Board Thread:Character Discussion/@comment-26018039-20150329230148/@comment-25926288-20150405164144

I never saw Belle as smart just well-read?! Belle isn't a character, or at least didn't start as one, just a plot device or prop. I won't go into full detail here, but if you notice the similarities in Snowing, CS, OQ, and RB, you'll see it. Belle is pretty much Rumple's prop. Used in his story to get something across. Then she became his doormat, submissive cheerleader only seeing the good in him. It tells you something when we finally get a Rumple-free Belle flashback in three seasons later.

At their current rate, they could have made Belle, Sleeping beauty too, with how often she's just present to sleep. Then, at least she'd have some connection to the plot, besides Rumple.

Belle is a young (not really, since she's likely close to Snow's age), naïve and very love blind individual. But that's not shocking. It's just how little they have for her, which makes it definite that she wasn't planned to be past season one and they haven't really tried to make her a well-rounded character unless for the plot. Even Granny seems more proactive!