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Skin Deep
Original Air Date: Feb 12, 2012
Wyner C – TwoCents Reviewer
wyner@thetwocentscorp.com
Monsters have hearts too. They may be ignorant of its presence but it exists; dormant, waiting to be discovered and awaken. If it’s roused, how will the monster react? Will the monster acknowledge its heart or will it be shunned? Fortunately for us, our monster rejected his heart.
In Fairytale, Belle strikes a deal with Rumpelstiltskin: she will go with Rumpel forever in exchange for keeping her village, family and friends safe from the Ogre Wars. Beauty and the Beast indeed.
At Castle de Rumpel, on her first day as Rumpel’s captive, Belle chips a teacup. She’s terrified but Rumpel takes it really well. In fact, Rumpel is downright nice. As Belle does her job, she gets to know Rumpel. It’s actually sweet watching the courtship. She falls and he catches her; she redecorates and he adapts to the sunshine. It’s a surprisingly functional relationship. Granted he does some shady things like turn her betrothed into a rose but what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.
We learn more about Belle and Rumpel from their heart-to-hearts. She agreed to go with Rumpel because women’s roles are limited and she wants to be a hero. She didn’t love her betrothed and thinks love is supposed to be layered. Rumpel still yearn for his family and past – he’s still spinning (straw to gold) and he keeps his son’s clothes.
Rumpel is insecure about his feelings for Belle and doesn’t believe she can truly love a monster. He sends her out to buy straw expecting her to flee (he’s right). Unexpectedly, Belle encounters the Evil Queen who informs Belle that a true love’s kiss breaks all curses.
Rumpel longingly waits for Belle and is giddy when she returns. She kisses him – he starts to turn back into a human but he stops the change. Rumpel is livid because he doesn’t think anyone can love him. He finds out the Queen is behind this and locks Belle away. Later, he sets Belle free. She thinks he’s a coward who’s afraid to love and he tells her he chose power over her. Hurtful words were exchanged but you can see those two crazy kids love each other.
The Queen visits Rumpel and they’re friendemies. She wants to be more powerful than Rumpel and he’s having none of that nonsense. It’s evident she’s here to tell him Belle is dead. Belle’s father locked her up and she threw herself off a tower. Rumpel is heartbroken and puts the chipped teacup on a pedestal.
In Storybrooke, it’s Valentine’s Day and girl’s night out for Mary Margaret, Ashley and Ruby. Ashley is whining about Sean working all the time. Does she think raising a newborn is cheap? He’s working, not cheating. She’s also complaining about not being married – once again, he’s working hard so give him a break for not marrying your crabby-behind. Later, during his break, Sean finds Ashley and proposes. I hope she’ll shut up now.
A person that should complain but cannot is Mary Margaret. David is not spending Valentines with her ‘cause he has a wife. He buys two cards last minute and gives Mary Margaret the wrong one. It’s not like he bought five cards. He bought TWO and the envelope for Kathryn was yellow and Mary Margaret’s was red. Is he stupid or is he a moron?! Needless to say, Mary Margaret doesn’t take this well.
Mr. Gold’s house is robbed and he’s missing something really precious. He’s also trying to avoid Regina – I wonder why? Emma is trying to find the robber, Moe French. She recovers the stolen goods but Gold isn’t satisfied – he wants revenge and an important item wasn’t retrieved.
Gold finds Moe and drives him to a secluded cabin. Gold beats Moe for information on the stolen item but it is evident there’s another reason for turning the cabin into Abu Ghraib. As he’s beating Moe, he mentions Moe’s daughter. Emma gets to the cabin and arrest Gold. He kidnapped and tortured a man, Gold is looking at life but my guess is he’ll be out by next episode.
At the Sheriff’s office, Regina uses Henry to get a few minutes alone with Gold. Finally able to have a conversation, Regina uses the precious stolen item to persuade Gold to answer one question (Regina directed Moe to steal). She wants to know Gold’s real name. After much prodding, Gold says he’s Rumpelstiltskin!! That’s right, he remembers Fairytale! I knew it! I’ve been saying he was in the magic-less dungeon when the curse went down. Gold gets his chipped teacup back and we get a BIG reveal.
That is until Regina goes to the hospital and accesses a secret underground holding cell. We get an even BIGGER reveal. There sits a woman – Belle! She’s not dead; the Queen lied. Wait until Rumpel finds out, she’s toast. She’s already on his hit list, now this?!
Favorite moments/Things to ponder:
1. I absolutely LOVED this episode. Beauty and the Beast with a MAJOR twist. Rumpel as the Beast?! I love that Rumpel is not a one-dimensional villain but layered – this is why Belle loves him; he’s a monster with a heart. You can see how much he cares for Belle. When he thought Belle needed money after she left, you can see the relief in his face that it wasn’t something worse – probably because all that gold he spun will come in handy. But when he found out she died, you can see his heart breaking. Robert Carlyle is an awesome actor!
2. If true love’s kiss breaks all curses, shouldn’t the Storybrooke curse be broken once David and Mary Margaret kissed? Does that mean Snow White and Prince Charming are not true loves?
3. Belle’s wardrobe was very much like the Disney movie. I think Emilie de Raven made a gorgeous Belle.
4. How come Regina gets to have a secret quarter in the hospital? What kind of hospital is this?
5. I really think Gold/Rumpel is the big bad. Regina is small potatoes compared to the fury of Rumpel!!
Did you love the episode as much as I did? If only Rumpel believed true love is blind! When will Rumpel find Belle?! Why’s Belle being jailed? When Rumpel finds Belle, Regina will have hell to pay and I cannot wait. What’s going to be her punishment? Team Regina or Team Rumpel? Discuss away!
I loved this episode, too! So many reveals and so many more questions (reminded me of my favorite Lost episode where I get more questions than answers). I was so thinking the same thing about the hospital. Regina really likes to hide things. And when I saw Belle, I’d like to believe that it was Belle and not some Storybrooke counterpart since we know Regina lied to Rumpel about her being dead and he knows his past life because he was shunned in that jail, too. But who knows…I’m usually never right with these things…
And the true love’s kiss thing was an interesting tid-bit. I’d be interesting to see if that holds true in Storybrooke. So far, only Sheriff and Emma’s kiss broke the curse for him. I’d be sad if Snow and Prince aren’t true lovers. And what about Cinderella and her Prince? Ashley kissed Sean and nothing happened. Hmm…
Maybe she’s really Belle but I think she may be a Storybrooke character. Her hair was blonde, if I remember clearly. Belle’s hair is brown. I knew Regina was lying and I don’t even know why Rumpel believed her. But I guess shock can do that to a person/monster.
Maybe Emma is what’s needed to break the curse regardless of a true love’s kiss. I guess this curse is too strong. The Evil Queen had to kill her father for this curse so it must be hardcore!!
Great episode!!! But I was surprised to see the witch didnt know who Rumple really was. I thought both of them knew who everyone is.
Rumpel does seem to be all-knowing. I think he has his limits or else he wouldn’t have thought Belle was dead.
I liked their story so much. It made Rumpel sympathetic. I think it gives his character shades of gray. Love this show!
Regina suspected that Gold was Rumple. Emma is the key. Emma’s favor to Gold will be what breaks the curse for all and will be the end of Regina. Emma has some type of power over Gold. And I think the above writer was correct, Emma has to be tied to each person someone for the curse to be broken. that is why it worked with the sheriff. I think Gold always knew who he was and of course, Regina knew who she was.
I loved how Gold asked Emma for an ice cream cone; and she says “just this once”. there has to be more to it. but i think I almost love the interactions between Gold and Emma more than any other interaction (except of course, those between Gold / Rumple and Belle). It was a beautiful, if not sad, episode. Great show keeps getting better. I’m not concerned about moving the story ahead fast, of course, I’m curious to know how it all fits together, but each episode is entertaining. This one was the best episode by far (except the first one).
We’ve always known Emma is the key – she’s the one to break the curse and how she’ll do it, we don’t know, but she did “break” it for the Sheriff. I think you’re right that Gold and Regina always knew who they used to be, but this is the first time (I think) that Regina realizes that Gold knows he’s Rumpel. I feel like she’s had her suspicions, but they were confirmed when she asked him his name this episode. I have a feeling Rumpel knew that Regina knew who she was the whole time though…Not sure if Rumpel has connected the name Emma Snow gave him with this Emma, but I’m sure he has his suspicions as well…
I think you’re correct. Regina had always suspected Gold knowing about Fairytale. She wanted confirmation, which she received.
I also think Gold knows the importance of Emma. He may be using her to get back at Regina and slowly getting his revenge while breaking the curse. That’s why he hasn’t told Emma about Fairytale. He’s been dropping hints but I think he wants something before the curse is broken. He’s an opportunist.
I also love Gold and Emma’s interactions. Rumpel’s relationship with Belle was heartbreaking and had an underlying sadness to the whole courtship. Love it!!
Right, we have known Emma was the key. Emma Swan (think of what Snow What was wearing when she married).
I don’t think Gold is using Emma. I think they will band together to break the curse. I think the favor Emma owes Gold will have something to do with either breaking the curse or after the curse of broken.
I loved how Belle bargained before she agreed to the arrangement. Like Emma is she is the only person who has stood up to Rumple/Gold.
I think Gold Cannot tell Emma about FTL. She has to figure it out.
Also, Love Red. That actress if beyond beautiful even all sleezy=girl dressed.
Maybe you’re right, Emma may need to figure it out herself. This could be why Gold is cryptic in all his messages.
I do think Gold is using Emma for something. For what, I don’t know. He’s just too maniacal to be playing nice. It could be because he’s planning to position himself nicely when Emma breaks the curse.
I just cannot wait when Gold finds Belle. Regina is going to regret the day she met Belle.
I think a Red Riding Hood storyline is coming, at least i hope so. Her story should be fun.