Once Upon a Time - Season 1, Episode 12: “Skin Deep.”
Rumpelstiltskin was/is a monster but not according to Belle. This was the story of Beauty and the Beast. I didn’t think it was possible, but Rumplestiltskin the most powerful person in fairy tale land was far more ‘human’ than the evil Queen.
During the Ogre wars, a man asked for the assistance of Rumple to save his family and friends. Of course, any deal with Rumple came at a price. Belle (no, she did not read books) would become the caretaker of Rumple’s house. Belle agreed.
Rumplestiltskin spun straw into gold, that’s his thing. Beautiful Belle took care of the house, that became her thing. Like the story Beauty and the Beast, Belle became less intimidated or afraid of Rumple. In fact, she found him funny. They actually enjoyed each other’s company.
That unnerved Rumple. He had lost his son Bae in the Ogre wars. He was not about to let his heart open to love nor did he fill worthy of it. He told Belle to get straw from the village. She asked him if he was afraid that she would not come back. He said he expected it.
Belle left.
And who by chance would Belle cross paths with on the way to the village. Evil Queen rode up in her black carriage, drawn by black horses and surrounded by knights in black armor (ugh). Evil Queen told Belle if Rumple was kissed by true love he would become an ordinary man once again.
Why would she say such a thing?
Power-monger. If Rumple became human then Evil Queen would become the strongest force in fairy tale land. Belle returned to Rumple. He was so excited to see her from the window. Rumple raced down the stairs, took his seat and spun. Behaved nonchalant at her return. Belle was onto him. She sat next to him and asked him to tell her the story of his son as Rumple had promised when/if she returned.
Between here and there Belle kissed him. Rumple’s golden skin for a brief moment looked human. He told her to get out. That no one could love him for the monster that he was. The he chose power over love.
Belle knew better. She told him that he would regret this decision and left. The only memento he had of her was a chipped china cup (just like Beauty and the Beast, so cool!).
Evil Queen paid Rumple a visit. She told him some fabricated story that Belle’s father had locked her up in a tower. That she was tortured. That Belle had died.
Why oh why would Rumplestiltskin believed the most conniving lying person in fairy tale land?
In Storybrooke Mr. Gold robbed by Belle’s father at the behest of the Mayor. Mr. Gold kidnapped him and gave him a beat-with-cane until Sheriff Emma stopped him. Mr. Gold sent to jail. Regina paid him a visit, alone.
Regina had his chipped cup. She would give it to him if Mr. Gold would admit to his real name. Mr. Gold said, ‘
Rumplestiltskin.
He in turned called her Queen. So now, they both now know that they are the only two fairy tale characters who remembered their identities. She gave him his chipped cup. You could see that meant more to him than gold.
So what happened to Belle? Regina had her locked in a solitary cell in the basement of a hospital. No one had seen her nor visited her. No one knew she was alive.
What did you think of this Beauty and the Beast storyline? Do you think Mr. Gold will discover that Belle is still alive?
Watch Once Upon a Time Sundays 8/7c on ABC.
