Yes this is a huge disconnect for me as well. Especially when the episode ends with a father getting to move on after talking to his child. It’s…yeah, disconnect is the best word here
I can think of a few other words that would fit, but yes, let’s just stick with disconnect because ACCURATE. Evidently they CAN actually grasp this concept of parent/child relationships being resolved, but only when it’s convenient.
What helps to infuriate me more is that they even addressed how Rumple and Pan still have issues, so they even grasp the concept when it comes to the Stiltskin family, that father/son abuse and abandonment that’s recurred over generations, which was at one time a core part of their story that gave it some emotional gravitas. Not giving Neal’s current, present day role in that family line its due, just smacks of them tossing their original story onto the trashpile and not bothering with it any more, even though it should be very relevant to the current situation and emotions they’re exploring in the show.