Board Thread:Character Discussion/@comment-75.61.135.198-20130603213500/@comment-8954026-20130606083424

Personally I believe that the shadow is just that. . . a shadow! It's purpose is to do HIS bidding (whoever HE is . . . and I'm not convinced it's Peter Pan, not ultimately anyway). We have been told that HE rips the shadow off people and I think the one we've seen is just one of those.

As for why HE wants Henry, I think it's linked to Henry being the cause of Rumple's undoing. HE's either:

(1) Been placed there long ago by Rumple himself before he realised Henry was his grandson.

(2) Wants Henry to gain the Dark One's power and has manipulated events for hundreds of years to get it.

I'm not really keen on 1 but it has some merit.

If it is 2 then this means that an almighty power is at work, which would be great, but wouldn't explain why HE couldn't just defeat Zoso himself and become the DO centuries ago!! HE must have needed Rumple to become the DO, possibly to make the curse. . . not sure lol!