374 replies to this topic

[AntBee]

I had read several spoilers about this Mysterious Man being in the introduction in New York City, but I wasn't sure what to expect at all. Maybe it's because I really loved young Baelfire, and since I'm pretty positive that he must be older Baelfire, I loved the introduction or rather reintroduction of his character. He still seems like a sad, little boy with horrible luck that I couldn't help but like him even if he does turn out to be Henry's father too who didn't sound that good.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to learning more about his character this season even if he doesn't turn out to be Bae because out of the new characters tonight except perhaps the Wraith, if the Wraith counts as a new character, he's the one that seemed the most interesting and talented to me in his no dialogue, short scene compared to Aurora, Prince Phillip, and Mulan.

[Corydora]

Me, too. If it is Baelfire (and I have no clues or spoilers), would they tell us this season? Wouldn't that end the show?

[oldandnewfirm]

You know, the whole "Henry's father was a dick" angle that Emma was selling makes me wonder-- did Henry's father even know that Henry was conceived? Or did Emma split shortly after the conception and [s]Bae, who is totally[/s] Henry's father continued with his life never knowing Emma's fate?

I wonder what [s]Bae[/s] Mystery Man's profession is. Given the suit, my guess is a lawyer or businessman of some type, but he clearly doesn't make enough money to afford a nicer apartment. Then again, it is NY. He could be making 80k a year and still be living in a closet.

Me, too. If it is Baelfire (and I have no clues or spoilers), would they tell us this season? Wouldn't that end the show?

Most people thought the same thing about the curse breaking, and look what happened. ;)

[MorninStar]

In the pilot I believe Emma stated that Henry's father did not know about him.

[metaphysicist]

The scene clearly implies that this character knows about Storybrooke and the Curse. I think the only one who could have told him is August. Who would care about either? Baelfire, certainly, but perhaps some other new character. There also didn't seem to be much time for a dove to fly from Maine to New York.

[Hick]

But August couldn't have written the message, since he was already transformed, when the curse was broken.

[visenya6]

You know, the whole "Henry's father was a dick" angle that Emma was selling makes me wonder-- did Henry's father even know that Henry was conceived?

All I know is that Emma told Henry his father died an heroic death and she confessed to Snow White that was a blatant lie.

Until further notice, I'll assume "Mysterious Man" is Henry's father.

[Corydora]

The guy looked "rough" to me. I am used to the pretty boys they keep hiring, this guy seems different. I think Dr. Whale sent the postcard. HA! Chew on that will ya! Maybe Dr. Whale is Baelfire. Never thoughta that didja. We have no clue who he is. And I like it like that.


Sorry, I am feeling silly this morning. Although all the above could be true for all I know.

edit: I just re watched and paused as I could. His apartment/motel room was a dump. There was a sign that said cleaners and hatters. He had a shelf of microphones, cb radios, record albums and a turn-table to play them. There were a lot of books. I could not get a good look at the knick knacks. There was a lot of junk. He looked very unhappy. Carried a backpack instead of a briefcase. Maybe job hunting. I would love to hear from anyone who noticed anything else.

Edited by Corydora, Oct 1, 2012 @ 11:38 AM.

[DigificWriter]

Whatever the Mystery Man's true identity, he's of far greater significance than a lot of the speculation as to who he really is is crediting him for. He's an important-enough character to the mythos of the show that his true identity is going to be revealed within the first 9 episodes of the season, and, I'm sorry, but characters like Peter Pan, the White Rabbit, and even Henry's father don't really strike me as being important enough to warrant that kind of 'narrative promotion'.

[tze]

I wonder what [s]Bae[/s] Mystery Man's profession is. Given the suit, my guess is a lawyer or businessman of some type, but he clearly doesn't make enough money to afford a nicer apartment.

Actually, if he turns out to be Baelfire, the crappy apartment might have nothing to do with how much money he makes. Given the way Bae associated increased wealth with the corruption of his father, Bae could easily have "issues" with surrounding himself with the trappings of wealth (i.e., a nice apartment).

If I were to try to imagine Rumpelstiltskin's somewhat traumatized progeny---someone who landed alone, in an alien world, at a very young age, having watched his father become corrupted by power---a lawyer who refuses to spend his money on himself would be what I'd easily expect Bae to become. Kind of symbolizing how children become their parents in some ways (that Bae would become a lawyer) but rebel against their parents' examples in other ways (that Bae wouldn't want nice things because he'd associate nice things with the loss of his father).

[Corydora]

If he landed in "our" world, he must have grow up in foster care, too. You know the kid who said let's all run away from the foster home? No wait, that wasn't the same actor, nevermind. But he would've either been in foster care or raised by wolves or something.

[legaleagle44]

But he would've either been in foster care or raised by wolves or something.

Hmm -- that would make it easy for him to bond with Red and Graham (if Graham were still alive, that is.).

[watcher's pet]

I know it seems almost too obvious that the mystery man is Bae, but I don't know who else he could be that would deserve the Big Mystery Treatment. Plus, if it's not Bae, how many damn people escaped the curse? Everyone was transported to Storybrooke! Except for Emma. And August. And Bae. And all of the people in Aurora/Philip/Mulan-Land. And Mysterious NYC Guy.

I'm a musical theatre nerd, so when I saw "Mysterious Man", my mind immediately went to Into the Woods: "When first I appear I seem mysterious, but when explained I'm nothing serious."

[Fable]

I'm up in the air about who this guy is. I've heard a few interesting theories that all seem to make sense...Bae and/or Henry's dad, the white rabbit, Peter Pan, Jack from the Beanstalk story. The one, and only, reason I have my doubts about him being Bae is because I think the show runners want to hold that card for later in the season, although I don't rule it out completely. Right now, my favorite theory is Peter Pan and that Hook sent the postcard. I'm looking forward to learning more about the Mystery Man.

[MsCaitlin]

I'm a musical theatre nerd, so when I saw "Mysterious Man", my mind immediately went to Into the Woods: "When first I appear I seem mysterious, but when explained I'm nothing serious."

Me too! No knot unties itself.

[Corydora]

Why is everything in his dump of a room circa 1970? Record albums, rotary phone, etc. Is he in the past? Is he 28 years ago and broken does not mean what we think it means? He looks so beat down and depressed. Why so many CB radios and microphones? Who is he in touch with or is that just another 70's thing? They were really in for a while. Is he in NY or Boston or Chicago?

I must know. And it must be interesting.

Please tell me.

[MorninStar]

Corydora.. you're in luck. Sort of. Someone posted a link about the Mystery Man.. and it has just about everything we can figure out about him from that 2 minute segment. Mystery Man - From TV Line

ugh.. why do my links never work on here? What am I doing wrong? I finally got it fixed. :)

Edited by MorninStar, Oct 3, 2012 @ 1:47 AM.

[metaphysicist]

The stuff in his place is consistent with a late 70's setting. I think the Curse was cast about then, because there was some evidence that Emma's 28th birthday was not in 2011 but some years (2007?) earlier.

Now the Curse was able to reach into Wonderland and transport Jefferson, but since the destination world was a World Without Magic, the Curse may not have been able to transport FTL people in it at the time of the Curse. (Emma and Pinocchio were specifically excepted by the enchanted wardrobe.)

Suppose MM was from FTL but had some means of moving between realms, and had been in the World Without Magic when the Curse was cast. The Curse could not transport him, but perhaps it could still affect him. It might make him immune to the effect of aging; it might even protect his "possessions" from deterioration, hence the apartment with the "vintage" collection.

The Curse also might have made him unable to "jump back" to whatever realm he came from - particularly if that was
FTL which was "mostly" destroyed.

Add in a pre-Curse connection with Jefferson and the retention of his FTL memories, and you get a character that works.

This suggests the White Rabbit.

[Devil May Care]

We saw Mystery Man walking by Central Park, which has a Alice in Wonderland sculpture. I'm thinking White Rabbit.

[tze]

Why is everything in his dump of a room circa 1970? Record albums, rotary phone, etc. Is he in the past? Is he 28 years ago and broken does not mean what we think it means?

Even the song "Charley's Girl" is from 1975. It would be interesting, especially given the way the premiere liked playing around with chronology, if the Mystery Man's appearance isn't actually contemporaneous with the "breaking" of the curse, though I don't see how he can be in the past (at least, not too far in the past), since the cars look modern and the Mystery Man is listening to (and drops) what looks like an MP3 player. Maybe that scene actually takes place (chronologically) further along in the season? That might explain how someone in the outside world is getting a message about Storybrooke (if indeed "broken" even refers to the Dark Curse), given that the only two people who've definitely been capable of operating in both Storybrooke and the "real world" (Emma and August) aren't exactly capable of sending a message to NYC during the events of "Broken".

Maybe the point is that the Mystery Man was "stuck" in the time period in which the Dark Curse was used (if in fact the "present day" time in Storybrooke is not actually 2012), and the curse being broken in Storybrooke will be seen to "free" him in some way?

The Mystery Man starts out in Central Park (which evokes the Enchanted Forest), crosses a busy street (crossing from one world to another?), takes the subway (underground---we found Snow White's coffin underground, along with Malificent in dragon form, and heading "underground" evokes the White Rabbit and going down the rabbit hole; not to mention that, on the subway, he's explicitly standing in front of the doors, so there's the imagery of doorways underground). He goes to a building with lots of graffiti on the walls (Emma's apartment in the Pilot had writing on the outside of the door), takes an elevator up (maybe a hint that has something to do with a beanstalk? Or it's meant to evoke flying?), and enters a crappy one-room apartment that's filled with non-modern objects (his "home" is stuck in an earlier time period than the time period of the real world). It starts to storm (magic is coming), and when he tries to close the window, he drops his MP3 player down the fire escape (the MP3 is the only "modern" thing he seems to have, and "fire escape" of course evokes Baelfire, whose name includes "fire" and who escaped from Rumplestiltskin/the Enchanted Forest). A pigeon appears with a postcard stuck to its feet (birds are heavily associated with Snow White), it drops off the postcard and then flies away (Charming once sent a message to Snow White via pigeon in the Enchanted Forest). The postcard has only the word "broken", and the image on the front is of the Storybrooke clock tower, along with the name and location of the town.

I wonder if the Mystery Man actually didn't know about the curse at all, and the point of the postcard---which included only a very cryptic message and the location of the town---was to actually try to entice the Mystery Man to Storybrooke?

ETA: Look at his bedspread. Now look at Henry's bedspread (there's a shot here http://ouatv1.blogsp...ofs-henrys.html). Yeah, it might not be a coincidence that they seem to have the same (or very similarly patterned) bedspread, just in two different colors.

Edited by tze, Oct 3, 2012 @ 9:35 PM.

[Corydora]

Corydora.. you're in luck. Sort of. Someone posted a link about the Mystery Man.. and it has just about everything we can figure out about him from that 2 minute segment. Mystery Man - From TV Line

You.Guys.Are.Awesome.

Awesome.

And, he has a rabbity mouth. Kind of poochie like a bunny.

[Miss Muffet]

I must know. And it must be interesting.

Mwahaha! Yes, Queen Corydora!

And, he has a rabbity mouth. Kind of poochie like a bunny.

Hahaha! Let's just call him Poochie! Hahaha!

The one clue they say is particular to his character? I'm not sure, but the "Cleaner" part of "Cleaner and Hatters" has got me interested in what that could mean. I do think he is the White Rabbit. But, I would also like to see him as Baelfire and Henry's Dad. I can't wait to find out. I hope they don't drag it out too long. Nine episodes is a long time to wait.

In the mystery man's apartment I also noticed a teapot on the stove. I'm still trying to find out the red hand album cover on the wall.

This site has pretty good screencaps you can enlarge if it helps screencaps "Broken"

[AntBee]

Hahaha! Let's just call him Poochie! Hahaha!

The one clue they say is particular to his character? I'm not sure, but the "Cleaner" part of "Cleaner and Hatters" has got me interested in what that could mean. I do think he is the White Rabbit. But, I would also like to see him as Baelfire and Henry's Dad. I can't wait to find out. I hope they don't drag it out too long. Nine episodes is a long time to wait.

In the mystery man's apartment I also noticed a teapot on the stove. I'm still trying to find out the red hand album cover on the wall.

This site has pretty good screencaps you can enlarge if it helps screencaps "Broken"

Thanks for the link. I've been comparing his apartment with Mr. Gold's pawnshop with Henry's room ever since Sunday night because I believe he's Bae and Henry's father at this website, Once Upon a Fan Site.

This is where I found what the poster is on Mysterious Man's wall. It's an Aesthetic Apparatus poster, Control & Capital. There's also another poster from Aesthetic Appartus poster, Bike Ride, on his wall, and it sort of reminds me of the bicycles in Gold's shop.

Edited by AntBee, Oct 4, 2012 @ 9:19 AM.

[Tzigone]

Idle though: I know that it's been mentioned that there are multiple clocks in the apartment. I've seen some reference to the White Rabbit and his watch. Is it worth mentioning that Henry had a 10+ clocks in his room? However, the new guys seems to have collections of various items, not just clocks.

I personally don't care if he's Bae or Henry's father (but don't want him to be both - it's probably going to happen, but I hate the idea), but I do think the clocks could possibly be counted as a clue in that regard. If it turns out August or the Blue Fairy sent him the note, then that'd up the chances of him being Bae, I guess.

Edited by Tzigone, Oct 4, 2012 @ 9:28 AM.

[Sara Sunshine]

Based on everything I've read, I'm pretty convinced that this guy is the White Rabbit

ETA: Look at his bedspread. Now look at Henry's bedspread (there's a shot here http://ouatv1.blogsp...ofs-henrys.html).

Based in the amount of clocks in Henry's room (counted out on that link), and the pocket watches on the wall in the Mysteryous Man apartment (noted in the TVLine article, I think that he's Henry's father. Maybe being obsessed with time is genetic - remember Henry was fixated on the non-moving clock in the pilot.

Even the song "Charley's Girl" is from 1975. It would be interesting, especially given the way the premiere liked playing around with chronology, if the Mystery Man's appearance isn't actually contemporaneous with the "breaking" of the curse, though I don't see how he can be in the past (at least, not too far in the past), since the cars look modern and the Mystery Man is listening to (and drops) what looks like an MP3 player.

Random theory. If he is someone from Wonderland, like Jefferson, could he still be cursed into not aging? But because he was outside of the Storybooke boundaries, it worked differently and he can't get into the area? Jefferson clearly retained all of his memories, so maybe the curse doesn't work on Wonderland inhabitants the same way.

Also, didn't Emma say that Henry's father was 'older'? If he's stuck at this age, he would have been 'older' to Emma at 17. I mean, that could have an ick factor depending on how old he's playing, but then again bunnies are known for going at it. (Too far?) :)

[Tzigone]

Also, didn't Emma say that Henry's father was 'older'?

No, not unless she spoke of him outside these conversations (I don't recall her doing so, but please let me know if she did).

Emma: I was pretty young. I’d just gotten out of the foster system and the only job I could get was at this twenty four hour diner just off the interstate. And, um… Your dad was training to be a fireman. He always got the worst shifts, so he’d come in and order coffee and pie and sit at the counter and always complain that we didn’t sell pumpkin pie. But he always came back the next night anyway.

Henry: Did you get married?

Emma: Oh, no. Nothing like that. We just… We hung out a few times outside of work and…life happened. His got better and mine got worse and… I got into some trouble.

Henry: And you went to jail.

Emma: Yeah. Before I went, I… I found out I was pregnant with you. And I tried to contact him, and I found out that he died saving a family from a burning apartment building. So, you think I’m a saviour, Henry – he was. Your father was a real hero.

Emma: I didn’t tell him the truth.

Mary Margaret: What?

Emma: Henry’s father was no hero and trust me – he does not need to know the real story.

Obviously, Emma's view might skewed, she may not know all of the facts. But for any potential Henry-fathers showing up, I'd look for them to be less-than scrupulous. I've wondered if he was part of the reason she ended up in jail. Others speculate he was married, based on Emma's comment to Mary Margaret about being involved with a married man.

[Sara Sunshine]

Others speculate he was married, based on Emma's comment to Mary Margaret about being involved with a married man.

You know what, I think that's what stuck in my head. I parlayed married as "older'.

[MorninStar]

Emma also told Regina that Henry's father was not aware of her pregnancy/of Henry. Now, it could be that he does know about Henry but Emma doesn't know he knows. What would be icky is if he got Emma pregnant on purpose because he knew who she was and about the curse. *twitch*

[Tzigone]

What would be icky is if he got Emma pregnant on purpose because he knew who she was and about the curse.

I know - it's just the creepiest idea ever. I still prefer it to the idea that Henry's father just coincidentally happens to be one of the only two other magic people in the outside world. That's just too big a coincidence to buy.

Actually, while I don't rule it out, I don't find it that likely that the Mysterious Man is Bae or Henry's father. We've gotten so little that I can't make a full judgment, but he just seems so ...hapless? At first glance, it looks like the Emma of today would chew him up and spit him out. But she was a teenager back then, I guess. I don't know what I expect from Bae, but this isn't it. I don't know why he'd have records or the like. I don't know - maybe I expect him to be angry and bitter towards his father, rather just going through each day all resigned. Or maybe to have built a new life, ignoring the old one. Possibly criminal, but I hope not. But I do expect him to have somewhat forceful presence (based on his childhood behavior and that he'll probably end up challenging his father, IMO), and this guy doesn't. Then again, I guess he could grow into it when the circumstance arrives. But at the moment, this guy seems more like someone things happen to, rather than someone who makes things happen. But dad or Bae could go a lot of ways, and we just haven't seen this guy that much yet, so it's certainly possible. He has to have some kind of connection, we know that.

[Miss Muffet]

This is where I found what the poster is on Mysterious Man's wall. It's an Aesthetic Apparatus poster, Control & Capital. There's also another poster from Aesthetic Appartus poster, Bike Ride, on his wall, and it sort of reminds me of the bicycles in Gold's shop.

Thanks AntBee! I was going nuts trying to find info on that. Researching more, the hand represents medical gloved hands, according to the artists. Don't know if they are significant or not.

Tze, I noticed the bedspread and clocks relating to Henry also.

This is spoilery, but I think it almost confirms the possibility spoilery pic open at your own risk!

Also, didn't Emma say that Henry's father was 'older'? If he's stuck at this age, he would have been 'older' to Emma at 17. I mean, that could have an ick factor depending on how old he's playing, but then again bunnies are known for going at it. (Too far?) :)

Hahaha! Not too far! ;)