Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-68.125.32.224-20130312042332/@comment-92.26.237.204-20130318210144

In answer to the origional question, I would say Rumple's 'true love' kisses with Cora and Belle respectively didn't work because one side was scared/ didn't totally commit themself to the relationship.

With Cora and Rumple it was obviously that what she ultimatly would choose was power rather than him, so her kiss couldn't de-curse him.

When Belle and Rumple kissed for the first time in Skin Deep it started to work, until he became afraid and thought she couldn't really love him, and realised that loving her would take his powers. Then it stopped working.

Later in Storybrooke they kiss loads I know, but even though he loves her, its clear he still harbours a lust for power 'magic has become a crutch that I can't walk without', so until he stops being scared and lets go of that I don't think it can work. Then Belle loses her memories and so obviously doesn't commit herself to the relationship, so it still won't work.

I think the idea of 'True loves kiss' requires a degree of faith in that love. When Emma kissed Henry in A Land Without Magic she completely abandoned her emotional wall and commited herself to loving her son. So curse broken. When David and Mary Margaret kissed while still cursed, they were still afraid e.g. David wouldn't admit the truth the Kathryn. So no curse broken.

Just my theory.