To people who saying Belle is being abusive, what does Belle *not* being abusive look like? While still protecting her from Rumple’s abuse, and protecting her safety, personal agency, and basic-dignity?
Wow, I went to bed early and look what happened. I am going to give one example but could give many more. Belle not being “abusive” could look like this 1. Text Rumple “Hey Rumple you are really scaring me, how about opening up the shop so we can talk” (non abusive) 2. Knocking on the shop door really loudly and saying “Rumple I know you are in there open up so we can talk” (non abusive) 3. Using a key I am sure she has and unlocking the shop door finding Rumple and saying Hey we need to talk (non abusive) 4. Asking Emma to unspell the door (if it is magically protected) and then finding Rumple and saying Hey we need to talk (non abusive) Running to the woman who KILLED his son and working with her to steal a wand to take her and their baby to a place that he will never find them because he locked the shop door while he was in there(ABUSIVE)
That might have made sense when things hadn’t gone down that far along this path. At this point she feels her (and her child’s) well-being are at stake. To the extend that she sent her child off.
A loving parent doesn’t send their kid away when in a custody dispute unless one of two things: 1) They are extremely worried about their child’s well-being, and/or 2) They are doing it to spite the other parent.
When you are that frightened you think the time for talking is over.
He forcible / unlawfully confined Belle.
One could call Belle an enabler, or their relationship unhealthily co-dependent, and maybe she needs to own her part/half in that. But that doesn’t mean she has to stay in the relationship and/or still take care of Rumple in some shape or form.
The thing is the show probably thinks most healthy relationships are boring and not good-story telling or something.
I had a lot more thoughts about this, and maybe I will share those thoughts once I figure out where I put them 🙂