Isn’t it interesting how each person has a different level of being able to suspend disbelief and/or put themselves into the world of the show. For myself, where I really like both Snow and Mary Margaret, and I want her to be happy, I find James to be arrogant and kind of insufferable (“none has had my fearless bravery…” *gag*), and David to be a spineless jellyfish. If a real life friend was dating either one of those guys (not to mention HE’S MARRIED!!!) I would constantly be telling her that she could do better.
At the same time, if I knew someone who was in love with a guy who remorselessly tricked and manipulated people into trading away THEIR CHILDREN, I would probably be having a few interventions there as well.
As it is, I fell hook, line and sinker for Rum/Belle. In real life I am married to the most straight-laced nerd you can imagine. But on screen I can go all swoony for the tormented soul villain whose icy heart is melted by the non-judgmental love of a brave and pure young girl. Even on screen I do cringe at relationships that are downright abusive (locking in dungeons, shoving around and screaming in her face, etc.), but I don’t get queasy at the Stockholm syndrome because, as others commented above, it just doesn’t come across as a hostage situation, even though I guess technically it is. After all, Belle volunteered. And a theme that has been developed in some fanfic is that Belle was kind of a hostage in her life already. She was engaged to a man who she admittedly “never cared much for,” and who, in their short scene together, didn’t show much respect for her. I was bothered by how Gaston shoved her behind him. It didn’t seem so much chivalrous as possessive. In some ways, Belle seizing the opportunity to be heroic was sort of empowering.
In any case, I give HUGE kudos to Eddie and Adam and their crew for creating characters that inspire this kind of discussion. I love that they are “layered” and morally ambiguous. Much more interesting than your average good guy vs. bad guy t.v. fare!!