To @RG’s original question whether the ship is done: my understanding is that for a ship to work you need to actually like both characters. Or if we have a villain in the pair, the other character needs to be (1) extremely likable and (2) they must really care about the villain character, thus transmitting some of that emotion to the audience by association.
In other words, since we know Rumple’s currently black hat, for Rumbelle to float we need to adore Belle, and Belle needs to genuinely like/care about Rumple (even if it’s not in a romantic way). But she isn’t written in a way that’s likable this season, and she sure doesn’t seem to like Rumple in any way shape or form — so in a way they are actually turning her into Milah. Belle’s coming across as using her pregnancy and Rumple’s attachment to the idea of a child to wield emotional power. Since they already have a ridiculous power difference, this is a horrible narrative choice if the goal is to retell the BB story and “empower” Belle (i.e. to write a feminist retelling, as A&E like to claim they do on this show). The ship is certainly done, but as it sinks, it does a great job demonstrating the mentality of the writers and showrunners. To me, this is a misogynist narrative, and not just because of Rumple being high-handed, but because of how Belle herself is portrayed — as the walking stereotype of the irrational, manipulative, hysterical pregnant woman. And the dynamic that comes out of this allows for Rumple’s actions to have ethical “wiggle room” because he can be viewed as reacting to and trying to mediate her irrationality.
To say this is problematic storytelling would be an understatement — it’s actually mildly nauseating.