Board Thread:Character Discussion/@comment-4467206-20161126101444/@comment-26116863-20161127221058

Advocate for the devil here. I certainly don't agree with most of what Rumple has done, but I think Belle's attitude towards him lately has made it worse:

The writers have been promoting the idea that both dark and light should be embraced. The Dragon scolded Regina about it. Then the EQ emphasized how she was the part of Regina that made Henry face his fears, and generally made Regina the strong practical person she is. Why do you think she was the only person Emma trusted to use the dagger if things got really bad with dark swan? Because Regina is capable of doing gritty things that have to be done to protect everyone, in spite of emotions. And if you think about it, a lot of the time that is what Gold is trying to do; protect other people by doing what he thinks is necessary. Now he has repeatedly lamented that Belle isn't accepting him for who he is. What if he's right and their whole moral for this season is that you shouldn't force someone to live up to your idea of goodnes?

I have one question: What would it be like if Belle accepted Rumple for what he is? Would they find a way to work together? Would he end up making more tempered yet still effective choices? How would recent events have turned out differently if she hadn't turned completely against him whenever he wanted to help, but rather worked with and guided him? In the past she has done this to an extent, and her love and acceptence for him did make a difference in how he did things.