s doing, not Neal’s. Rumple was tricked into it, but that family’s association with the Dark One began with Rumple. The price for the Dark One curse and all the dark deeds committed by it was Rumple’s to pay, not Neal’s, and Rumple had accepted that and that was a powerful moment when he did. Rumple was taken away from the two people he loved in the world at the end of 311, and he accepted it because he knew that was his price. RUMPLE had to sacrifice, it was NOT Neal’s responsibility to have HIS life end due to the Dark One.
Other problems with this logic:
1) Rumple did not create it. Or rather, it was already in existence in some form when he lost Bae. The Blue Fairy acknowledges it when she basically leads Rumple to the Curse with her answers in “The Return”
2) Rumple wrote/created/whatever but there are two other elements here:
- Regina cast it, intending it to never be broken
- Emma broke it, thanks to Rumple making sure she was the Savior
What has Regina had to give up? Henry. Ok, but Henry hasn’t died; Regina only had to sacrifice her son having knowledge of her and we all know that wont’ last.
Emma broke the curse but could only do that by means of HENRY who is…altogether now…Neal’s son. Neal is just as much a part of BREAKING the curse as Emma and Henry are.