Friday , March 29 2024
Once Upon a Time star Robert Carlyle chats with Blogcritics about season four and Rumplestiltskin (and that dagger!).

‘Once Upon a Time’ Preview: A Chat with Robert Carlyle and Emilie de Ravin

This is the second in a series of interviews and articles leading to the season four premiere of ABC’s hit series Once Upon a Time. All interviews were conducted at the 2014 Comic-Con International in San Diego. Robert Carlyle and Emilie de Ravin at Comic Con

When we last left Rumplestiltskin (Robert Carlyle) and Belle (Emily de Ravin), they had just wed in a private ceremony, having survived Zelena and her wicked witchery. The season four premiere sees the newlyweds going off on their honeymoon, but with a dark shadow cast upon their new marriage: a lie about the Dark One’s dagger. Although Belle had been content to have it remain in Rumple’s possession, he insists upon giving it to her. But, instead of giving her the actual dagger, he secretly swaps it for a fake, and he retains the magical weapon and its power.

It seemed an illogical turn of events (and still does, even after a poignant graveside confession scene early in the season premiere). Why lie to Belle when she is perfectly willing for him to keep it? We know he’d wanted to avenge Baelfire’s death, and that makes perfect sense, but the question about the lie remains. And now that Rumple has done what he’d needed to do with the dagger comes the problem of how–and when–to return to her. If, that is, he can bring himself to part with it (and that’s not at all clear by the end of the premiere). Carlyle explained during our few minutes together that the main thing for his character ”is the relationship between Belle and Gold, their relationship will be stretched as far as it can go, perhaps to the breaking point” because of that dagger.

In the meantime, Rumple and Belle will be working on making the new marriage work, and the premiere contains a lovely scene and a shout out to one of the most iconic scenes in the Disney animated film Beauty and the Beast.

Although Carlyle confessed to not knowing where his character is headed this season, he’s quite happy to go wherever the creators Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis takes him. “I’ll leave it up to the guys. The character of Gold is really, really intricate.” He’s quite interested to learn what Kitsis and Horowitz have in store for him.

One new avenue for Rumple is an exploration of his relationship with grandson Henry. When Belle and Rumple return from their honeymoon (episode two), Carlyle explained, “Henry is waiting in the shop in the middle of the night. They have a conversation and Gold tries to help him through his problems.” Carlyle revealed that Henry will be going through a lot this season, and hopefully Gold will be able to help him through that.

Once Upon a Time returns Sunday night 8:00 p.m. on ABC. Be sure to tune into Let’s Talk TV Sunday night at 10:00 p.m. ET for a rundown of the premiere. Tune in, join the conversation, and let us know what you thought of it! I’ll be posting my review of the season four premiere towards the end of the week. In the meantime, enjoy the (rough-cut) video of my session with Robert Carlyle and Emilie de Ravin:

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About Barbara Barnett

A Jewish mother and (young 🙃) grandmother, Barbara Barnett is an author and professional Hazzan (Cantor). A member of the Conservative Movement's Cantors Assembly and the Jewish Renewal movement's clergy association OHALAH, the clergy association of the Jewish Renewal movement. In her other life, she is a critically acclaimed fantasy/science fiction author as well as the author of a non-fiction exploration of the TV series House, M.D. and contributor to the book Spiritual Pregnancy. She Publisher/Executive Editor of Blogcritics, (blogcritics.org).

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One comment

  1. They should not killed Baelfire off. Yes, I’ve said that over and over. Still, OUAT is still a fantastic show as long as Carlyle gets his fair share of the action, so to speak. Just a great actor.

    My asides:

    The Scottish leading men are really fantastic. Carlyle, great actor. David Tennant. Peter Capaldi (what a breath of fresh air he is as the Doctor). Looking forward to Gracepoint AND Broadchurch II. And Hannibal’s showrunner wants David Tennant on his show. In the immortal words of Patrick Stewart – Make It So.

    Sleepy Hollow is still fantastic. The premiere was surprising. Funny, interesting, well acted, well written, fantastical, outlandish. Gruesomely fun, if there is such a thing.