Once upon a Beauty met her Beast…no it’s not Rumpelstiltskin.
When we last met Gaston, he was engaged to Belle and attempted to save her from Rumple. In his failed attempt, he was turned into a rose, thus sent to the Underworld. But how did these two become engaged?
It all started when her father set them up for a meeting, Gaston’s family can help the kingdom in defense against the ogres, which have been closing in. Belle is hesitant to meet Gaston, having heard stories of his arrogance and history with (many) ladies. But Gaston charms his way into going on a walk with Belle. During their “date” they encounter an ogre stuck in a hole in the ground. While Gaston wants to bring it to her father (who will probably end up torturing it), Belle wants to find a better way. One ogre that small may not be evil and bent on destruction. She looks up the location of a mirror that will reflect if a person is good or bad. She says she’ll retrieve the mirror while Gaston guards the ogre. Gaston agrees, almost stealing a kiss from Belle. She hands him a book called The Handsome Hero, which is about how a hero is not measured on strength, but on compassion.
(ABC/Jack Rowand)
All things seem happy with the budding couple, she brings her father to where the Ogre was as backup, but they come across Gaston being beaten. Gaston says the ogre had escaped, attacking him in the process. Gaston, Belle’s father and his men go out in search of the ogre. They find him and Gaston shoots him with an arrow, he goes in for the kill but not before Belle steps in. Gaston breaks the mirror with his arrow (seven years bad luck Gaston!). The ogre is saved and runs away. Belle notices that in the mirror Gaston’s eyes are red. She yells at him, discovering that he had beaten the ogre and the ogre was only trying to defend itself.
Later, back at the stable, Belle is grooming her horse when her father alerts her that the ogres have made it to their kingdom and it’s time to go to war. Her father says Gaston is still interested in marrying her and she would be a hero if she married him for their kingdom. Belle, craving to be heroic, accepts Gaston’s offer.
Meanwhile, back in the Underworld, Belle and Rumple talk about finding a way to stop Hades from taking their baby. But Belle doesn’t want Rumple to use dark magic to do it. She says if they save more souls, it hurts the God of the Underworld more. But Hades has plans of his own. He sends Gaston to kill Rumple, but it’s not working. He goes straight to Belle to make her a deal. “I married a man who makes deals, I know what that means,” she tells him. He says if she has Rumple and Gaston fight, so that one of them throws the other in River of Souls, he will no longer take her baby. She tells Rumple about the deal and he goes to kill Gaston. Belle goes after to stop him. She pulls out the dagger to hold him back, but Gaston seizes the opportunity to shoot Rumple. Belle stops Gaston by pushing him into the River of Souls. Although distraught about pushing Gaston, she’s relieved that their baby is safe…that is until Hades shows up and says that’s not part of the deal. She wasn’t supposed to push him in the river, Rumple was supposed to. The baby is still Hades’ when she gives birth.
In another part of the Underworld, Emma dreams of a plan to get rid of their names on the tombstone with light magic. But in her dream Snow dies. Emma is hesitant to bring Snow with her and Hook to the graveyard and as soon as she does, her dream starts to come true. First there is a storm, then a creature that is after them. She warns Snow that if she tries to shoot the animal, it will kill her. Regina meets up with the group after talking to Zelena about Hades (only finding out Hades is in love with her). Together they confront the beast following them…which turns out to be Red in wolf form! They put her cape on, she transforms but is still knocked unconscious.
Not going to lie, for the first half of the episode I was rooting for Gaston with Belle. She’s had quite her fair share of drama with Rumple, she could use a nice guy. It makes things awkward being pregnant with Rumple’s baby and all but hey if Regina can get over Robin having a daughter with her sister, then I felt there was hope for Belle and Gaston. But of course, Gaston is a villain in both film and TV. Kind of disappointing especially after moments where they almost kissed and he said to her, “if it’s your favorite book, I’ll have to read it twice”…SWOON! I love Belle but it was fun that Rumple called her out on her hypocrisy about using magic – when she wanted him to break a lock to Gaston’s locker. They feel more like a married couple now, the honeymoon phase is over and let the bickering begin!
I’m so glad Red is back and we can see what her and Mulan have been up to next week! Looks like they’ll be saving Dorothy. I’m curious as to why the storm transported her to them, maybe it has something to do with OZ (since that’s how Dorothy got brought there in the original film). I hope Zelena and Hades do not pair up, but I feel like they eventually will and it’ll be a battle to save all of their souls. The dead flower and Zelena’s smirk said it all. Although maybe if they get together they’ll be happy they found true love and just stay in the Underworld together. Probably not though, but one can hope.
What did you all think of Gaston’s return? Are you still cheering for Belle and Rumple to make it work? What do you think will happen next week with Mulan and Red? Sound off in the comments below or tweet me @kristincarole13!
