[naomi]

So what exactly would be the purpose of Cora and Hook pretending to be Emma and Snow? Like why wouldn’t Cora just walk in and try to kill Regina or whatever she is going to do to her, take her heart, take her magic. Why pretend to be someone else?

For Cora? Easy. To get to Henry.

I think most “theorists” agree that Henry is part of Cora’s plan involving Regina. We don’t know how, obviously. We don’t know in what context, or to what end. But he’s definitely going to be a part of the Cora-Regina confrontation.

[naomi]

Just another little idea, if Rumple taught Cora about magic and the power of names, the only name that Cora would not know is “Neal Cassady’s”. This doesn’t have to be limited to the imposter theory, and might come into play later on in the season. Neal/Henry’s father might be protected because his identity is so obscure – he might be able to escape Cora’s magic and save the day.

AntBee wrote: I would guess just based on Barrett’s description that he’s probably in FTL right now, and that he’ll help Emma and Snow get back which will fool them into thinking he’s on their side for awhile until next season when he becomes the next big bad.

[minor spoilers for 2×11]

Brilliant idea! The timing might be a big clue – maybe Barrett (the major recurring character we're meeting in 2×11) – is the FTL character who helps Emma and Snow back to Storybrooke. Although, I’m not sure if his having “a dark side and a way of life he will fight fiercely to defend” will necessarily make him a villain in the grandiose I’ll-hurt-everyone-and-make-them-pay sense…they also describe him as “kind and smart”, after all. Perhaps he’s another character with good intentions who’s a bit morally obscure. (But aren’t they all? lol.)

Actually, if it weren’t for his age (30s), the timing of Barrett's introduction (after Hook presumably makes it to our world), his character description (kind and smart, with a way of life he will fight fiercely to defend), and now this idea that he might help Emma and Snow make it back to our world, make him sound like a Peter Pan to me.

^ I know that’s going to be a very unpopular theory. Just, throwing it out there! 🙂

And I agree, Phee. Cora would be Snow for the fake!reunion. I can’t see Hook signing up for that canoodling.

[naomi]

If they’re going to throw in Mystery Man this early, then the Emma-and-Mary Margaret imposters would be an interesting situation for him to run into. Apart from Henry – who is always a clever little genius 😉 – Mystery Man might be the one to realize something’s off. I think Cora has a talent for observing people and copying their mannerisms; so much so that she was able to trick Mulan into thinking she was Lancelot.

But how would gleaning information and scheming work if no one else in Storybrooke knew about “Neal Cassady”? There’s no way for her to get that information or find out who he is. If Emma failed to react to him, it might set alarm bells off in his head. It also might act as the perfect catalyst to reveal his true identity to Henry. (If he is, Henry’s father. :D)

Thanks for the theory, AntBee. I admit I’m really excited about this imposter idea now…to have villains in disguise. :O Run, Rumple and Regina, Run!

[naomi]

And Hook seems to have an ally in Cora. I wouldn’t say Hook is entirely without magic on his side, with that considered.

[naomi]

Wow.

I knew it was “dark brown” but you’re right. That hair colour and floof curl is darn accurate. 😆 Seriously, if Neal doesn’t turn out to be Bae, then I’ll assume that the casting director has some sinister, personal vendetta against primetime TV audiences. If MR-J isn’t Bae, how much closer can they get to finding a Bae look-alike? I’m dying to see what or who they have up their sleeves.

Also, I hate to add fuel to the near-madness that is this fandom – but did anyone do an eye colour check?

[naomi]

I also love how different Neal looks…between his frumpy three-piece suit in “Broken” to his super casual tank-and-jacket style in the spoilers photos. 🙂 Reminds me of MR-J in Terriers.

So if I’m getting this straight:

Emma and Mystery Man are together in Portland. (spoiler photos)
Emma gets arrested in Portland. (spoiler photos)
Emma gives birth to Henry in Phoenix, and gives him up.
Some time later, Emma spends two years in Tallahassee.
10 years later, Henry finds Emma in Boston.

That’s quite a cross-country trek. I wonder why she was moving around so much? If she was running from something or chasing something. Or maybe just wandering aimlessly after being separated from Neal.

And, apart from the LOST shout-outs, I also wonder what the significance of Tallahassee is in relation to this episode? Maybe Emma was supposed to reunite with Neal there, but he never came. I’ve heard some people say Neal’s apartment is supposed to be in a neighborhood with a history of mafia activity in NYC (please correct me if I got the facts wrong) ~ maybe he got tied up with the wrong sort and decided to stay away from Emma to keep her safe?

I think the theme of this episode is going to focus on Emma’s ability to trust. Emma trusting Neal in the flashback, while meanwhile in FTL, she struggles to trust Hook as they climb the beanstalk/meet the giant. I wonder if she'll be betrayed both times or if they'll write a compare-and-contrast type episode and make Hook he nice guy who doesn't betray her. Oooooh. Drama.

Can’t wait for this episode!

[naomi]

I was thinking the other day what Emma’s going to think when she returns. Her baby-daddy could be in town, Gold’s got a girlfriend, Charming is acting Sheriff, they’re mining for pixie dust, Regina is renouncing her evilness for now, and the library is now open. So much is going on since she’s been gone.

Right! She might spot Gold having a burger at Granny’s.

It’s funny – but Snow and Emma might panic, thinking they’ve ended up in some freakish alternate reality, and that the real Storybrooke is somewhere else! Haha.

[naomi]

I’m wondering if the writers are planning to bring Mystery Man (who I am equating with Henry’s father right now) into Storybrooke before Emma and Snow get back. I think it would be great if he somehow got to meet Henry before he found out the truth from Emma. Or, if he already knows/finds out who Henry is, it might be interesting to see him come to terms with being a father before he sees Emma again.

In any case, I love how rapidly Storybrooke/our world is changing this season. With Regina “redeeming” herself, Henry learning how to be a prince, Belle working in the library, Charming acting as sheriff, and the potential for Mystery Man to make his appearance – I wonder if Emma will even recognize the place when she returns. 😉 Not to mention, King George seems to be looming around one too many corners…

[naomi]

Of course that could be true, too.

Like everyone else, I’m just eager to see how Baelfire is going to react to everything. The writers can take it in so many different directions.

Anyway, regardless, I’m excited about Barrett: if it’s a major recurring character, he’s probably going to be pretty significant in terms of the whole story. I can’t wait to see who they cast.

[naomi]

Wonderful! Can’t wait for Michael Raymond-James to *speak*. 😛

Emma looks so carefree in the shots with Mystery Man. She must have fallen really hard for him and gotten hurt really badly if she now talks about him with such loathing.

Looking forward to watching this episode! Also eager to see where the reappearance of Eion Bailey fits into all of this.

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