Oh, and I’d also like to add that we don’t know what EXACTLY is going on in Rumple’s head. While killing Zelena was in character, him lying to Belle like this and kinda using her as an alibi is not. I’m a bit confused about this, I feel like something is off with him. Perhaps part of his father was resurrected within him, or something dramatic (other than being imprisoned and having his son within him) happened to him during that missing year..
Now that you bring it up, I’d like to know what was Rumple’s rational for lying to Belle. Why did he feel the need to create a fake dagger and give Belle a false sense of security and trust?
As to Rumple’s reaction to Neal’s death, I don’t think he was possessed. But his reaction was different from season two. In season two, he was a lot more accepting of Neal’s death but again, season two was a fake death since we learned that Neal survived falling through the bean hole.
Rumple’s was different because this was not a fake death like before. It’s real and Zelena was indirectly responsible and taunted him a lot after his passing. He didn’t even have a chance to be at his sons’ funeral because he was locked in a cage. Of course Rumple was going to lash out- that part was expected but it’s the lying bit that’s still confusing.