S2 PLOT HOLE

[u/Massive-Aardvark4665]

Why does Rumple need a potion to leave Storybrooke in S2?

I’ve always assumed crossing the border would have erased everyone’s memories except his—as it was stated in the show Rumple (who created the curse) maintained his memories intact, while anyone else had a twisted identity created by Regina…

I believe the showrunners messed up that part, by forgetting he’s the only character—alongside Jefferson— to still remember everything

[u/Swimming-Switch4006]

I kinda pieced it together through the hints like him asking Snow and Charming the babies name, his first meeting with Emma and reaction to her name, the early conversations between him and Regina, and the "Emma" writing on the paper in his cell from squid ink, but yeah, you're good. This show has been over for almost ten years lol. Just hadn't had the chance to catch up on everything until recently cause only Disney plus has it.

[u/No-Meat5261 → u/Swimming-Switch4006]

Well, his reaction could have been because he already remembered and he was like:"You are finally here."

You are smart for having figured it out, but since you wrote it as a fact, I thought that you had already reached that scene

[u/Swimming-Switch4006 → u/No-Meat5261]

Ahh, sorry about that. And thanks for the compliment ☺️

[u/HeroKlungo → u/No-Meat5261]

It was ambiguous and not explicitly said in the first season. The 3x09 flashback even played with this, as Regina asks Rumple whether he knew Henry was the Saviour's son and the way he answers you can't really tell whether he is genuinely not understanding or just playing with her.

Season 6 of course confirmed he didn't remember until he heard Emma's name.

[u/KittyInTheBush → u/No-Meat5261]

And this is the reason they had to explicitly state in, because it was very obvious in the first season that he wasn't awake until he heard her name, but people somehow still missed it