Once Upon A Time Episode 8 Recap: Whos Your Daddy?

Who's Your Daddy?

This episode is named "Think Lovely Thoughts" but alas I am doing the opposite. Is this storyline EVER going to end? It feels like they're been on the island for 10 years. I spent most of the episode being bored until the big reveal. If you don't know what it is, turn back now!

The good news is we get to see some of Rumple's backstory. The not so good news is Rumple's father is a big ole loser. Malcolm is more interested in gambling than taking care of his son. He leaves the boy with two weaver women (who reminded me of the Fates). Now we understand Rumple's affinity for the spinning wheel. He also gives the boy a doll which Rumple names Peter Pan. On a side note, I will say Little Rumple was very cute. Let's pretend to not notice that Little Rumple and Big Rumple's accents are not remotely close to each other.

The kindly women give Rumple a magic bean so he can start a new life anywhere he wants. The poor child who just wants to be with his father finds him running scams in the streets. Bad Daddy takes the bean and wishes them to Never Land (since he had visited there as a child).

And back in present day Rumple is reunited with the rest of the crew. He tells them that when he and Neal parted ways he did indeed think that it was his destiny to kill Henry. However he now has another plan that involves Pandora's Box. Should they trust him? I know I wouldn't. Anyway Tink leads them to Pan's camp where Regina promptly knocks everyone unconscious with a spell. The only problem is Henry and Pan aren't there. They do run into Wendy. She and Neal have a reunion moment. Dude, how many girlfriends have you had? There's Wendy, Tinker, Emma, and 1/2 of the Home Office crew. Anyway Wendy says Henry and Pan are at Skull Rock and... worse yet... Pan plans to kill Henry to increase his power.

Off Regina, Emma, Rumple and Neal go. But when they get to Skull Rock a spell has been cast. Only Rumple can enter because, remember from earlier in the season, he doesn't have a shadow. Later Regina and Emma work their magic to create a lunar ellipse so they will not have shadows and can follow Rumble. Uh if you can do that why can't you whisk everyone off the island?

I'm pretty sure there's an easier way to accomplish this

And back to the flashback. Loser Malcolm wants to stay in Neverland forever but he can't because he's an adult. He makes a deal with the shadow (voiced by Marilyn Manson) who turns him into a teenage boy. I'm confused by this whole shadow thing. I guess the shadow has been hanging out on the island for a millennium waiting for tourists to wander by?

So Malcolm is now a boy and not just any boy. In the big reveal of the season he is... Peter Pan. Oh snap! I didn't see that coming. Peter Pan is Rumple's father. Looks like the most dysfunctional family in the world just got more dysfunctional (if that's even possible). Poor Rumple! He really has had a rough life. No wonder he's so crazy.

Rumple Pan Jr

And back in the present day, Pan must have the heart of the truest believer (Henry) before time runs out on his gigantic hour glass. Rumple tries to stop him but is faked out by Pan and himself ends up in Pandora's Box. Henry pulls out his heart just as the crew arrives. They plead for him to stop. They say they love him and believe in him. But he puts his heart in Pan's body anyway. Is that kid stupid or what? Henry is now dead on the ground and Pan is levitating around the room. I really hope Henry pulled a double cross on Pan but knowing him, I'm thinking no.

Grade: 3 1/2 Monsters (out of 5). We seriously need a new locale-- preferably somewhere far, far away from Peter Pan. OUAT won't be on next week due to some awards show. Only 3 episodes left until the break. OUAT will then return in March 2014.