Board Thread:Character Discussion/@comment-26018039-20150329230148/@comment-4975807-20150405170030

I believe Belle is smart, but the writers haven't really utilized her full potential all the time as her own stand-alone character. I liked "The Outsider" because she was on her own exploration mission and met Mulan. The whole episode was about her only, which was good and made the end part where Belle decided to go back to Rumple more tolerant because it explained what happened to cause her to be imprisoned by the Queen. I agree that too much of her storyline is just meshed into Rumple's and it's quite tiresome. I'd really like her and her father (Moe) to have more screen time and bond as family. I'd like to see her do something that's NOT related to Rumple, and even if his name is mentioned between her and her father, that the whole scene doesn't revolve completely about him. I'm even surprised the pawnshop still bears Mr. Gold's name. I would have thought Belle might've gone through the motions of changing the name or something since his banishment from town, particularly since she is running things there now.