Board Thread:Character Discussion/@comment-10188651-20131223200831/@comment-4975807-20131224044024

Arctucrus wrote: The Chipped Cup wrote: After Mr. Gold's death, I did feel really bad for Belle, how she kinda fell over and started crying. I get that the others were more focused on Pan's curse enveloping them all, but one thing I feel was rather irritating is Neal's reaction.

Yeah, sure, he did a bit of a speech about his father. But Neal annoyed me. He could have at least cried, because Rumplestiltskin was his dad. However, no, he just talked about him and he even grinned for a split second. I know Neal has a habit of smiling/laughing/grinning whenever something bad happens or whenever someone says something, but really? This is why I view Neal and Baelfire as different characters. Also, this is just my opinion, I hope I don't sound too whiney or complaining. Neal was hardened by 200 years in Neverland, about. He doesn't know how to deal with emotion. He only just got his Dad back after 200 years of hating him and trying not to care and still fucking caring, the poor guy, only to lose him again. It makes sense that more than anything he's confused. I agree it would be out of character for Neal to just suddenly break down and lose it emotionally. I feel I can relate to him on some level because I often, too, out of nervousness and fear of vulnerability, will slightly smile in an effort to block out pain or try to alleviate the situation by simply not allowing myself to be emotional or not be okay. Then again, I've never spent 200+ or however many years in Neverland, but I believe we all have different ways to cope with stress and pain depending on experience.