There has never been any doubt that Robert Carlyle is a gifted actor, arguably one of the best actors of his generation. He's gone from film to television and back again both here and in the U.K. He's done tiny budget independent films that allow him to create characters and give voice to films with great social or political weight and bigger projects that undoubtedly allow him to support small-budget worthwhile cinema. But there is also no doubt that whatever role he chooses to do, he has an ability to transform himself completely, making the character unforgettable.
Carlyle's role on Once Upon a Time is a difficult one. His Storybrooke and Fairytale Land personas are in many ways reflections of each other, but each is so distinct in manner, voice and appearance, it takes a true sorcerer of an actor to make us comprehend that they are indeed one character. All of the main cast of Once play dual roles, but Rumple's personas are so distinct from the other, coming from such distant times in his long life, that his is not like any other character on the series.
And that each persona: from terrified peasant to trickster to cuckolded husband to cool businessman to the courtly enchanted prince we seem to get glimpses of from time to time all inform and loop back on each other, often simultaneously. It's just brilliant.
Rumple is child-like as much as he is demonic. He is graceful and flamboyant; he uses his voice to terrify: an enraged shriek or a chilling calm. But it can also take on an affected elegance that is cover for the impoverished, frightened, lonely, and powerless peasant he left behind when was cursed by killing the Dark One.
Mr. Gold's icy calm is equally unnerving as it can turn to dark rage in an instant when he feels betrayed or threatened. Gold remembers what it was like; cursed not only as the Dark One, he is cursed with a memory that despite the distance of centuries, is still too raw and too painful.
In tonight's Once Upon a Time episode "The Crocodile" we begin to understand why Rumple clings to power; he knows what it is to have none. He knows what it means to be so powerless that he must suffer the humiliation of watching his wife become whore to a pirate.
It is a testament to the power of Carlyle's considerable acting ability that despite the terrible things Rumplestiltskin does in "Crocodile" he can still break our hearts. Carlyle's range of emotional beats in this week's episode is astonishing. He took us deep within Rumple's heart: to the source of the loss, pain, loneliness and anger that coexist within him. But he also showed us as Rumple shows Belle, the love and yearning that also dwells within his ravaged soul. Wrapped around the anguish, however is Rumple's armor of steel: blind rage, quick temper, even cruelty, and Carlyle's performance made us fear him as much as we fear for him. It was simply brilliant.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Betsy
Short form: loved the episode and am mystified how I could be spoiled so much and yet shocked so much. Very sad about Rumbelle. Mo is a monster and now I Regina's "lies" in Skin Deep almost seem truthful. Loved Belle being honest at the beginning and insisting on taking charge of her life
The very best part? Bobby. His performance is always wonderful. His library scene was Emmy-worthy; how is it that he keeps breaking my heart? I felt SOOO sorry for Gold, who obviously believed (and rightly so) that Belle didn't want anything to do with him. In that reunion scene, she called him by his full name as a parent calls a naughty child by his full name - and she pushed away his hug. So, of course he went to the library to say goodbye, to let her live the life she has never had the chance to.....and he gave her the best gift of all. He finally told her the truth - I can't say enough how often that man breaks my heart. He can make the stroke of a cheek seem like the most loving thing in the world.
Words can not express how deeply Gold loves Belle - He loves her to the very depths of his soul and living without her will be tough. Imagine him going home to his house now, with her scent and presence still there. I imagine he's having a good cry now.
Bobby and Emilie are phenomenal together. Good lord, this show struck gold with these two. HE's a master, yet Emilie is able to go toe to toe with him. Remarkable. I miss them when they aren't in scenes together.
2 - Betsy
I will say that I disagree that Belle stopped loving him......it's not true love if she just stopped that quickly. I personally think Gold should not try to romance her at all, that he should just leave her be and deal with the stuff going on in his life. If she wants to see him, she'll make it known.
3 - barbara barnett
I don't think Belle has stopped loving. He believes that (which makes sense for his character). I think the courtship will be very, very subtle. Like the keys to the library--a beautiful sweet gesture borne of love.
4 - Betsy
I'm not sure what to expect, to be honest. I feel like what Belle needs from him can't be gained by having a burger and fries. It's nearly impossible to regain trust in someone. I'm not sure how Gold can prove himself to her now that he's basically opened up to her. She's not really looking to be romanced, she was looking for him to share his life. But....now he did, so what's next?
5 - barbara barnett
He hasn't shared his life. He was honest with her, but that's not the same thing. A burger and fries is a lovely little olive branch. She wants to be courted. Burger and fries is a date. I think she wants to step back and take this thing a little at a time, cautiously. I think Rumple will allow that, give her space, but never let her forget that he loves her. She is all he has left.
6 - Betsy
I'm not sure I see the difference. Well if he can't share his life with her, then they have no future. As a matter of fact, I'm not sure they have one anyway.
Gold kidnapped Smee and was going to pull another Maurice beating act on him -I mean this is the kind of thing that makes you wonder about how Belle could ever be happy with him. Even if he's honest with her, even if he shares his feelings, there's no way Belle would cotton to this kind of behavior.
I LOVE him - I LOVE LOVE LOVE Gold. He breaks my heart with his vulnerabilty to Belle and his epically deep love for her, but that is always tempered by his rage. I almost feel like there's no way he can ever even contemplate a relationship until either all his foes are dead or he's near death- when there's nothing left to hate anymore. He has to deal with his foes - and he always will. In order for him to do that, he's probably going to have to do some nasty things. I'm not sure that I see these two getting together for a long time, if ever.
I still see Belle wondering about her feelings for Gold. IMO, she could have every reason to believe that she "fell" for him simply based on the fact that she was accomodating to her circumstances. After all, she was never going to be able to see another man or any person period again........so why not give him a chance? If she doesn't know herself, how can she possibly know that she loves him?
I guess I didn't get the idea from her at all that she wants to be courted...their issues run much much deeper than that. Plus, I don't think it's good for Gold to need Belle so much. It's unhealthy. Their relationship is completely unequal now. Belle does not need him, but he needs her.
I didn't even see the burger thing as a date. It's sort of like saying to someone "hey, maybe we can do lunch sometime" when you don't really mean it. That burger date if it happens will not be anytime soon.
7 - WML
I loved this episode. Robert Carlyle is a fantastic actor. Mr. Gold/Rumple and Belle are the most intriguing couple in FTL and in Storybrooke. I hope that the backstory of Rumple becomes even more complicated.
That he is somehow a prince that went to war, made a mistake and is transformed to a beast. After all, to be branded a coward, treated as a nothing, be the dregs of the earth - how beastly a burden is that to be placed ony anyone. What if Milah saw the Rumple cursed, be told that true love will restore him, and being the selfish girl that she is went for Rumple. Her mistake was that she never truly loved him, and the curse was not broken. Thus, her saying that "it was not the life she imagined" would have a real meaning.
And so Rumple becomes an even greater beast when he gains power as the dark one. And now comes Belle. Here's hoping at the end that he sacrices his power by the use of the evil dagger to save Belle. And....
But that's just my version of the story. And as another conjecture, would it not be a game changer if Henry ends up being Emma and Baelfire's son. This has been discussed before but this will bring new dynamics to the show. Rumple as grandad, Regina as stepmom, et. al. The possibilities can only grow.
8 - Ronnie
I like how they have combined two faery stories with once charactor, that Rumple is part of the Beauty and the Beast story and also part of the Neverland Story. Very clever indeed.
9 - barbara barnett
WML--Me likey your theory(ies). Ronnie--yes, I love the idea that Rumple has had a hand in yet another tale. How Hook got his hook. Extremely clever. I think as the story weaves ever more complex, the fantasy=scape they've created is getting more and more textured. I love it.
10 - Kelly
It was a great episode. As always Rumplestiltskin/Gold is one of tv's most interesting characters and as we all know RC is a phenomenal actor. So much range. I have to say Emilie de Ravin as an actress is very talented. She deserves more credit and is such a great acting partner for Robert Carlyle. She more than holds her own. I love that Belle was fierce in this episode. She's brave and intelligent and she stood up for herself. I like that she tried not to change but understand Rumple and that she wasn't a doormat for him either.She was very smart in taking it slow with him. I love how this show ties in some many characters. I love love Red/Belle and Charming/Gold interactions. Hope they interact more.
11 - barbara barnett
Yes, Kelly, of course! With Rumple being in nearly every scene it's also so important to recognize Emilie, who goes very easily toe-to-toe with Mr. Carlyle. Their chemistry is wonderful. I have to think that that library scene in particular—those emotions that both of them played came unforced and so natural. That can only come from real trust and being so in the moment that it is (even within the realm of a fantasy show) completely honest and real. Bravo to both of them.
12 - WML
If this is a season of redemption, let's say that Hook and Rumple have a fight of some sort and Belle is somehow in the middle of it. In defending Belle, Rumple manages to use the dagger on himself (to save Belle). Instead of ending Rumple's life, however, the curse breaks and Rumple is transformed to the prince he once was. Of course, this will leave Regina or Cora (or both) as the only ones in Stonybrooke with magical powers. Rumple will then have to work with the powerless beings in Storybrooke to defeat the remaining evil. And this would make sense if Henry is also Rumple's grandson - the redemption would have much more significance if Rumple's son and grandson witness what he is now able to do for love. The romantic in a lot of people can always root for the Byronic hero.
My question though is this. Would the poeple in Storybrooke really prefer to go back to Fairytale land to live out the rest of their days.
13 - barbara barnett
WML--Rumple is definitely Byronic. I love your scenario. The romantic in me does to :) It would make his journey a rather classical heroic quest. Love it.
That's a great question. FTL is destroyed with only that small area really habitable. So they really can't go back.
BTW--I love that Rumple is working on something that would break this new (aspect) of the curse.
14 - WML
I just watched the scene between Carlyle and de Ravin in the library. The acting was truly exquisite. The unsaid longing on each of their faces was moving and palpable. You know that giving up Belle was hard for Rumple. And yet he was willing to do it. This is the second time he's done this with her. It's that love that he has for her, hopefully, that brings redemption. After all, love is not the lavishment of gifts on another but the ability to put another's life above your own. He was unable to do that with Bae. And yet he is willing to do it for Belle. Watching Carlyle, you could see the conflict within him in his actions, his demeanor - the way he looked at Belle, the way he gestured, the way he walked... An acting masterclass.
And de Ravin was up to it. She mirrored the loneliness in Rumple that was also in Belle. Marvelously. You can see that she still had doubt, but she also has hope and love.
A most tender scene. Who needs people under the sheets when these two, fully clothed, shows the truth about love, the sorrows and joys, the hopes that come with it. Great writing abetted by great acting. And the variation of the Once Upon a Time theme, with the sonorous strings, the piano, an adagio of unspoken passion.
15 - Betsy
Bobby and Emilie have exquisite chemistry no matter what scene they are playing. There is obviously an incredible trust/comfort level between them because they feed off of each other like few I've ever seen. Bobby is such a brilliant actor and yet he is matched by Emilie - which is astounding. I am hoping that she will finally get the credit that is due her. They somehow bring out the best in each other and continue to raise the bar with each performance.
They act together like they've been acting together all their lives; they are true partners in their scenes.
I could watch that library scene a hundred times and I would cry each time. We really got a glimpse into the inside of this man's heart and everything he was feeling even as he was the Dark One. I thought it was honestly was a genuinely remarkable scene. We have Gold looking back to centuries past to himself as the DO and telling Belle, telling the viewers also, in essence what he was thinking and feeling at the time. To me, Gold humanizes Rumple of the past as he's humanizing himself now. Yes, he was still the beast, but it's clear from Gold's tone and words that he was miserably cursed. He had grown to need and depend on that power, to the point that he couldn't give it up even for his son...that's how bad it was for him. My heart just broke..........he lost Bae and how he was going to lose Belle. When he reached out and touched her..........god, that goodbye was tragic.
16 - Betsy
This is the 3rd time that Gold (or Rumple) has let Belle go and it breaks his heart each time. His love for her is epically deep and strong; there is nothing he wouldn't do for her. He reached out to touch her in a final gesture and I think that he would remember the feel of her skin for the rest of his life, however long he should live. As he walked away, he looked haggard and old........frankly, he looked ill.
17 - barbara barnett
You know, it's interesting. If you go back to my earliest articles on Once (back even before the show officially premiere, but after I'd seen the pilot), I've always thought of Rumple/Gold as a tragic hero, perhaps a Byronic hero, even then.
18 - barbara barnett
Betsy, I think his expression and body language in that entire scene spoke volumes about what he was feeling. I think it had to have been a combination or extreme self-loathing for what he had become, regret, love for Belle, and grief over his losses.
19 - Betsy
Barbara, absolutely. He has lived many lifetimes, and because of how miserable he's been, it probably seems twice as long.
He desperately wanted this relationship to work, to the point where he asked Charming for help and advice. To have Belle tell him, after he saved her life, that she never wanted to see him again, was like a dagger in his heart. If Belle hadn't called out to him after he said goodbye, I have no idea how he would have survived. There's only so much one can take and her rejection of him would have sent him into a downward spiral that I don't think he could have recovered from.
Gold has no idea that he doesn't need magic as a crutch. He's so brilliant and clever, but has no faith in any of his abilities. I hope as Rumbelle rebuilds their relationship that Belle will be able to make him see that, while magic is not bad in and of itself, he doesn't need it.
This is the 4th character Bobby is playing. I love Gold and this version most of all. When it comes to Belle, he's soft and vulnerable - and I love how he doesn't care that he's allowing others to see a different side of him; he just needs to find Belle. I think this man is who he would like to be and I believe he can get there. He could do so much with his wealth and smarts. No he can't do anything about the past, but he can make the future a better place. Opening the library again is a good start, but how about suppplying the school with updated textbooks or opening a clinic? I think he would feel better about himself by doing good things.
After having thought about the episode again, I realize that the writers are giving fans a gift. We didn't get to really see a Rumbelle romance in Skin Deep - how could we when the entire show is only 42 minutes? Showing it over the course of much of the rest of the season will allow them to show us real romance in greater depth.
20 - WML
So far in this series, Belle is the only person that Rumple has not showered with rage. And she seems to be the one person that has never feared him.
21 - Patti
I have to say I was not impressed by Hook at all and didn't care at all for Rumple's first wife. I can understand not loving her husband but if you look at what Rumple did to keep bae safe and what snow&charming did with emma and emma for henry, i don't even know if she loved her son. leave her husband sure but her kid and then not even ask of him when you see the dark one. she left me cold. also didn't get the sense that rumple loved her either but was lonely because he easily ripped her heart out but didn't with belle in skin deep when he thought she worked for regina.
rumple reminds me of tragic character too. I hope his redemption isn't in death. But he reminds me of Lost's Locke or Buffy's Angel/Angelus.
I agree on the chemistry between Carlyle and de Ravin. They can convey with just a few looks what it takes many other pairings pages&pages of dialogue to convey or what it takes a sex scene to convey.
22 - Patti
I really love pre dark one. Rumplestilstkin. You can just see how the world and magic/power changed him. He was such a good man. I just want to hug that guy and wish that Rumple could have met and been friends with Charming and meet Belle. That guy so needed them and deserved them
23 - Betsy
Barbara, Do you believe Rumple completely crossed the line when he killed Milha and that he can never have a HEA? That made me so sad.......
24 - barbara barnett
That, Betsy, was an unbelievably cruel thing to do. The power of the curse, his rage, whatever he'd had to deal with all those years with and without Baelfire I think all crashed together and was too much for him. It's very sad. But what's an HEA?
I'm in the middle of a piece on Rumple as a Byronic hero. Halfway done and should be up tonight sometime.
25 - John
I have to give the actors and writers major props for how great this episode was and how they handled the couple. Rumplestiltskin and Belle are a very tricky couple to do. Rumple is very much like a junky when it comes to magic. A lot of it comes from his fears but he knows a lot of what he is doing is wrong and he has chosen power of bae and belle before. He has lied to both of them and known it was wrong but chose to do it anyone. he so quickly brought magic to storybrooke (and he didn’t know he needed it to cross the town border) after reuniting with belle, and how quickly he broke his promise.it gets harder to justify the character when he does “dark one”/evil things in the present. Why do them when it’s the reason he lost bae and belle in the first place. That’s no way to prove to bae that he has changed and he choses love. Maybe there saving that to the end where the beast will break his own curses by chosing belle and bae over magic. It’s clear that he is redeemable but the show wants to use him as the villain or questionable shady character possibly to the end which is what makes this version of beauty and the beast so tricky.
I know most fans are female or should I say assume that and swoon for Rumple/give him more of a break. Many would run to him at the library scene where in real life it would be the strong and smart thing to run for the hills and some will either say belle doesn’t love him unconditionally/as much as he loves her or call her weak/doormat if she gives him another chance. Haters are gonna hate and some characters are darned if they do and darned if they don’t.
They need to keep rumple the villain but Belle is also a heroine. So how do they do that balancing act. How do you keep the love pure and true love. How do you keep it as love unconditional and accepting as is without making belle an idiot, naïve, a nag, weak, or like an abused wife. Loving unconditional does not mean you stand there and remove the body and clean the blood or just stand there and let someone do evil. You know it can’t be Oh well he hit someone,cursed them oh well I love them. It’s a balancing act to keep Belle from being a doormat. I was so unsure and worried that the show would not be able to do it. That it would be either Belle’s not strong/is a doormat or Belle doesn’t love him as much/unconditional.. Episode 4 for me proved that the show can do it. It showed Belle being spunky,strong and smart. It had her wanting to know him and loving him unconditionally while not being a doormat. Belle in the beginning of the episode did not simply leave before he returned from the basement lab or start yelling. She wanted to know the reasoning and her courage speech was intelligent/read him like a book and echoed skin deep. The episode had her meeting new people and wanting to support herself which is great for character strength and independence. Belle was a modern women in olden time fairytale land and now she gets to do those things/seeing a new world(new food- loved her excitement there). Her speech in the mines echoed skin deep as well. It showed her intelligence and independent brave spirit. The part about listening was great because no relationship can work unless you listen and also let people in and work as a team. In the library scene Belle again proved her love unconditional by not giving up on him. She by then clearly has seen rumple the dark one/ monster and rumple the coward and she loves him and is very intelligent in not rushing or forcing it. Taking it slow is good and then rumple proved there is hope by telling her the truth (and admitting his cowardness and that magic is his drug/crutch) and when lost his first wife for being a coward and bae for being the monster, belle heard the truth and kept the door open. It was clear as day the monster and the coward and she didn’t leave him/give up. She accepted him as is. Also given his really poor self image and his overwhelming lack of self worthiness. Knowing his fears and him letting her see the things people left him for, she proved she is not like others. She saw him:monster and coward and didn’t leave him like others. It’s going to take a lot to get over his dependence on magic and also his views on himself (that he can’t be loved). The end had Belle proving he can be loved and accepted. She keeps proving him wrong and has great patience. Taking it slow is smart and it was a new beginning.
The writers did a great job with a tricky situation and the actors conveyed the characters’ strengths and vulnerability so well. The chemistry between them is the best in television and awesome job by Emilie de Ravin who is a underappreciated talent. Given his experience and talent, you would likely say Miss de Ravin is lucky to work with such a great but he’s lucky to be partnered with a great like de Ravin too.