Reply To: Is Anyone Else Confused & Bothered With Rumple's Storyline?

Also: I keep thinking about Hook’s “dying request” and Rumple’s response to it. He’s like, yeah, not making deals with you, until he hears what it is–and then he offers Hook some slim reassurance. His face is actually almost compassionate when he says Emma & Storybrooke are safe from him, before he adds the caveat (though he seems to think it unlikely, and may actually be warning his puppet with it more than anything else).

Let’s add to that the conversation about the fleas: Hook is appalled that Rumple would condemn the entire town, including his grandson; Rumple is equally appalled that Hook even suggests he’d let something happen to Henry (at this point in his development, I hasten to add). And when Hook is terrified that Rumple will make him hat Emma…Rumple’s come up with a better plan and doesn’t force Hook to attack Emma even though he could.

Unlike Zelena, he’s not keeping his puppet caged, he’s not physically torturing him and is really only using him for the things he absolutely needs for his plan, he’s not ording him to kill the woman he loves, and he’s showing glimmers of compassion for what he’s doing, however faint.