Spoilers if you have yet to see Season 2, episode 19!
Regular readers will be well aware of my primary concern with regard to Once Upon a Time. A logical concern. A reasonable concern. A legitimate concern.
Why can't the show just be about RumpBelle?!
I know, I know. If every episode were to be RumpBelle-centric, those precious hours we do get would be less special.
(And sometimes we need to check in with Regina.)
Well, last week's episode was filled to the brim with riches for those of us who vehemently ship this delightful couple. Rumple: a conniving, violent sociopath who can only be reformed by the love of a randomly Australian bookworm, Belle. Seriously, how can anyone not adore these two?
So anyway, the whole premise of this episode, aptly titled "Lacey," was that Belle finally got her memories back, but thanks to Regina's typically LOL-tastic evil manipulations, she got back the fake memories of her previously unseen Storybrooke Curse Self. And who might this mysterious Other Belle be?
It's the world's most adorable wittle alcoholic, pool-playing, slutty barfly ever! Yippee! Meet "Lacey," apparently Belle's polar opposite, much to Mr. Gold's initial chagrin. But David reassures Rumple that some "sliver" of the real Belle has gotta be in there somewhere. This all takes place during the part of the episode I wish had lasted longer: namely, the part where Charming is Rumple's wingman as the latter tries to flirt with his erstwhile lady love.
I mean, what a tease! That's a hilarious premise worthy of a whole episode in and of itself! And a far better way to spend valuable minutes than some of the other non-RumpBelle stuff that was crammed into the corners of the hour.
(and did we really need more tiresome back-and-forth with Emma and zzzzNeal? Or those lame would-be villains Tamara and Owen? Although the whole sideplot about the bean farming was cute.)
The episode, aside from the easily ignored filler, deftly segues from present-day shenanigans to some new revelations about the time Belle and Rumple spent together in the castle back in the day in FTL. Now, we all know that when OUAT tries to bring in a new famous legendary character via flashback, it can sometimes be irritatingly artificial and forced-seeming. However, the use of Robin Hood (and Maid Marian) in this episode was brilliant.
The casting, for once, was solid, with the characters adhering to their basic premises and not pretending to be Captain Jack Sparrow RockStar Hottie (sorry, a little of my Hook Resentment slipped in there!). And the sight of Robin and Marian's love brought on another step on the path of redemption for Rumple, with Belle's help, of course.
One of the best parts of the RumpBelle flashbacks is that they often include specific, charming references to Disney's Beauty and the Beast. I loved the library scene, obviously (swoon) and its seamless transition back to a much darker and more frightening incarnation of the couple in the present. There were also plenty of hilarious bantering moments with Belle trying to prevent Rumple from wrongdoing - such as Rumple informing Belle that he famously skins anyone who messes with him.
Belle: "no, actually, everyone doesn't know that."
Rumple: "well, they will when they see the body!"Not only were the sheer number of "Dearies" and high-pitched giggles epic, but what about Belle's wardrobe?
I die!
By the end of the episode, while we gained a better understanding of the depth of RumpBelle's lovely and redeeming (and Stockholm Syndrome oriented) connection back in FTL, their current connection gives one pause. After all, it turns out that Lacey, while overall just too cute to be very threatening (let's face it), has some serious teeth and a thing for brutal bad guys. Without the encouragement of Belle, can Gold ever retain his goodness?
That last scene of them together was so chilling and twisted that it reveals, once again, the fascinating depth of these characters and their relationship. It also reminds us that Once Upon a Time is never afraid to engage in some exceedingly bizarre and shocking twists. That penchant was disappointing when it came to August's reversion to childhood (see my thoughts on that catastrophe here), but it played out beautifully in 2X19.
The season is nearing its end, so I don't know if we'll get to see much detailed interaction between Belle and Gold this year, but the show has finally fulfilled its obligation to spend time with them and justify Emilie de Raven's promotion to the main cast. Here's hoping there are many more such episodes in our future!
