Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-24769579-20151019094845/@comment-4427410-20151023061038

I would say when he doesn't have a son to protect, Rumplestiltskin does have the capability to face his fears.

Yes, he does. But I don't see how anyone can "teach" him to do it. He has to find the incentive to face his fears from within himself. And he is capable of doing so. However, Emma using Merida to coerce Rumpel into "being brave" just doesn't do it. And if Horowitz and Kitsis allow this to happen, I'm really going to start wondering if they know anything about human nature.