I’m VERY glad that he’s back. I wish there were reason to believe he’d be back for more than just the occasional glimpse–I wanted to see him as part of Henry’s life, as part of Rumple’s and Belle’s, and yes, Emma’s, fighting against the cycle of abandonment and fighting for family.
This going to hell/the Underworld to save someone was the path that I hoped/wished for when Neal first died (there are posts in this forum from back then saying just that), and it hurts like heck to think that they’re doing it for someone else but wouldn’t for him when I feel like everyone had so much more investment in saving Neal (then, not now, obviously, since the writers have had everyone but Henry and Rumple in rare moments forget he ever existed).
It is cruel, especially if it’s used to give the characters permission to forget him/blessings for the ship that necessitated his death to sail (don’t know if they’re going that route but it seems likely enough). But it’s also necessary to the story and characters that he be addressed, and I’m glad they’re doing so by actually having MRJ present. Many mixed feelings about this, and some frustration expecting that Belle will be excluded from probably her last chance to be with her stepson.
Keeper of Belle's Gold magic, sand dollar, cloaks, purple FTL outfit, spell scroll, library key, copy of Romeo and Juliet, and cry-muffling pillow, Rumple's doll, overcoat, and strength, and The Timeline. My spreadsheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6r8CySCCWd9R0RUNm4xR3RhMEU/view?usp=sharing