Is Belle really useless to Hook for revenge? I'm not sure I understand his reasoning. Rumple killed his "true love" although, again, couldn't care less about Hook/Milah. And Hook took Belle's memories but she's still alive. If he wants to get the ultimate revenge wouldn't he want to kill Belle?

Plus if Cora really wants revenge on Rumple, wouldn't she go through Belle? It seems like the whole town knows she's his true love. So I don't see how even amnesiac Belle wouldn't be one of their main targets, especially for Hook and Cora since Hook wants revenge for killing the woman he loved and Cora seems to have a romantic history with Rumple (blech). So wouldn't his true love be the more obvious revenge choice?

I think they mean the seer girl. She must have said some tidbits about his future to Rumpel, one being about the reunion with Bael.

And then to be left with what?

I don't want Regina to be manipulated by Cora either and I want her to stand up against her and fight for herself but Regina has not ONE SINGLE PERSON to fall back on, after Daniel's death she never had one and everyone needs someone in his or her life who cares about them. So, I don't like that Regina goes down that road and listens to her mother but I find it realistic for the situation she is in.

Hook did try to kill Belle back when she was in Regina's castle, he just didn't succeed because Regina stopped him due to her being a chess piece.

I don't think I agree with this concept that it's wrong if someone tries to change for another person because it apparently doesn't mean as much.

I think it's wonderful when someone finds love and because of that love will look at themselves and want to be the person that they are seen to be or they could be.

I just don't find anything wrong with Rumple changing because of his love for Belle and his son or Regina changing for love of Henry. I don't think it diminishes it in any way.

I think they both try because of the people they love but they also both have reasons for the people they became. Not saying either Regina or Rumple are good people. But I think both could be redeemed in the end. But I think wanting to change for another person and their love is a big, big step in the right direction.

Awful idea on the prophecy/last 30 seconds theories -

Prophecies in fiction are usually unclear or otherwise troublesome, right? Some of them are downright misleading (Macbeth can't be killed by any man of woman born. C-section baby MacDuff doesn't count as "born").

Rumple thought it was possible (when he thought August was Bae) that Bae might want to kill him, right?

And he was extremely reluctant to leave the village he lived in, correct?

So, let's assume there was some implied danger--to him or to Bae--if they left their hometown (which wouldn't seem to matter when Bae's about to be taken away to be cannon fodder, then it would just be a question of the least dangerous way to run).

There might also have been one of those vague prophecies implying either father or son would be a danger to the other--but not specifying which.

You'd think these prophecies would all be fulfilled, wouldn't you? Rumple got turned into the Dark One, Bae got lost in our world, etc.

Emma runs Bae down when Rumple isn't there. So, what if they decide not to tell Henry or Gold Neal/Bae is Henry's father?

What if the danger the prophecy speaks of is to Henry? And the circumstances--leaving his home town for the first time and maybe other things--have just been met?

Henry HAS left SB before though. He left to find Emma. It could be about Henry. Who knows. But I think the thing that is supposed to make us shudder is about the prophecy.
I do wonder if they don't tell Gold and Henry about Neal. I'm not sure why Neal would come back to SB though if they don't know he's Bae.

I always thought it would be more dramatic if Bae came to town and Gold didn't realize he was his son and they were at odds.

Is Belle really useless to Hook for revenge? I'm not sure I understand his reasoning. Rumple killed his "true love" although, again, couldn't care less about Hook/Milah. And Hook took Belle's memories but she's still alive. If he wants to get the ultimate revenge wouldn't he want to kill Belle?

Plus if Cora really wants revenge on Rumple, wouldn't she go through Belle? It seems like the whole town knows she's his true love. So I don't see how even amnesiac Belle wouldn't be one of their main targets, especially for Hook and Cora since Hook wants revenge for killing the woman he loved and Cora seems to have a romantic history with Rumple (blech). So wouldn't his true love be the more obvious revenge choice?

Hook himself told Emma that Belle served her purpose and she was safe from him; mind you, this is taking the word of a pirate.

Also, we don't really know if Cora has any particular feelings towards Rumpel yet. Her main motivation seems to be Regina, and she already "helped" Rumpel in finding his son so he took that as a peace-offering...though in hindsight, it seems like a strategic move to get him out of SB.

Also, TOTALLY AGREE that I see nothing wrong with someone trying to change (for the better) on behalf of someone they love. They soften, reveal things previously hidden, open themselves up for censure but also for love. One of the reasons I also ship Klaus/Caroline from TVD.

Just wanted to post something on Milah and Rumple -

Some people have been upset that Milah and Rumple may have once had a loving relationship. There seems to be a feeling that this somehow steps on the strength of Rumple's relationship with Belle.

Instead, I think Milah's relationship with Rumple highlights the strengths of Belle's relationship with Rumple.

Milah overcame some initial difficulties (her family's dislike of Rumple and his family) to marry him. But, when real difficulties came along, she found it easier to turn against him than to stand by him. I think her main problem is shown clearly in her last conversation with Rumple. At the end of it, she promises to try. The next morning, she leaves, never to return.

Compare this to Belle. Family opposition to the relationship? Check. Is Rumple badly thought of in the community? Check. Does she have worries and concerns about Rumple and the choices he's making? Check.

Belle doesn't blindly accept Rumple's faults. She tells him when she's frustrated and why. She does consider whether or not she can continue the relationship.

But, she doesn't side with his enemies against him (even when the enemy is her father). She tells him when she's frustrated. Although she discusses some of her relationship problems with Ruby, she doesn't belittle Rumple behind his back. She also didn't go trolling for other men at the bar while still involved with Rumple (even when we've seen her drunk in a bar, the closest she came to that was giving Dreamy/Grumpy advice on his own relationship). When she leaves him in the mines, she tells him she's doing it and she tells him why.

Maybe Milah had a chance to be a person like Belle. But, when she faced the tough times in their relationship, she made different choices.

I agree that this is true, but it makes me nervous nonetheless that Rumple may have loved Milha as much as he loved Belle. I don't care if she's dead and gone for 300 years - it makes Rumbelle an ordinary relationship, nothing special.

I don't think anyone is saying he loved Milah as much as he loved Belle. I don't like it either. But I always assumed he loved his wife. I don't personally understand why the need to go overboard about it. They know that Rumbelle is hugely popular and there is certainly no fanbase for him and some minor character like Milah. I don't quite get their reasoning other than ticking off the people who like Rumbelle.

I get that she was a part of his life and the mother of his child and also added to his feeling that he couldn't be loed. But I don't know why Jane Espenson had to point out that Milah was lying and that she did love Rumple. Why is that important? Am I missing where there is all this love for them as a couple? LOL.

But anyway, we'll see what happens. I certainly think they're crazy if they're trying to say Rumbelle is not special, but I don't see them doing that.

When did he tell Emma that? Was it last week's episode? I didn't realize Emma saw him before she left SB.

I thought Rumple already looked worried about Cora and Belle when REgina told him Cora was alive. There was a scene in the diner. He told Belle she wouldn't ever meet her and Regina looked at Belle and told him he had something to lose. Then he tried hard to prevent Cora from coming to town. So I just assumed that Cora was a threat to Belle in some way.