Meanwhile, a young Rumpelstiltskin (Wyatt Oleff) and his scheming father Malcolm (Stephen Lord) make their way to Neverland, which soon becomes a life-altering journey for both of them.
Later on, Malcolm brings Rumplestiltskin to a cabin and asks the women spinning wool to look after him as he attempts to get a real job.
The women advise him to take the magic bean and go someplace where his father’s bad reputation won’t follow him.
He climbs up and sprinkles some dust on himself, saying “I want to fly,” but just then the shadow comes and mocks him, telling him he doesn’t belong.
As the shadow takes Rumplestiltskin away, he witnesses a green spell coming over Malcolm, who suddenly turns into a young boy, and a look of regret briefly flashes across his face as he watches his son disappear into the sky.
In doing so, the shadow tells Pan that he broke the rules by staying because Neverland is a place for children to visit in their dreams.
Meanwhile, Hook and Emma discuss Neal’s fate and the future of David when Gold says he may know a cure, as he remembered the elixir that saved him back at Storybrooke.
She explains that she went back to Neverland to save him, because she remembered Neal telling her that his parents were dead, to which a stunned Gold replied “You told them that?” But Bae says that it was better than saying his father abandoned him.
The other members finally believe that he wants to save Henry and Neal gives the box back to him, followed by Regina and Emma casting an eclipse spell so they can enter.
When Rumple tells Neal that "Peter Pan destroyed my father", it is similar to a scene in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, in which Obi-Wan Kenobi tells Luke Skywalker the story about a Jedi called Darth Vader who was a pupil of Kenobi before he turned to Evil and killed Luke's father.
[4] The detail and reveal of Peter Pan's true identity was kept a secret from cast members, who were banned from finding out until the episode aired.
Each generation is caught in a cycle of sacrificing family for power and it only makes sense that Rumple would be the product of such a villain.
[6] It can also be attributed to television coverage of the November 17, 2013 tornado outbreak in several Midwestern states that was shown on ABC rather than Once Upon a Time.
Amy Ratcliffe of IGN gave the episode the second highest score of the season thus far, after "Ariel," giving in an 8.9 out of 10, saying "tonight's installment of Once was engaging, touching, and action-packed.
"[7] Hillary Busis of Entertainment Weekly commented "Just when you thought Henry's family tree couldn't get any more complicated, Once threw us another genuine curveball.
Sense of history repeating aside, though, "Think Lovely Thoughts" really was full of surprises, thanks particularly to the fairyback that introduced us to a young, adorably big-eyed Rumpelstiltskin—back in the days when he was still being cared for by his ne'er-do-well dad, whose name is either Malcolm or Colin."
[8] Christine Orlando of TV Fanatic also gave the episode a positive review, rating it a 4.5 out of 5, noting Rumpelstiltskin's subplot, saying "the revelation that Peter Pan was actually Rumpel's father totally floored me.
"[9] Andrea Reiher of Zap2it also commented positively on the episode, noting Marilyn Manson's role, saying he "was awesome as the voice of the Shadow -- super creepy and menacing.
Some blame has been aimed at poor Jared S. Gilmore’s acting abilities, but let’s face it, Olivier himself couldn’t carry what the Henry character has had to endure.
Rumple was dismissed too quickly, Wendy spat out some exposition and then receded into the background, and Henry's bad decision didn't feel particularly well-played.