Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: B+ | 460 USERS: B+ YOU GRADE IT Hook, Line and Sinker
By Cindy McLennan | Season 2 | Episode 4 | Aired on 2012.10.21
There's an overly obvious close up shot of Charming wiping the mine dust off his hands, and if that wasn't anvilicious enough for you, he then mutters, "Ugh. I hate mine dust." Turning back to the workers, he calls out, "Leroy, if you find anything, I'll be at the Sheriff's station." He's stepping in, until Emma gets back. See. He's a good daddy and a responsible citizen.
Rumpy's House. Rumpy goes upstairs and knocks on Belle's door, which helps me forget the TMI implication of the earlier shot of Belle in bed. When she doesn't answer, he opens the door. The room is empty, but one of the windows is wide open. We cut to...
Game of Thorns. Rumpy arrives at Mo French's wonderfully named flower shop, bearing a hand-drawn missing poster, featuring a color sketch of Belle. He asks the man whom he nearly beat to death if he's heard from his daughter. Mo is less than eager to share information with Rumpy, but it doesn't matter, since he hasn't seen Belle either. Rumpy says that Belle made a flyer in hopes of finding Mo. Mo: "Let me guess. You took care of it by throwing it in the trash." Rumpy doesn't expect Mo's help; he just wants to know Belle is safe. Mo: "And now, thanks to you, neither one of us knows where she is. You're a monster, Rumplestiltskin (sic)." We flash back to...
L'enchantment. It's set later than the earlier scenes, as Rumpy is the Dark One and Bae has already left their world. Rumpy is seated in a tavern when he is approached by William Smee (Chris Gauthier). We don't get confirmation that he's Smee until much later, but his floppy red cap makes it pretty obvious, and I hate having to pretend I haven't already watched an episode. Rumpy menaces that Smee had better make this meeting worth his while, so Smee gets to the point. He's in the business of procuring hard-to-find objects. He understands Rumpy is in search of a magic bean that can transport people between worlds. Rumpy leans in and hisses that he's been told those beans no longer exist in their land. Smee agrees. "Not in this land, no, but the ships that dock here often return from far-off lands with treasures they don't always understand." Smee says it's his job to to understand such things. "As is knowing the rumors of who might pay the highest price for such treasures." When Rumpy asks what rumors he's heard, Smee morphs into the Exposition Fairy. "You were once a great coward, but [...] became the Dark One to protect the--a son who you lost, despite all..."