Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-25926288-20161205015930/@comment-28162607-20170219105411

Dan Fox wrote: Hmcooper4 wrote: Actually I think Neal was more complex than just "Sweet Boy" and "Douchey ex". But I will agree that they poorly developed his character, and his death was tragic, not only because of what it did to Rumple and Emma's stories, but because he was killed without a lot of indepth development. They cut off an underdeveloped character in an attempt to move a few characters. and unfortunately, i would offer that it was mostly ineffective. Just as killing Robin was an effort to move Regina's character along, and so far it is showing equal ineffectiveness (Though it is possible that the post-hiatus episodes can shed additional light that will help make Robin's death understandable.

However, regardless of how anyone might feel about Neal, he is still the father of Henry in the Wish Realm, and I'm sure that there is an untold story in the writer's room that explains what happened with Baelfire and Rumple. And I would be surprised if they ever reveal what that untold story is. Let's just leave it there, and not have any additioanl bashing on Neal. That is getting off topic for this disucssion. You seriously hit the jackpot on this one, holy crap. I agree 110%. I felt Neal maybe wasn't the best for Emma, but there were other more interesting possibilities. His role as father. His relationship with Rumple. He could've even found a new love interest and remained good friends with Emma. But we never got these possibilities and I don't feel like it was worth the diminished potential, because his death did cause a downspiral in Rumple's character and many have also argued Emma as well. Let us get one thing straight: Neal's death didn't hurt Rumple's development. Rumple was always meant to be the villain, that is the role the writers have given him. And they wanted him to be a full on villain and couldn't do that with Neal still in the picture. Everything he's doing is 100% Rumple, if a bit more extreme than in s1/2. You are confusing "character didn't develop in the way I wanted him to" with "character assassination".

And I haven't seen any Emma fans argue that Neal's death cauased a 'downward spiral' in her development (probably because Neal never impacted on Emma's development post Tallahassee). Really it seems the only ones arguing that are those who criticise Emma for being too quick to move on from the guy she dated 12 years ago and argue she should be celibate and miserable for the rest of her life (actual arguments from hardcore Neal fans).

I would doubt that Rumple/Bae in the WW is brought up again, since this was basically a plot device to get Regina to see Robin.

And let me clear it up, I'm annoyed that Neal is constantly brought up because as an Emma fan, it's frustrating to see the guy who screwed her over the most (after Regina and Rumple) and gave her trust issues praised as a hero. Also, he died 3 seasons ago, move on writers.