[Keb]

Oh, please, WR. They’ve been rivals since their time in the Enchanted Forest, once Regina started acting like an Evil Queen. They were scoring little points against each other constantly at that point, and still in Storybrooke years later. He might once have seen her as the daughter he never had, but I’m pretty sure by the time Cora came back and smooched him he was positively revolted by the idea. If Regina had actually been his daughter (or if he really thought of her that way) he wouldn’t have made her into a monster. He would have found another way to get to Bae. Family matters to Rumple (though it’s not always sufficient to overcome his fears & desire for power that’s based in his fears).

He totally intended to kill Regina at the beginning of S1. She’s been safe because BELLE made him promise not to kill her. He even told Regina that she was safe from him because of that (but of course not from the wraith) (loopholes).

This is a man who toyed with eliminating his own grandson (I’m still convinced he wouldn’t have done it, but he sure came close to the edge). Regina was useful to him once; she no longer is. She’s an old rival who even now is using his grandson to manipulate him (he doesn’t know it, but that’s the dynamic of their relationship). She is most definitely not safe from Rumple if her death/hatting would give him the things he desires most.

What we know he wants:

–Belle in his life, safe & loving him (and he DOES love her even if things are strained atm)

–His son. There’s no way he’s stopped wanting to be with Baelfire just because of death. He even confides his deepest worries to his son’s tombstone.

–On at least one level, to be the man Belle and Bae wanted him to be.

–Contradictorally, vengeance on those who have wronged him or those he loves.

–Enough power that he doesn’t have to be afraid of anyone. His deepest fear is that he will go back to being that sniveling coward he was before he became the Dark One. He’s still a coward, and he knows it, but he’s so powerful that there are very few things, including death, that he actually has to fear, and fewer people. If he can eliminate the dagger’s power over him, then he doesn’t have to fear what Zelena did to him ever again; if he can do it and keep his power, he can go on believing he can protect what and who he loves no matter what.

So the question is, what in the world outside Storybrooke, will lead to the fulfillment of those desires? A way to conquer death and bring Baelfire back? Enough power that nobody can stop him? The chance to show Belle the world she’s always wanted to explore?

[Keb]

I’m still hoping that what Rumple wants “out there” is a way to bring back Nealfire. I’m sorry. The hope won’t die.

Keeper of Belle's Gold magic, sand dollar, cloaks, purple FTL outfit, spell scroll, library key, copy of Romeo and Juliet, and cry-muffling pillow, Rumple's doll, overcoat, and strength, and The Timeline. My spreadsheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6r8CySCCWd9R0RUNm4xR3RhMEU/view?usp=sharing

[Keb]

Likes:

Belle’s outfit. (And Henry’s, actually.)

Belle & Henry both got lines. That made sense. Also, although I’m slightly annoyed they did it by proxy instead of showing her involvement, I love that Belle is finding and translating spells for Emma & Elsa.

Team Princess Baby was adorable and I liked how they tied it to the plot. I’m hoping to see more of Ella & Aurora in the future now. It just adds to the continuity when we see even glimpses of secondary characters’ lives.

Rumple & DQ’s creepiness. Through the roof awesome.

 

Somewhere in between:

Rumple’s statement about doing what Belle wants. On the one hand, you could sense the tension in how he said it that 406 has put on their marriage; it’s filled with beautiful irony and shows how Rumple’s lies are affecting him. And I liked that Hook picked up on that, extending that little narrative thread nicely. Also, I kinda enjoy the running gag of people rushing to Rumple whenever there’s an issue and him being so done with it. It’s annoying until it’s funny and now I just see it as funny (like the interrupted dates and Belle getting kidnapped, really). But of course as a Rumbelle shipper I’m also crying inside that this is going to hurt both of them SO bad.

Ingrid’s backstory. So glad we’ve finally got this, and honestly when I realized it was the Duke of Weselton I laughed so hard. I loved the little things they planted to tie into the Frozen movie–the gloves, Weselton’s reactions. I’m sad there doesn’t seem to be hope for Helga’s return, but then Gerda’s dead too, so…chalk up one more death on my spreadsheet, I guess. Still…I’m so done with the “well, this bit of story kinda seriously contradicts things we’ve set up/have to play with elsewhere, so let’s just remove everyone’s memory!” plot. It was lame when they did it with Regina in Save Henry and it’s lame now. Honestly, it almost adds more if Weselton and Gerda remember what happened. So why erase it all?

Emma’s retreat to the bug. It’s her ice castle. It’s home.

Dislikes:

Everything they did with Robin Hood. I was literally rolling my eyes when he went back to Regina. Seriously, dude? You’re choosing her over the woman who inspired your code (but oh, wait, you tell Regina you followed it every day except when you choose her? Yeah, there’s a line I want to hear from a guy). No. Just no. And he must have told that story an awful lot in the two days Will was in camp, or, once again, as with Alexandra, they don’t seem to care about their timeline at all.

Also, Will, where is Ana? (Not Anna, but Anastasia, okay? Elsa’s sister has two ns, Will’s true love has one.) WHAT DID YOU CHOOSE? WHY WHY WHY WOULD YOU LEAVE HER? If they had to kill off that beautiful relationship just to get Will, as much as I love him, onto Once, I will throw things, I swear.

The Alex/Alexandra thing: Alexandra should be around 18 months old. Possibly as few as 14 depending on the length of the missing “year.” She was born approximately 4 days after Emma’s birthday, give or take according to A&E’s complete disregard for anything other than the order of events in their timeline (I’m quite sure they don’t care one bit about the time between events at ALL even though they pepper clues all over.) Unless Alex is her little brother, something seems off. It would make sense for Ella to have another in that time span, though (Pan would call her fertile, no doubt)–and that would make her a good candidate to run the class. So, um, why not SAY as much?

Sorry. I’ve put so much effort into untangling their timeline and they obviously don’t care that much about it and it’s very frustrating for me. I do think they keep track of the order of events, though.

Anyway, yay for Belle time and Grandpastiltskin. More of this please.

Keeper of Belle's Gold magic, sand dollar, cloaks, purple FTL outfit, spell scroll, library key, copy of Romeo and Juliet, and cry-muffling pillow, Rumple's doll, overcoat, and strength, and The Timeline. My spreadsheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6r8CySCCWd9R0RUNm4xR3RhMEU/view?usp=sharing

[Keb]

The fact that Rumple said he could do it with pleasure suggests to me that it also allows him a measure of vengeance.

Ingrid needs Emma so I don’t think he’s going to harm Emma; Ingrid wouldn’t have suggested it. He’s also always slightly liked Emma & Henry (just feared the latter due to the prophecy and was happy to use the former as needed) so I think they’re safe from the intent atm. Plus Henry IS Nealfire’s son, and he did say “those I love” when he told DQ she wouldn’t be allowed to harm people, suggesting not JUST Belle.

But Hook or Regina? Oh, he’d take them out with twisted pleasure. I don’t see how killing Hook would satisfy the hat any–he’s not magic–unless it somehow uses Emma’s love for him to power things. But I could definitely see Rumple being pleased about a suggestion that would do in Hook.

And they haven’t played up Regina’s old rivalry with Rumple for a couple of seasons now (this season her entire storyline has pretty much been woe is me, Robin Hood loves me but he’s married), so I’m not sure they’ve set us up to return to that–but Regina’s sister and mother both did awful things to Rumple and Regina herself kept Belle captive for quite a long time as a weapon/insurance policy against him. So it would be easy for them to revive that (I theorize Regina’s only been safe because Belle made it clear that the promise she extracted went for intent as well as letter, and Rumple doesn’t break deals). And Regina DOES have powerful magic. That plotline would also require Regina’s friendship with Emma to come back into play.

They might also bring in another character, but right now, on balance, I’m thinking Regina is in serious danger.

Keeper of Belle's Gold magic, sand dollar, cloaks, purple FTL outfit, spell scroll, library key, copy of Romeo and Juliet, and cry-muffling pillow, Rumple's doll, overcoat, and strength, and The Timeline. My spreadsheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6r8CySCCWd9R0RUNm4xR3RhMEU/view?usp=sharing

[Keb]

I’m hoping this will lead to Robin remembering why he loved Marian and falling for her again.

Then he and Regina can be soulmate friends and Regina can fall for some other guy who isn’t already married and doesn’t have a little kid she can put in danger and she and Robin can have drinks and laugh about their new lives and her pregnancy and Roland’s grades…and on weekends, Regina can babysit Roland while Robin takes Marian to Granny’s for dinner out.

Except for weekends when someone’s out to kill Regina. Then Belle babysits.

Keeper of Belle's Gold magic, sand dollar, cloaks, purple FTL outfit, spell scroll, library key, copy of Romeo and Juliet, and cry-muffling pillow, Rumple's doll, overcoat, and strength, and The Timeline. My spreadsheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6r8CySCCWd9R0RUNm4xR3RhMEU/view?usp=sharing

[Keb]

Wonder if Belle will ever interrupt a session where they’re learning magic…

(Wonder if Belle will be on screen for more than 5 minutes the rest of the half season…) (406 was so GOOD) (I missed her so much) (I just want her to actually have a scene with Henry like before the series ends) (please?)

Keeper of Belle's Gold magic, sand dollar, cloaks, purple FTL outfit, spell scroll, library key, copy of Romeo and Juliet, and cry-muffling pillow, Rumple's doll, overcoat, and strength, and The Timeline. My spreadsheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6r8CySCCWd9R0RUNm4xR3RhMEU/view?usp=sharing

[Keb]

Ooh, good, I’m looking forward to this plot line being explored more. (pleaseletbellebeintheep)

Keeper of Belle's Gold magic, sand dollar, cloaks, purple FTL outfit, spell scroll, library key, copy of Romeo and Juliet, and cry-muffling pillow, Rumple's doll, overcoat, and strength, and The Timeline. My spreadsheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6r8CySCCWd9R0RUNm4xR3RhMEU/view?usp=sharing

[Keb]

I. Love. This. Theory.

Keeper of Belle's Gold magic, sand dollar, cloaks, purple FTL outfit, spell scroll, library key, copy of Romeo and Juliet, and cry-muffling pillow, Rumple's doll, overcoat, and strength, and The Timeline. My spreadsheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6r8CySCCWd9R0RUNm4xR3RhMEU/view?usp=sharing

[Keb]

I’m hoping that they demonstrate that RH’s feelings are a lot more complex than “I can only love ONE PERSON at a time.” And maybe Robin’s not so clear on divorce law, but Regina woke up from her curse with all the knowledge a modern (well, 1980s) politician would need, so she could explain it to him if he didn’t express a desire to stick with his vows.

But while you might only be allowed one true romantic love at a time, not being able to love (or choose to love) anyone else sucks and is kinda dumb. We all know it’s possible to love lots of people, even if it gets super complex to mix romance in with more than one person at a time. The elevation of True Love in this show is sometimes problematic because it doesn’t allow for as much complexity and sets a really difficult standard.

Robin’s moved on. That doesn’t mean he feels NOTHING for Marian but friendship. Heck, they had maybe 2 days together tops before she was popsicled anyway, during which she was navigating a world she had no exposure to, getting to know a child she’d been ripped away from when he was an infant who is now an impossibly cute 5 year old, and reuniting with a man who somehow put her in danger (that hasn’t come up in this discussion yet, but he blames himself for her death–it’s possible she was protecting him and Roland as well as Snow by defying her queen) whom, the last time she saw him, loved her madly and truly.

And if Robin were ONLY going back to Marian because of his code, if he had no reason left to love her, then yeah, maybe divorce would be fine. But emotional distance due to believing she was dead for all those years is not the same as not having any feelings for her. He’s distraught because he DOES love both of them, and that’s a far more interesting story than “I’d be better off if she were dead, like you made her in the original timeline.”

No relationship should ever rest on “We’d be fine if X were only dead.” That’s part of why it’s hard for some of us to accept CS (on the belief that Neal was killed to clear the way for it). That’s the bit that rubs me the worst about OQ. And Marian’s not just “the other woman” in the relationship (never mind that she’s the first, and his wife, while Regina and RH have been together like a week)…she’s the mother of RH’s son. That should require quadruple reason beyond “I just don’t love you enough” for a divorce. (Not saying it’s never appropriate–just that when there’s a child involved, divorce SHOULD be a last resort even when it might not be for a childless couple, because it affects more than just them.) Robin Hood hasn’t given a single reason for wanting to leave Marian other than that he likes Regina. Big deal. Marriage and parenthood are about a LOT more than just love/emotions, though love definitely matters. And love is something that can be built, with decent foundations; he and Marian had them once, and they could rebuild.

Keeper of Belle's Gold magic, sand dollar, cloaks, purple FTL outfit, spell scroll, library key, copy of Romeo and Juliet, and cry-muffling pillow, Rumple's doll, overcoat, and strength, and The Timeline. My spreadsheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6r8CySCCWd9R0RUNm4xR3RhMEU/view?usp=sharing

[Keb]

Incidentally, one thing they have shown us quite a few times is that true love has to be sacrificial. Parents dying so their kids can be happy/live etc. Every TLK we’ve seen has come in a moment when both parties have demonstrated a willingness to sacrifice for the other. Snow ate the apple to save Charming, he fought Maleficent to save her. Henry ate the turnover to stop Emma from eating it; she likewise faced Mal to save him. It’s hinted that Aurora’s going under the sleeping curse was in part to protect Phillip; he was willing to let the wraith take him to save her (and Mulan, for those who ship her and him). With Rumbelle, he was willing to let her out of a deal so she could have her freedom–thus losing both his maid and company he clearly enjoyed–and she was willing to give up her freedom to come back and try to save him from his curse. Regina was willing to sacrifice Henry’s even remembering her when she sent him with Emma, to save him from Pan’s curse–as well as willing to fight her sister and the flying monkeys etc to protect him. And we’ve seen him jump in to protect her, too. That’s why those kisses worked.

So Robin’s isn’t working because he won’t give up Regina for Marian; it’s a love failure but of a particular, sacrificial kind.

And Regina’s willingness to let go of Robin is a serious sign of growth for her. It’s a sacrifice for what she believes is his own good–she’s actually putting someone else ahead of herself for once (she has done it a few times now…but it’s hard for miss “nobody sits in my chair”).

Keeper of Belle's Gold magic, sand dollar, cloaks, purple FTL outfit, spell scroll, library key, copy of Romeo and Juliet, and cry-muffling pillow, Rumple's doll, overcoat, and strength, and The Timeline. My spreadsheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6r8CySCCWd9R0RUNm4xR3RhMEU/view?usp=sharing

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