Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: A- | 288 USERS: B+ YOU GRADE IT For Whom The Belle Tolls
By Cindy McLennan | Season 2 | Episode 11 | Aired on 2013.01.13
Yamaguchi Land. Night. Belle leads Mulan on their search for the beast. When they come to a clearing, they see a village below, burning away. When she congratulates Belle on her tracking prowess, Belle notices that the wound Mulan sustained while rescuing her has only gotten worst. Wounded Mulan is more likable than any other version of Mulan we've seen so far. When she insists she must save her village, Belle points out she is in no condition to hunt or fight. Mulan knows she's right and tells Belle that she must get the Yamaguchi. She tells Belle how she once had to prove her own warrior spirit, and she knows Belle can do the same. "The fate of my village depends on you." Giving Belle her sword, Mulan tells her not to be afraid. We flash forward to...
Storybrooke. Hook's ship. Belle tells Hook she isn't afraid him and won't be leaving without the shawl. Rumpy needs it to find his son. When Hook suggests the boy probably wouldn't want to be found by Rumpy, Belle asks if he hasn't yet hurt her woobie enough. That's a bit too rich for Hook. After Belle points out that Hook stole Milah, Hook gives her the real scoop. Milah begged him to take her away because she loved him, and because Rumpy was a coward.
Returning to the shawl, Hook says he should have burned it as soon as he got it. When Belle asks why he didn't, Hook says, "Because she made it." Belle says she's sorry Milah died, but points out vengeance won't bring her back. It's then that Hook fills Belle in on the details of Milah's death. "He ripped out her heart, and he crushed it, right in front of me." Belle refuses to believe it, but Hook sets her straight and tells her Rumpy will do anything to hold onto his power. That's why anyone who was ever close to him has run away or been killed. Hook again points the gun at Belle, cocks it, and asks her what makes her any different. He wants to know why she'd fight for a man like that.
Belle makes a big speech about how Rumpy is different. His heart is true. Blah blah blah Stockholm syndrome cakes. She then declares Hook's heart is rotten, knocks him down into the ship's hold, and scurries out. Down below, Hook says, "You have no idea." Commercial.