Curse Immunity

I think Rumple knew but others didn’t know; remember, he’s got the most magical knowledge of all of them, and removing a heart doesn’t exempt you from every curse. (However, I’m now very curious about whether Will was under the curse’s influence or just taking advantage of the confusion…and also very curious about all the people whose hearts Regina still has in her vault.)

However, taking your heart out is risky (anyone can crush it or control you) and the act itself is suggested to be a bit painful. Only a handful of people actually have the ability to pull hearts (Regina & Rumple of the active, alive players on the board) and I think Rumple was allowing the curse to happen because it gave him the chance to go through with his plan and emerge a hero to the two people who matter to him. He knew what was happening and had some means to stop it (the dagger or the hat probably would have stopped Ingrid even after the curse was activated); he chose not to because he had his deal and saw how he could benefit from the situation.

So Regina would have needed to know that pulling a heart would exempt someone from the curse, and given how afraid she was of who she would become, she would have taken her own heart out first if she had known. I’m convinced she didn’t know about this loophole in the curse.

There may also be the added caveat that Hook’s heart was in Rumple’s possession; it may not simply be enough to have your heart out of your chest, though Rumple’s statement certainly suggests that was sufficient.

Why he didn’t remove Belle’s heart (or DID he?) is another question…but I think that in general, Rumple would be reluctant to do that to her. He can just put her to sleep, or protect her by separating her from the rest of the world with magic, or a thousand other things that leave her intact. Even if it wouldn’t frighten or harm her, I don’t think he would do it except in a far more drastic situation; for him it would dredge up flashbacks to Milah & Cora, among other reasons never to do it (like, you know, caring about her and loving her and respecting her autonomy–they REALLY needed to keep that dock scene in to show that he does still, especially if he DID knock her out during the curse).

Also, back to Cora–his horror at the idea that she would remove her own heart suggests that to him, it’s a horrible thing to do. Perfect for people you hate, spells that require it, but an awful thing to do to yourself or someone you love.

I wondered the same thing about Will. Was he cursed, or not? Trying to punch out Hook seemed in context of his character.

However, if I’m not mistaken, there was also a quick view of him beating someone up on the sidewalk. I assumed he was trying to steal whatever the guy had in his pockets, but I don’t recall Will being such a ruffian. Was he?

Why are they portraying him as such a goofball?

I think Rumple behind the scenes, covered Hook too along with Belle and Henry. We just weren’t shown that exchange between Rumple and Ice Queen I guess…

I bet Will was effected by the curse, but he seems to already be at his worst self which is why it didn’t seem like he changed. Breaking & entering the library & Robin’s tent, stealing money from the cash register, drunkenness…We saw the good Will can do while in WL. He’s just so broken hearted and searching for his knap sack & map. Hopefully to find a way back to Anastasia. I wish we could have seen Robin under this curse. Would he have acted like Will? Guess we’ll never know.