It’s been a very long hiatus. And I’d just love to hear Belle scream her guts out at him. Maybe because I’m mad at Rumple for Belle. For leaving her crumpled in the middle of the street. Mad that she’s going back to Enchanted Forest, her fate sealed in a curse he helped create.
I agree. I am also mad that he left her crumpled in the middle of the street. but at that point he really had no choice. He tried everything he could to stay alive, every loophole he could think of, but Pan always won. what was he supposed to do, let Pan kill her and curse the rest of the town into oblivion? it was terrible that she had to watch him die, but it wasn’t his fault. if he had magic he’d have moved all of them out of the way to some far off location in Story Brooke (like what Cora did to Emma and Neal) and then killed Pan and himself quietly. but Pan already made them a captive audience. and Gold couldn’t tell Pan “hey let’s step away from here, hey let’s go a few blocks down before we die together” he just had to do what he had to do.
when he thought that he’d have to sacrifice himself in Neverland he didn’t bring Belle with him because of that, because he didn’t want her to see him die.
maybe he should have killed pan and himself in his shop, but he was still in the “I have a future with Belle” mode and he couldn’t give that up so fast. so he had to first struggle with the cuff and all that. I think that if he wouldn’t have had his hopes up about staying alive, he would have killed Pan the minute he saw that the cuff is on his hand. he’d have summoned the shadow before Pan left the shop. but it all happened way too fast. just a few seconds ago he thought that he’d won. he thought the cuff worked and Pan was powerless. he thought he had a chance at a future with Belle and his son.
this is why he was still trying so desperately to take that cuff off. it was so sudden, he couldn’t believe it!. he was so suddenly powerless that it didn’t register right away that he is done for.
poor guy.
poor Belle
also. That scene where Belle looks over her shoulder and asks “are you coming?” is very symbolic to their relationship. she was the brave one who sacrificed herself for her family and kingdom, and he followed her with his own bravery. that’s how she made him stronger, by going, then looking over her shoulder and smile her beautiful, inviting smile thus making it easier for him to follow her heroic actions.