Another Mark Isham Leak: Neal's Warning?

[nevermore]

But again, if MRJ is back, and not for just one scene in the beginning warning everyone, this could work.  Especially if they planned this and killed Neal off knowing they would eventually be going to the underworld and could eventually save him, or at least have the opportunity to be saved.

Well, that would be a heck of a long con, and an impressive one at that. And you know what, if OUAT were a book series, I would totally get excited about this theory. But I don’t think that’s very realistic. These, after all, are not just stories, but also jobs — it’s not like with a novel, where the author could kill off a central character, and then bring them back at a later point. There’s gotta be some reasonable ethics (and planning) involved in hiring/firing actors, and I’m sure legal contracts are drawn up, agents negotiate renewals and timeframes and so forth. I agree that, in the right hands, it could make for an amazing story, but if, in the very unlikely scenario, they went that route, it would have to be a “huzzah! lets do this crazy thing and see what happens, can we get the actor back?” sort of thing. But I doubt they’d go that way, and I also doubt that they’d get MRJ back.

My point earlier, to which I think @The Watcher was partially responding, wasn’t that I wouldn’t love to see Neal, but that this ship has not just left the harbor, but arguably sailed off the edge of the map where it says “here be dragons.” Meaning, the show is so far gone from its original premises (to which Neal was integral) that a) re-integrating him into the present story would involve some serious hooplas, and b) the relationships and characters to whom Neal was structurally integral have been completely rewritten to erase those points of connection that made Neal essential. As I said, this is the case with Rumple and Emma the most (Henry just doesn’t get enough screen time anymore to really “change” his character). And arguably, those two characters are the most frustrating from the point of view of the writing —  inconsistent back and forth and total lack of overall character development. Again(!) with Emma and her walls. Again(!) with Rumple’s power hungry but cowardly blah blah blah. Since S3 it’s been a constant “do not pass go, do not collect $200” for those two, to the point where the characters are no longer particularly likable, compelling, or realistic (arguably, with Regina, they were the best characters of the show). I think this sense of stagnation, forced retconning, and generally illogical character building comes from the writers’ attempt to minimize Neal’s role in Rumple and Emma’s arcs, while being unable to write them post/sans Neal.

And bringing Neal back now, whether as a cameo or on a permanent basis, no matter how cleverly it’s done, isn’t going to fix the show, because it’s not going to undo 3 years of, excuse my French, staggeringly s*** writing. And I think Kistowitz know this, and wouldn’t want to open that can of worms anyway, and rock the fandom’s rather toxic applecart. So I think the most logical explanation for the Neal’s warning bit is that it’s just the composer recycling a score, and being sloppy about his Istagram account.

But here, I’ll throw a monkey wrench into the discussion. 😉 What if they did decide to bring Neal back, but couldn’t get MRJ and recast an adult Neal ? How would folks feel about this?

[thedarkonedearie]

What if they did decide to bring Neal back, but couldn’t get MRJ and recast an adult Neal ? How would folks feel about this?

Oh God please no.  I’ll say the same thing regarding Jefferson and Graham and many others.  As much as I loved some of those characters, I couldn’t stand bringing them back with a different actor.  Robin Hood only worked because he barely was part of the story before.  Graham, Jefferson, etc were a big part of the show early on.  Better to leave them out of it unless the actors are able to return.  Same goes with Neal.

But this is also why I’m intrigued about Mulan.  I think the actress did a great job in season 2 with what was given to her, and we have yet to really see her backstory.  Plus with all this LGBT relationship promises, I’m definitely interested to see what the writers have in store for her.  But it would be such a disappointment if it was a different actress.

But side note: There really is no way Neal is back for an extended time for many of the reasons you listed above.  So at this point, I agree, let’s hope it’s just a reused score, and not that MRJ actually will make an appearance, because a small cameo would be a slap in the face.

[Gaultheria]

Meaning, the show is so far gone from its original premises (to which Neal was integral) that a) re-integrating him into the present story would involve some serious hooplas, and b) the relationships and characters to whom Neal was structurally integral have been completely rewritten to erase those points of connection that made Neal essential.

I agree. “Neal” wasn’t just the character, he was a node in a network that was more than the sum of its parts, and that network isn’t there anymore.

I think Neal fans and Neal are like Regina and Daniel, where the best thing for the survivors to do is to let the departed go.

Gaultheria's fanvids: http://youtube.com/sagethrasher

[RumplesGirl]

What if they did decide to bring Neal back, but couldn’t get MRJ and recast an adult Neal ? How would folks feel about this?

#Nope

I love Neal the character no matter what, but a big part of Neal’s emotional communication is because of MRJ’s study of his character.

 

"He was a lot of things to me" "The only conclusion was love"

[Slurpeez]

I would’ve thought that if Neal’s Warning were a soundtrack from S3 that it would’ve appeared on Mark Isham’s website, where he just released a bunch of other songs from S3 and S4. I’m going to hold off on my judgement until I see how this all plays out, but I wouldn’t want Neal to be played by anyone other than MRJ. Yet, I want MRJ to be happy and fulfilled as an actor, and I don’t think a return to the show would do that for him.

"That’s how you know you’ve really got a home. When you leave it, there’s this feeling that you can’t shake. You just miss it." Neal Cassidy

[MatthewPaul]

I would’ve thought that if Neal’s Warning were a soundtrack from S3 that it would’ve appeared on Mark Isham’s website, where he just released a bunch of other songs from S3 and S4. I’m going to hold off on my judgement until I see how this all plays out, but I wouldn’t want Neal to be played by anyone other than MRJ. Yet, I want MRJ to be happy and fulfilled as an actor, and I don’t think a return to the show would do that for him.

Quote

He only released a set few tracks from Seasons 3 and 4, as there are plenty of tracks off the top of my head that weren’t included there. He also didn’t include plenty of stuff on the Season 1 and 2 soundtracks.

[Author]

Posts