In flashback Fairytale Land, we dig a little deeper into the troubled life of Rumplestiltskin. Rumple and his wife, Milah, have a difficult marriage. He confronts her after he discovers she left their son home alone to go to the tavern with a group of pirates. Apparently she is ashamed of him for not going to fight in the ogre wars. Later the pirates abduct her and Rumple confronts the captain, Killian Jones. But when the captain requests a duel, Rumple is overcome by his cowardice.
Many years later Rumple has become the Dark One and goes to the tavern to meet a trader about a magic bean that can transport between worlds. He then runs into Jones who tells him Milah is dead, and they agree to a rematch swordfight the next day. This time Rumple has the upper hand and almost kills Jones but is stopped by Milah. She apparently left freely with the pirates in search of a life of adventure. She asks that they be spared in exchange for the magic bean. But Rumple rips her heart out, killing her instantly. He then slices off Jones’ left hand, thinking the bean is inside. Jones stabs Rumple with a hook, but Rumple disappears with no injury whatsoever.
It turns out that Jones tricked Rumple and actually kept the magic bean. He throws the bean into the ocean and a portal opens. He summons the trader, who turns out to be Smee, and the crew prepares to sail off into Neverland.
In Storybrooke, Belle confronts Rumplestiltskin about his potion making, but he refuses to explain. So Belle leaves him once again. She visits Granny’s and talks with Red about wanting a job, who points her in the direction of the run-down library. While visiting the library Belle is kidnapped by William Smee.
It turns out that Smee was hired by Belle’s father to capture her. When she admits to her father that she fell in love with Rumplestiltskin, he has Smee continue out the plan…to send Belle out of town so that she’ll forget her identity and love for Rumple. Meanwhile Rumple asks Charming for help and Red joins in using her wolf scent-tracking. The group reach Maurice’s flower shop, he admits his plan and they rush to stop Smee. They reach Belle in time, but she is angry with both her father and Rumple and never wants to speak to them again.
Later Red gives Belle a gift, which happens to be the keys to the library. It turns out that Rumple was actually behind the gift. He explains to Belle that he created the curse in order to find his son and has been trying to break the new curse to try and get out of Storybrooke to find his son as well. Essentially Belle and Rumple make up, but he keeps one thing from her…he has Smee locked away in his basement. He questions him about the location of Captain Hook, as it appears he is nowhere to be found in Storybrooke.
Meanwhile in present-day Fairytale Land, Captain Hook is overlooking the refugee island. Cora shows up with her bottle of magic ashes from the wardrobe. She says it’s not enough, but it’s a start to trying to find their way to Regina and Rumplestiltskin.
Even though Cora was in the episode for just one scene, she gives me real chills. And Captain Hook is a great companion villain! I’m in love with this whole joining-of-the-villains concept! It could really build some momentum and anticipation as the line is drawn between good and evil! The whole storyline of Belle and Rumple as the Beast is still weird for me…I just have trouble seeing him as the enduring, grow-to-love-him Beast from the Disney classic. Of course I’m biased because it’s my Disney favorite.
Anyway, what did you think? Love the addition of Captain Hook or are you ready to leave him already? Thoughts on the Belle and Beast storyline? Leave your comments!