Tag Archives: Belle

Apr 23 2013
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ABC, Once Upon a Time, Recaps

once upon a time recapping: lacey

Previously on Once Upon a Time: Selfless, Brave, and True.

This week on Once Upon a Time, Belle gets her memory back, but it’s not what Rumpelstiltskin was hoping for. In Storybrooke, Regina restores Belle’s false memories, convincing her she is a barfly named Lacey, which prompts Rumple to woo her all over again. Meanwhile, Emma must decide if she wishes to return to the Enchanted Forest, while Tamara and Greg set their plan in motion. In the pre-Curse Enchanted Forest, we learn Belle’s and Rumpelstiltskin’s romance was sparked when he spared a thief named Robin Hood.

Screencap from Once Upon a Fan

In the Enchanted Forest, Rumpelstiltskin and Belle are in the days before the “chipped cup” incident. Rumpelstiltskin thwarts a thief (Tom Ellis) attempting to make off with one of his wands, and proceeds to viciously torture him, much to Belle’s dismay. The moment he leaves, Belle frees the thief from the dungeon. Rumpelstiltskin returns to find the thief – and the wand – are gone, and forces Belle to accompany him on his quest to track him down and kill him. They encounter Nottingham (played by Red Widow’s Wil Traval), who tries to trade the thief’s location for some time alone with Belle, but Rumpelstiltskin is not in the mood. He uses magic and tongue-stealing to get the information he needs, and the thief’s name – Robin Hood. They come across the thief using the wand to heal the deathly-ill (and pregnant) Marian. Due to Belle’s pleading, Rumpelstiltskin spares Robin Hood at the last moment. Back at his castle, Rumpelstiltskin shows Belle a room full of books for her to clean, and she’s intrigued by his new kindness.

Once Upon a Time, Mr. Gold and Lacey

In Storybrooke, Rumple has nightmares about killing Henry due to the Seer’s prophecy. He lets the bombshell drop that Neal is Henry’s father, but Regina warns him that his new family will never accept him. Needing reassurance of his good side, Rumple offers to get Belle released from the hospital. Naturally, Regina thwarts this by restoring Belle’s curse memories. Rumple discovers “Lacey” at a dive bar called The Rabbit Hole, where she is a scantily-clad, hustling, hard-drinking barfly. His only option to bring Belle back is True Love’s Kiss, but she must reciprocate his feelings first – prompting him to ask her for a date. Meanwhile, Snow and Charming reveal the magic beans and their intention to return to the Enchanted Forest to Emma. As she ponders her decision, Emma lets slip to Regina that she might lose Henry “for good.” On their date, Lacey confesses to Rumple that she doesn’t understand why people are scared of him, and he accidentally spills wine on her dress in his surprise. She disappears into the bathroom for quite some time, and Rumple goes outside to discover her macking on the Storybrooke equivalent of Nottingham. She admits she went on the date out of pity, and that he is not the man for her. Nottingham later apologizes to Rumple, but he’s had it with being good and proceeds to viciously beat the idiot. Lacey discovers him mid-attack and is intrigued by the dark Mr. Gold that everyone’s warned her about. Elsewhere, Regina traces the dwarves’ tracks back to the magic bean field, while Tamara and Greg bring a package into Storybrooke to aid them on their mission – Hook.

Screencap from Once Upon a Fan

Thoughts/Theories
• Rumpelstiltskin’s perspective on magic – “those who steal it have evil intentions” – and his desire to prevent Robin Hood from using it for wrongdoing were really interesting to me, especially considering he uses magic for such evil himself. Maybe he’s trying to spare people his fate?
• Ok, so the curse is broken, and all of these men who are suddenly very into Lacey/Belle fully know who she really is, right? It makes Storybrooke Nottingham’s interest in her really creepy. The whole situation is just a little uncomfortable.
• What are the circumstances of Henry’s adoption? There are too many coincidences involved – maybe we’ll get more of the story in season 3?

Nicole N. decided to justify the countless hours she spends watching television by writing about it here. She is currently terrified of Stanley’s oddly-shaped head on Project Runway. For more tv-centric musings, check out her tumblr.

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Oct 21 2012
3 Comments
ABC, Once Upon a Time

once upon a time recapping: the crocodile

Previously on Once Upon a Time: Lady of the Lake.

This week on Once Upon a Time, we are introduced to the delectable Captain Hook and filled in some of the gaps of Rumpelstiltskin’s backstory. In the Enchanted Forest, Rumpelstiltskin loses his wife and gains an enemy. In Storybrooke, Belle starts to doubt Mr. Gold’s willingness to give up his dark ways. When she goes missing, Mr. Gold and Charming must join forces to save her before it is too late.

Once Upon a Time, Captain Hook and Milah

In the pre-curse Enchanted Forest, we start with a pre-Dark One Rumpelstiltskin, who is too cowardly to rescue his wife Milah (played by Rachel Shelley of The L Word) via a duel with Captain Killian Jones (played by Colin O’Donoghue of The Tudors). Next, we catch up with a Rumpelstiltskin that has gained the powers of the Dark One but lost Baelfire. He is at a tavern attempting to trade with an unnamed man for a magic bean that grants the ability to cross realms when Jones walks in. Rumpelstiltskin makes a point of running into the Captain, who calls him a “crocodile” before realizing who he is and informing him of his wife’s death. Rumpelstiltskin challenges him to duel, defeats him easily, and is about to rip out his heart when Milah appears. She makes a deal – the magic bean in exchange for their lives. Only when Rumpelstiltskin arrives on the ship to collect, he flies into a rage at Milah’s abandonment of Baelfire, and rips out her heart, killing her. When Jones tries to retaliate, Rumpelstiltskin cuts off his hand (which was holding the bean) before disappearing – only to learn later that and he was tricked and the bean is still in the Captain’s possession. Later, Captain Jones replaces his lost hand with a hook, and makes a deal with the man from the tavern, William Smee: the magic bean for his life, and passage to a land where they never grow old. Captain Hook uses the bean to create a portal to Neverland.

Once Upon a Time, Charming and Mr. Gold

In Storybrooke, Belle doubts Mr. Gold’s willingness to give up his dark side, especially when she catches him practicing magic in the basement. When she confronts him, his evasiveness is the final straw and she leaves the next morning. At Granny’s, Belle befriends Red, who suggests she try for a job at the library. Belle goes to peak in the library windows, only to be snatched by William (Smee). He brings Belle to her father, Moe Finch, who tries to convince her to leave Mr. Gold. When she refuses, he insists that she will forget him. A worried Mr. Gold goes to acting sheriff Charming for help finding Belle. Along the way, Mr. Gold asks for relationship advice and Charming suggests “honesty of the heart” is the way to go. They try Granny’s, and Red eventually agrees to use her newly returned sense of smell to lead them to the Game of Thorns (HA! Still funny) flower shop and Moe Finch. They learn Moe intends to send Belle across the Storybrooke barrier – thus making her forget everything – via the mines.

Mr. Gold uses magic to save her in the nick of time, but Belle wants nothing to do with him or her father, insisting she make her own way. The next day, she’s gifted the key to the library. Mr. Gold meets her inside, saying the caretaker’s apartment is hers if she wants it. He then reveals everything: that he’s always been a coward and magic is the only thing that makes him feel powerful; that he created the curse to reach this realm and Baelfire, and that he brought back magic because it’s his “crutch,” but now he can’t reach his son (…and tears for me again). Belle is moved, and invites him to lunch. Later, Mr. Gold asks William about the Captain, but he never appeared in Storybrooke.

In the Enchanted Forest, Captain Hook appears to have his eye on Haven. Cora appears with her dust from the wardrobe, suggesting they may be able to cross over. Hook is pleased with the news, since he has a “crocodile to skin.”

Next week, Regina tries to bring Daniel back to life…and Whale is involved in some way. Can’t wait!

Thoughts/Theories
• OH MY GOD, YOU GUYS! NEXT WEEK! IS WHALE’S IDENTITY REVEALED?
• So, I’m still a little unclear on this – when the curse was “broken,” was it Mr. Gold’s use of magic that caused the memory erasing barrier to appear? Or would that have happened either way? What do you all think?

Nicole N. decided to justify the countless hours she spends watching television by writing about it here. She is currently indulging her addiction to medical dramas by rewatching all of Grey’s Anatomy. Follow her on twitter @nicolemnelson and check our her tumblr.

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Sep 30 2012
3 Comments
ABC, Once Upon a Time, Recaps

once upon a time recapping: broken

Previously on Once Upon a Time: A Land Without Magic.

This week on Once Upon a Time, magic is here! This curse is broken, the citizens of Storybrooke remember who they are, and Mr. Gold’s strange brand of magic is unleashed upon the town. As Emma and the others try to decide what to do with Regina, Mr. Gold sets his own revenge plans in motion – with unexpected results. Meanwhile, we are introduced to some new faces in the Enchanted Forest, where everything is not as it seems.

In New York, a mysterious man (played by Michael Raymond James) returns to his apartment. A dove flies to his window with a postcard from Storybrooke bearing one word – broken.

Once Upon a Time, Emma and Regina

In Storybrooke, the ominous cloud unleashed by Mr. Gold washes over the town, though no one seems negatively affected. Charming and Snow tearfully embrace their daughter for the first time in 28 years and I’m already reaching for the tissues. Before they can even begin to untangle their emotions, the Mother Superior informs them that magic has returned, and Archie warns them that Dr. Whale is leading an angry mob to Regina’s. Emma and her parents arrive just in time to rescue a powerless Regina from the mob’s wrath and drag her to jail. Meanwhile, Belle tells Mr. Gold of her imprisonment at Regina’s hands and makes him promise not to kill her. He takes this promise literately and instead summons a wraith to do his dirty work for him.

Ms. Blanchard wants to get to know her daughter, but Emma is struggling with her own feelings of abandonment. They confront Mr. Gold about the magic he released, but he argues that he’s done nothing wrong. Before they can glean anything more from him, the wraith makes its presence known in Storybrooke. Emma insists they’re not done; Mr. Gold reminds her she owes him a favor. Belle expresses her disappointment in Mr. Gold’s lie, though she stays with him in the hope he’ll become a better man. Emma, Ms. Blanchard, and David fend off the wraith attacking Regina, but the only way to stop it is to send it elsewhere, via Jefferson’s hat. They set a trap for the wraith, but Emma gets sucked in too. Unwilling to lose her daughter again, Ms. Blanchard follows her in but David is too late. Upon learning what happened, Henry refuses to talk to Regina until she brings them back. David takes his grandson takes his grandson home and promises to find them.

Once Upon a Time David and Henry

In the Enchanted Forest, a prince and a masked warrior ride through a barren wasteland. They reach a crumbling palace, where Princess Aurora (played by the incredibly gorgeous Sarah Bolger of The Tudors fame) lays sleeping. Prince Philip promises to tell his beloved “the truth” upon her awakening. His kiss breaks the curse, but before he can share the whole story they are attacked by a dark creature. They fend it off, and in the aftermath the warrior reveals her identity – Mulan (played by Jamie Chung of Real World fame). She explains that they were attacked by a wraith, a soul-sucking creature that marks its victims. Though they appear to be unscathed, Philip hides a mark on his hand. When the three stop for the night, Philip sneaks off to meet his fate. The women realize the truth and head after him. They reach him just in time to watch him fall victim to the wraith. The two lay Philip to rest at the palace, and Mulan reveals the whole truth – that a curse swept almost everyone away 28 years ago, except for a small corner of the land where they remained frozen until recently, when the curse weakened. Before the two leave for the safe haven, they hear a crash and discover Emma and Ms. Blanchard.

The two worlds collide!

Thoughts/Theories
• Just when we thought everyone was going to be brought together, they’re torn apart yet again. I commend the writers for keeping the two storylines relevant and interconnected now that curse is broken, plus Ms. Blanchard and Emma need some time one on one to work their feelings out, but at the same time – ARGH!
• The mysterious man from the beginning of the episode has to be Baelfire, right?
• Interesting that Regina’s magic didn’t seem to work until Emma touched her. Wondering what the significance of that is.
• WHO IS WHALE? No one seems to know. There was an intriguing undercurrent to his interaction with Regina this episode, and I want to know more. The mystery is killing me.

Nicole N. decided to justify the countless hours she spends watching television by writing about it here. She is currently indulging her addiction to medical dramas by rewatching all of Grey’s Anatomy. Follow her on twitter @nicolemnelson and check out her tumblr.

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Feb 13 2012
5 Comments
ABC, New for Fall 2011, Recaps

once upon a time recapping: skin deep

Previously on Once Upon a Time: Fruit of the Poisonous Tree

This week, Emile de Ravin (Claire from Lost) guest stars as Belle, with Rumpelstiltskin filling in the role of the Beast in their ill-fated love story. Speaking of ill-fated love – Ms. Blanchard and David are falling apart almost as quickly as they began. And just when Mr. Gold was beginning to seem almost benign, his vicious side reappears when someone steals his property. To top it all off, Regina and Mr. Gold lay all their cards on the table, and I’m hoping this means the battle will begin soon.

Once Upon a Time, Belle and Rumpelstiltskin

In the Enchanted Forest, Belle and her father Sir Maurice are lamenting over their impending destruction at the hands of the ogres when Rumpelstiltskin arrives at the eleventh hour, ready to make a deal. In exchange for their kingdom, he wants Belle for his caretaker. She agrees. In his home, Rumpelstiltskin explains Belle’s duties to her. When she accidentally chips a teacup, he seems touched by her apology. Later, while attempting to open his nailed down curtains, Belle falls into Rumpelstiltskin’s arms, and a rapport is developing between the two. Months pass, and Belle asks about children’s clothing she found. Rumpelstiltskin explains he once had a son, then “lost him.” She surmises he was once human, and claims he’s not the monster he thinks. There’s a knock on the door and Gaston appears – before Rumpelstiltskin turns him into a rose, which he then gives to Belle. He asks why she came; she explains it was her chance to be brave, though she’d like to see the world. Rumpelstiltskin makes her an offer – get straw from the village, and if she comes back, he’ll tell her his story. On the road, Belle runs into the Queen, who mentions that true love’s kiss will break any curse. It’s enough to send her back. When she kisses him, Rumpelstiltskin starts to change, but he then flies into a rage. He accuses Belle of working for Regina, trying to strip his powers, unwilling to believe anyone could actually love him. He locks Belle in the dungeon then destroys everything in sight, except the teacup. Eventually he lets her go, she warns him he lost his once chance at happiness. The Queen late appears to gloat, claiming how sorry she is about Belle: she was shunned and tormented by her father upon her return, and leapt from a tower. The Queen leaves. Rumpelstiltskin stares at his teacup and cries.

Once Upon a Time, Evil Queen and Belle

In Storybrooke, Mr. Gold comes to repossess Mr. French’s (aka Sir Maurice) “Game of Thorns” (HA!) flower van – right before Valentine’s Day. Regina is impressed by his cruelty and wants a word, but he brushes her off. At Granny’s, Emma and Ms. Blanchard are interrupted by Ashley (aka Cinderella), who complains of an overwhelming baby and underwhelming boyfriend, prompting Ruby to suggest a girl’s night out. Emma gets called away – Mr. Gold has been robbed. He intends go after the perpetrator himself, but Emma convinces him to let her track down Moe French and the stolen property. She manages to find the goods, but one item – and Mr. French – are still missing. Mr. Gold is not pleased. He runs into David at the store buying two valentines cards, and warns that love is fragile. Mr. Gold goes back out to his van, which just happens to have a tied up Moe French in the back, and drives to a secluded cabin. He viciously beats Mr. French with his cane – first for his missing item, then for sending ”her” away, before Emma stops him. Meanwhile, Ashley is not enjoying her night out, explaining it’s hard to be with Sean and not be with him, which resonates with Ms. Blanchard. Of course, Sean then appears to propose to Ashley. Ms. Blanchard doesn’t get her happy ending though, because when David appears he gives her the wrong valentine’s card. Emma wants to know who the “her” was, but Mr. Gold won’t budge and she arrests him. Regina gets Emma to go out with Henry so she can have her one on one with Mr. Gold while he’s in lockup. She trades his missing item – a chipped teacup – for his real name: Rumpelstiltskin. He claims their newfound honesty “changes nothing.” Regina leaves the sheriff’s office to visit a secret floor of the hospital, where Storybrooke Belle is trapped in a cell.

Once Upon a Time, Ashley and Sean

Thoughts/Theories
o Mr. Gold and Regina know each other’s real identities. What this means for Storybrooke remains to be seen.
o Belle has a Storybrooke equivalent, so obviously she wasn’t dead. It seems to me that Rumpelstiltskin would have confirmed that for himself. It’s not like he trusts the Evil Queen.

Nicole N. decided to justify the countless hours she spends watching television by writing about it here. She enjoys a challenge and is currently re-watching all 15 seasons of ER. Follow her @nicolemnelson

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