Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-264749-20130520184336/@comment-26033121-20150422172036

This is an old post, but Rumbelle's my favorite couple too, and breaking his curse is probably an idea that's going to come up within the next few episodes of season 4B. I feel like Belle is really Rumple's true love, his better self, his remaining humanity, and his strength. However, the magic/power is his true weakness and addiction. Love and addiction aren't always the same, but addiction is an unhealthy facet of love of something that is purely for the physical pleasure/gratification it brings. Rumple even said himself that magic was a crutch that he's way too afraid to let go back in season 2. I think the reason that true love's kiss with Belle isn't working to break the curse is because he's not allowing himself to let go of the curse and the power it brings him. For true love's kiss to work both people have to totally open their hearts for it to work. Rumple does truly love Belle, but he's totally closed off to the possibility of Belle breaking it since back in the EF when for the first and only time the kiss worked because he wasn't thinking about keeping his power.