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I’m beginning to see reasons why they killed off Neal.
1. It keeps us on our toes- We’d become a bit complacent in thinking the regulars were safe because they were regulars. Killing off a main character shows that anyone can die whether or not they’re a regular.
2. Why Neal?- Why kill off the guy who has had such a crappy life and deserved a happy ending? Because it ups the stakes. It shows happy endings aren’t guaranteed, even to those who do deserve them. It stops the audience being complacent.
3. Why did Neal say what he did such as telling Emma to find Tallahassee with someone else, which is some of what has angered SFers?- Because Neal knew he was going to die. In his last few moments with Emma and Rumple, he told them stuff that would enable them to move on. He told Emma to find love again especially as previously she had trouble opening her heart to anyone because of what happened with Neal. He told Rumple to “let go” because Rumple had created a curse just to find Bae, who knows what he would’ve done to bring Bae back.
4. How Neal died- Neal didn’t get to see Henry and I think the point of him dying how he did was to show that death can happen anytime, it’s not foreshadowed, it can occur out of the blue without warning. Kind of like in Buffy the Vampire slayer where Buffy returns home to find her mother lying dead on the sofa.
It is sad that Neal died, and everyone would’ve preferred him not to die. Nobody wanted anybody to go. However I can see why his death panned out as it did, and it wasn’t just to make way for CaptainSwan.
[adrotate group="5"]All magic comes with a price!
Keeper of FelixI agree with a lot of your reasoning, as painful as this was for me. I am, however, still hoping that the next few episodes will make his death more meaningful than simply keeping us on our toes. And yes, there’s still a part of me that’s vaguely hoping that by the series finale it will somehow be undone.
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
My friend who is a professional movie critic and also watches OuaT offers this explanation for why Neal’s death actually does make sense dramatically:
“For one thing, it evens the scales. Rumple sacrificed himself. Neal got to do the same. It also brings their relationship full circle to a final reconciliation. That gives the drama extra weight.”
I’d also add that his death makes their battle with Zelena more personal.
Of course, I’m still greatly saddened as I really wanted a happy ending for him and Emma or at least a great friendship/co-parenting. I think they could have told more stories with him. But I’m not angry with the writers. All the anger I’m seeing is disheartening and makes me more distraught than the episode itself! I don’t like seeing my friends angry.
My friend who is a professional movie critic and also watches OuaT offers this explanation for why Neal’s death actually does make sense dramatically: “For one thing, it evens the scales. Rumple sacrificed himself. Neal got to do the same. It also brings their relationship full circle to a final reconciliation. That gives the drama extra weight.” I’d also add that his death makes their battle with Zelena more personal. Of course, I’m still greatly saddened as I really wanted a happy ending for him and Emma or at least a great friendship/co-parenting. I think they could have told more stories with him. But I’m not angry with the writers. All the anger I’m seeing is disheartening and makes me more distraught than the episode itself! I don’t like seeing my friends angry.
This too! Very much. You get a seal from me as well. (But I won’t clog up this thread with more furry animal pictures).
Speaking purely from a meta-storytelling point of view, Rumple couldn’t return without something drastic happening. There had to be a consequence. I guess in storytelling as well as in magic, there’s always a prize. And they had to bring Rumple back. Which is one thing I am happy about.
Even though I am sad to see Bae go, I am satisfied with the sendoff he got, due to the “full circle reconciliation” thing you mentioned. There was a lot of closure for both characters in that last episode.I’m with you on the angry people issue too. It’s what made me decide to start posting here. I just couldn’t bear watching it anymore. Really, if I see any more anger flying around these forums, I’m going to be tempted to start a free-hug-thread. *looks around threateningly* – Don’t think I wont!
My friend who is a professional movie critic and also watches OuaT offers this explanation for why Neal’s death actually does make sense dramatically: “For one thing, it evens the scales. Rumple sacrificed himself. Neal got to do the same. It also brings their relationship full circle to a final reconciliation. That gives the drama extra weight.” I’d also add that his death makes their battle with Zelena more personal. Of course, I’m still greatly saddened as I really wanted a happy ending for him and Emma or at least a great friendship/co-parenting. I think they could have told more stories with him. But I’m not angry with the writers. All the anger I’m seeing is disheartening and makes me more distraught than the episode itself! I don’t like seeing my friends angry.
This too! Very much. You get a seal from me as well. (But I won’t clog up this thread with more furry animal pictures). Speaking purely from a meta-storytelling point of view, Rumple couldn’t return without something drastic happening. There had to be a consequence. I guess in storytelling as well as in magic, there’s always a prize. And they had to bring Rumple back. Which is one thing I am happy about.
Even though I am sad to see Bae go, I am satisfied with the sendoff he got, due to the “full circle reconciliation” thing you mentioned. There was a lot of closure for both characters in that last episode. I’m with you on the angry people issue too. It’s what made me decide to start posting here. I just couldn’t bear watching it anymore. Really, if I see any more anger flying around these forums, I’m going to be tempted to start a free-hug-thread. *looks around threateningly* – Don’t think I wont!This! *hands over a cookie for an excellent post*
Rumple couldn’t return without something drastic happening. There had to be a consequence. I guess in storytelling as well as in magic, there’s always a price. And they had to bring Rumple back.
This is what made me ok with it there had to be a price and if anyone was gonna pay that price it had to be Bae or Belle. Bae took his father’s example of sacrifice and died a hero, because of him they can save the town and with Rumple’s help they may find a way to bring back Henry’s memories.
Couldn’t agree more.
But I get the pain some people feel, somewhat. Out of respect I tried hard to hold back on views and commentaries for past two days (not that easy sometimes). Expected though the anger going around, haven’t seen any death threats to the writers and showmakers yet, but wouldn’t surprise me either. Some people are just getting a lot more invested in characters than others and a few maybe overly.
Story telling is pretty much about drama, there is a reason why is called happy ending. I expect good story telling to take me to places, I don’t always feel comfortable to to or don’t want to go to at all. Explore my own issues as much as how other people feel and think to broaden my horizon and understanding. To confront me with things, feelings that can hit me in real life as well, and when they do it might help to have gone with someone else, even if it’s a fictional character through these emotions, help to handle and survive them. Of course I want as well pleasant entertainment and happy moments, but for me story telling is good if it doesn’t make it easy for me. Everything else is mind-relaxing entertainment to consume and forget about.
I don’t think that all development and writing for the character Neal was good, and there sure is more story about him to tell, but to me a while ago, before the rumors started it made story telling sense to kill him. I haven’t decided yet, if I find it just okay or good, how they now killed Neal, but I am okay that they took the story there.
See, I am one of the few who really likes the Blue Fairy, and more so like to see Keegan Connor Tracy to have work and great roles to play, but I was okay with killing the Blue Fairy. I was not okay with her coming back. It destroyed what story telling sense the death had, and more important, it tainted the possibility and impact of other deaths maybe to come. And look at what is happening. People do cry foul, that the Blue Fairy came back, that her coming back already broke the rule of dead being dead, and of course so people now rightfully ask, why not bring Neal back. There are story telling reasons not to, to make this a death to stick, but it could have been easier for more to accept, if they had not brought the Blue Fairy back. It was a mistake. I am sure, Neal’s death would have a different impact now if they hadn’t butchered that story line before.
I can imagine other versions. Keeping Rumple dead, but very sure plenty of Rumbelle and Rumple fans than as well would of suffered. Keep Rumple dead, let Neal’s attempt to resurrect him or get to the power of the Dark One going wrong in the way, that Neal would have turned into the Dark One, which though I guess would have set up some fans because of making him dark and a villain.
As I see it, keeping Neal around as just Rumple’s son, Henry’s father and former and maybe future love interest for Emma wouldn’t have done him good long (it already didn’t), he would have needed a story to make him stand as character on his own, to be not just a major character (one with high impact on the story) but become a main character, one to carry a good chunk of the show with his own story. Yes, I make a difference between major character and main character. For example Hook as well in my eyes might be a major but is still far from being a main character, even though we got a bit of background. That is not to confuse with just supporting characters like Sneezy, Doctor, Granny or even the Blue Fairy, who are there because a plot needs some friends or foes or whatever extra speaking characters, but have not a central role, no major impact on the overall story of a show.
At the same time I felt the character development of the main characters (to me Emma, Regina, Rumple, maybe Snow and Charming as team, no, not Henry, he’s just major) was a bit in a stalemate by now, and it seems the writers might have felt something alike. Bringing in the next big bad and the next action doesn’t keep a show interesting for long, it’s character development that does (and I think that is even true for action super hero serials, and OUaT is not even that kind of show, just has elements of it).
No, Neal didn’t deserve to die, sure not, like most others he deserved a happy ending (but what defines a happy ending?). I don’t even think, it was a hero death or making that much sense (the Wicked Witch controls the Dark One now, not that smart, is it), it was tragic, kinda senseless, but Neal let go with a sense of doing the right thing from his POV. Death never is great, and there is no thing like a heroic “good” death IMO, just someone making an often dumb sacrifice, which with some luck though turns things better for the people left behind.
But Neal’s death is perhaps the one with the biggest impact on most of the main and some other characters on the show. It will impact Rumple and Emma, Henry and through them others. It makes sense for story telling.
Doesn’t mean I am throwing now a party (I know that on other sites opinions, views of some sound like they would), Neal’s death is meant as tragic momentum, and it makes people sad. I respect that. But if it comes to the show and the work of the writers I have a different view.
¯\_(?????? ?)_/¯
Is it bad that I completely agree with you, Mickstemp?
You just took the words out of my mouth. As soon as the show closed, this was every thought that came to mind. I also respect everyone who believes differently, but I can’t justify the poor handling of Neal’s death. I’m glad to see that I’m not the only one.
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