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
Enchanted Past. Day. Wearing a terrific (if a bit cleavage-y) hunting outfit, Belle is sitting in the back of the hunting party's wagon as it makes its way along the road. When a male hunter leans over her shoulder to check out her rack, he pretends like he cares about what she's doing and asks what she's holding. Belle's smile is wry. "A book. I trust you've seen one before." Oh Belle, you're such a trusting woman. Blowhard mocks Belle for expecting to defeat the fiercest creature in the land with a book. The other hunters laugh about her perhaps boring it to death.
When Belle explains that the book will help her learn how to defeat the Yamaguchi, I wonder if it was written by Tonya Harding (yes, I know, Kerrigan not Yamaguchi, just go with it), Blowhard grabs the book. Since it's not written in Moron, he thinks the book is full of scribbles. Belle says she knows how to translate it, but then tries to back off from the claim. Blowhard blows harder and orders her to share the information she's gleaned from the book. Once Belle says they'll find the Yamaguchi by the lake, Blowhard kicks her off the wagon. Belle asks the party to wait, but Blowhard can only be bothered to throw her the book. Did that bastard keep that gorgeous satchel? As the wagon rounds the bend in the road, Belle smiles and tells them to enjoy the lake, then opens her book and begins to read. "The Yaoguai prefers mountain habitats to all others..." We cut to...
Yamaguchi Lair. Exterior. Belle is still reading aloud to herself about the Yamaguchi, which seems to be nocturnal. She closes her book, looks toward the lair and whispers, "Please be asleep." Belle creeps forward and cringes when she steps on a twig, but she doesn't nearly as hard or long as the audience does when we realize our smart girl is hunting a fierce beast armed with little more than a tiny dagger.
The beat roars. Belle runs for cover. The Yamaguchi emerges from its lair. It's head is surrounded by flame. Belle stumbles. The Yamaguchi is hot on her trail. Up on the hill, Mulan takes aim and fires an arrow at the Yamaguchi. She misses but does startle away the beast and helps Belle to her feet.
This is one of the first times I'm glad to see Mulan, but that doesn't last long. When Belle is effusive in her gratitude to Mulan, Mulan remains gruff and rude. "You ruined my hunt. It took me weeks to track the Yaoguai here." Belle picks up her book and says it only took her a day. Mulan assumes Belle has luck on her side, but Belle gives credit to her beloved book, and offers to help Mulan find the beast again. Mulan sneers because that what she does best. "You've done enough damage already. If you really want to help, stay out of my way." Still, Belle looks more intrigued than offended as she watches Mulan stalk off through the forest. We flash forward to...