Michael Raymond-James on Neal's journey to find his family on 'Once Upon A Time'

[Slurpeez]

Michael Raymond-James on Neal’s journey to find his family on ‘Once Upon A Time’

From the earliest experience in Fairytale Land on ABC’s Once Upon A Time, Baelfire (Michael Raymond-James) was always somewhat of a loner. Whether it was because he lived in the woods as an only child with his family who were then torn apart, because his father became the Dark One everyone feared therefore keeping them at a distance, or because he then went through a portal alone, he has thought on his feet and risen to challenges of being intrepid for himself. His time in the modern day world as Neal, though, allowed him to actually– finally– make connections with other people– ones he is now proving he will fight to the death and return to dark, previously sworn off places in order to regain. But these are ones that he may only be able to rely on himself to regain. After all, he has the history with Neverland; he knows just how manipulative Peter Pan (Robbie Kay) can be.

“Neal’s been somebody that, throughout most of his life since he was 13 and dropped through a portal, has been pretty self-reliant, so he knows how to operate on his own [but] if it turns out that there are people willing to help at this point where there’s such a laser focus that there has never been in his life since he was a child, in terms of what he wants and how he needs to get there, if people are willing to help [he’s] certainly not going to turn them away,” Raymond-James said to LA TV Insider Examiner when we visited with him on set of Once Upon A Time.

“Neal obviously has some experience in Neverland and it’s not a great neighborhood, but he knows how to operate there. Should he find himself in Neverland, those skills could be useful in terms of fighting the good fight, finding the solution.”

We have seen before that the power of true love knows no bounds on Once Upon A Time. From simply waking Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin) from a small curse, to breaking Regina’s (Lana Parrilla) Storybrooke-wide curse, it has brought people back to each other and helped them remember who they are– in the most literal sense. Raymond-James shared that Neal is “under no illusions that things between he and the woman that he loves are perfect,” but will Neal’s love be capable of bringing Emma (Jennifer Morrison) after she loses bits of herself, reverting back to her basest fears and emotions from childhood in Neverland? The answer that the show delivers may be the truest way to define their relationship.

“I can say, from Neal’s perspective, that he feels Emma is his one true love,” Raymond-James said.

“I think, now more than ever, he realizes that there’s work to be done and is prepared to do whatever work is necessary because I’ve had an opportunity to sort of touch what Neal feels could be his happy ending but I haven’t been able to grasp it yet. It was a fleeting sort of instant. So he’s trying to get back there and whatever he needs to do in order to have that I think he’s willing to do.”

And yes, that includes working with magic, even though Raymond-James said that is something Neal would do “grudgingly.”

“I have a really complicated and messy history with magic. That being said, if it can help me achieve the goals… This is 300 years in the making, to finally have a place where I feel like I belong, a sense of family that I haven’t had since I was 13. That’s the paramount thing. And if I have to utilize some magic along the way, that may have to be done,” Raymond-James said.

“I don’t know what the boys have in store I would be surprised to see Neal turn into a wizard at some point!”

Once Upon A Time airs on ABC on Sunday nights at 8 p.m.

[RumplesGirl]

Should he find himself in Neverland, those skills could be useful in terms of fighting the good fight, finding the solution.”

*fist pump*

I can say, from Neal’s perspective, that he feels Emma is his one true love,” Raymond-James said.

*double fist pump*

“I think, now more than ever, he realizes that there’s work to be done and is prepared to do whatever work is necessary because I’ve had an opportunity to sort of touch what Neal feels could be his happy ending but I haven’t been able to grasp it yet. It was a fleeting sort of instant. So he’s trying to get back there and whatever he needs to do in order to have that I think he’s willing to do.” And yes, that includes working with magic, even though Raymond-James said that is something Neal would do “grudgingly.”

*triple fist pump*

This is 300 years in the making, to finally have a place where I feel like I belong, a sense of family that I haven’t had since I was 13. That’s the paramount thing. And if I have to utilize some magic along the way, that may have to be done,” Raymond-James said.

*some sort of animalistic scream that shatters glass*

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

[Slurpeez]

I AM SO EXCITED! Neal using magic! Neal in NL using his experience to help save his family! Emma is the love of Neal’s life!

"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

[Josephine]

*claps excitedly* I want to see Neal do magic! I want to see Henry do magic! They’re all so magical. 😛

Bobby better watch out. MRJ may be stealing some of his fangirls if he keeps up the great work and interviews. Of course, I can fangirl them both. Those men in the Rumplestiltskin clan are fabulous.

Keeper of Rumplestiltskin's and Neal's spears and war paint and crystal ball.

[Phee]

I like how in interviews, MRJ sometimes slips into using “I” instead of “he” when talking about Nealfire. Just a little unconscious thing that shows how into the headspace of the character he is.

there’s such a laser focus that there has never been in his life since he was a child, in terms of what he wants and how he needs to get there,

Not since he was a child trying to save his father’s soul has he been so determined to achieve something as he is now, trying to get back to Emma.

[kfchimera]

MRJ apparently stopped by the acting school in Vancouver–he is one of the “craft” type actors who take it seriously (as do a lot of the cast).   His tendency to say “I” is kind of funny when speaking about his character.  That suggests he is a bit of a method actor, who are notorious for not dropping character at all.

I know MRJ  has worked with dialect coaches to master a cajun accent for a role before.  I think he does put a lot of thought into trying to make Neal seem like a real guy who grew on the streets since 14, but has  these repressed memories of this other fantastical life.   Some people who immigrate assimilate completely, others retain a lot of their culture/accent.  I think for Bae’s situation, he wanted to vanish and not be found so it makes perfect sense he tried to blend in and scrubbed away his enchanted past.  I’ve seen people comment on how different Bae and Neal are, but I feel that’s a deliberate choice on the part of the directors and actor to reflect what this character has gone through.

At the same time, now that Neal is in the Enchanted Forrest again, I love seeing the actor bring a bit more of the fantasy element to his portrayal of Baelfire.   The whole ninja move with the staff was awesome!  I definitely want to see Neal bringing something to our little FairyTale Avenger team.  I’m not sure what skills he has to offer, but he also spent a lot of time on that island and it is time we learned how he escaped (and resolve T-Word headaches about when that was!).
I have a feeling the writers will not make it easy for Neal to get to NL though.

“If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?” -- Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass

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