Season three Once upon a time showed one of the most heartbreaking scenes of the entire series. In the mid-season finale, Peter Pan threatened to cast a dark curse that would torment the heroes forever. The only way to stop Pan is to sacrifice himself for Rumplestiltskin. That’s what he did. Rumplestiltskin used the Dark One’s dagger to kill Peter Pan, selflessly sacrificing himself for the safety of his family and loved ones. This scene was so heartbreaking that he had to sacrifice himself in front of his true love and family.
His victim was the most noble and heroic act that audiences have ever seen Rumplestiltskin perform. However, just two episodes later, the character was brought back to life, freed from his selfless act. Also, resurrecting Rumplestiltskin without Peter Pan doesn’t make sense since it lowers the price of magic. The return of the popular character also went against the Dark One mythology explored in the show’s fifth season. After being resurrected, the character returned to his dark and selfish ways, becoming one of the main villains of the fourth season.
Rumplestiltskin’s sacrifice in OUAT Season 3 after his resurrection was underwhelming
The show turned him into a villain again
Rumplestiltskin’s sacrifice was featured in the eleventh episode of the third season, entitled “Going Home”. It seemed like a natural ending for the character, so viewers were shocked when the character returned just two episodes later, in episode 13 of “Witch Hunt.” It turned out that the character was returned and was held captive The Wicked Witch of the West as her captive. When he was returned to the land of the living, it was a life for a life, so his son Neil unknowingly gave his life so that Rumplestiltskin could live on.
Peter Pan’s appearance in Once Upon a Time |
|
---|---|
Episode title |
Production code |
“The Heart of a True Believer” |
3×01 |
“Lost Girl” |
3×02 |
“A Completely Ordinary Fairy” |
3×03 |
“Unpleasant Habits” |
3×04 |
“Good shape” |
3×05 |
“Ariel” |
3×06 |
“Dark Hollow” |
3×07 |
“Think beautiful thoughts” |
3×08 |
“Save Henry” |
3×09 |
“New Neverland” |
3×10 |
“I’m going home” |
3×11 |
“Souls of the Departed” |
5×12 |
“The Devil’s Debt” |
5×14 (Voice only) |
“Sisters” |
5×19 |
“Firebird” |
5×20 |
“Black Fairy” |
6×19 (as Malcolm) |
“Coming Home” |
7×21 |
Following Rumplestiltskin’s revival, he became one of the series’ main villains, completely undermining his selfless sacrifice. He tried to kill the Wicked Witch, he tried to kill Hook to use his heart for a spell, and he hunted down the storybook author to force him to write all the villains happy endings while the heroes suffer forever. All these evil actions help viewers forget about his dedication in the third season as they make the action completely frustrating.
If Rumplestiltskin came back, Peter Pan would have to come back too
The price of magic was reduced, so magic should have been canceled
Rumplestiltskin only sacrificed himself because he needed to kill Peter Pan to save everyone else. This was the price of magic that was demanded for Pan’s death. This means that Rumplestiltskin’s return to the series raises the question of why Pan hasn’t returned as well. If Rumplestiltskin was returned to the realm of the living, it meant that the price of magic had been taken away. That’s why, the magic that was required to kill Pan had to be undone. This would lead to big problems for the heroes, but an interesting storyline that the series had not seen before.
Peng eventually returned for three episodes in the show’s fifth season, as well as as a voiceover. Although he did cause mischief in these episodes by attempting to kill Robin Hood and kidnap the Wicked Witch, he was again defeated by Rumplestiltskin. When he was defeated in season five, it was much easier than the first time. Since the character was already dead, and in Underworld this meant that there was no price to pay for defeating a character.
The power lies in the Vault of the Dark One, not in the owner Once Upon a Time
The Vault Shouldn’t Have Bringed Rumplestiltskin Back to Life
In the show’s fifth season, it was revealed that once someone becomes a Dark One, they are transported to the Dark One’s vault where they are consumed by the dark force. This happened to both Emma and Hook when they became Dark Ones. This proves that the vault of the dark is accustomed contain the powers of the Dark Oneand not the owner himself.
Connected
So when Neal opened the Dark Ones’ vault in season three Once upon a timehe wasn’t supposed to release Rumplestiltskin, he was supposed to unleash the powers of the Dark One. In the fifth season of the show, it was also revealed that Rumplestiltskin ended up in the Underworld after his great sacrifice, and the soul can only leave the Underworld if Hades allows it. After seeing Hades in season five, it became clear that he would never willingly allow another soul to leave the Underworld. Therefore, Rumplestiltskin should not have returned from the Underworld and appeared in the dark vault.