Once Upon a Time Favorite Scenes Picspam - 108: Desperate Souls
This picspam took a bit longer that usual because it is a Carlyle episode and I wanted to picspam ALL his scenes. *g* For some reason I never managed to picspam it when it aired (I know - crazy!) so this is it and I had to do him justice. It's fair to think of this picspam as a way to post many, many Carlyle pictures. Not that I need an excuse but I'll take one if I have it.
Yes, there are also some excellent Emma scenes and excellent Emma/Regina scenes in this episode and I do love them! However, this is the story of Rumpel's backstory and, as he is by far my favorite character on the show, this picspam is ALL ABOUT HIM. I managed to cut it down to six different scenes - three of Rumpel and three of Gold - and that was tough enough.
I'm starting with the Rumpelstiltskin scenes. And the first one I've picked is when he is talking the beggar and learning about the dagger. If I were to be completely fair, the earlier kiss my boot scene is more powerful but it is powerful enough that I have trouble actually watching it. It's too painful to see him humiliated in front of his son like that. For this scene here, in its favor as a favorite scene, it does have the excellent line about Rumpel being the town coward and how he would be dust without his son. His desperation is truly a long standing part of him and not a simple reaction to his run in with the soldiers. He would do anything to save Bae. And we know how the Dark One loves to hear that.
You need to find another way. You need to choose a different path.
Choose? What choice do I have?
Everyone has a choice.
I’m the town coward. The only choice I have is which corner to hide in. I’m lame, friendless. The only thing I’ve got is my boy. And they’re going to take him away from me. If they take him away, I would truly, truly become dust.
==========================
Now he's with Bae the next day telling him the story about the dagger. Rumpel is all fired up *g* and is probably feeling more alive than he has in years. He has hope of something better. It turns out to be a really bad idea but he doesn't know that yet. *pats him* His son is more skeptical and unsure (probably because he doesn't fear the way his father does - he isn't desperate) but he loves his father and makes the decision to support him. I love Carlyle's performance here. He goes from happy and almost bouncy to near tears and then, when he has Bae's support, back to pleased and almost conspiratorial.
I’d love to see that, but if the law says I’m to fight, I… I can fight.
No, no, no! The law doesn’t want you to fight, son. The law wants you to die. That’s not battle - that’s sacrifice, son. You look at that red in the sky. That’s not the… The fires of the battlefields - that’s the blood of our people, son. It’s the blood of children. The blood of children like you. I mean, what sane person would want to get involved with that?
So, it’s true. It’s true. It’s true you ran.
I had no choice, son.
And Mother? Did she leave you like the knight said? You told me she was dead.
She is dead.
==========================
Oooh, and now we have evil!Rumpel. Our new Dark One who has just killed all the soldiers who have come to take his son away. Yes, he's evil and Bae is completely freaked out (not surprising!) but damn if he doesn't make a very sexy Dark One. I love the bit where he is toying with them about his name.
Papa? What has happened to you?
You’re safe, Bae. Do you feel safe, son?
No. I’m frightened.
I’m not. I protected what belongs to me and I’m not scared of anything.
==========================
It's time for the Gold scenes! I so completely adore snarky, amused, in control Gold with that little, smug smile that it's like all his scenes in the episode were made for me. Just look at that smile in this scene with Emma. And it comes complete with a snarky comment, which doesn't seem all that snarky written out 'Well, it is my shop.' but the amused exasperation with which he delivers it makes me smile too. I also love the mix of sadness, regret, creepiness, and what looks like a genuine desire to do something nice that he brings to the offer of the walkie talkies.
Well, look. Your boy might like these, don’t you think? You could play together. (He holds up a pair of walkie talkies.)
I don’t-
No, please. They...They grow up so fast. You enjoy these with your boy. Your time together is precious, you know? That’s the thing about children - before you know it, you lose them.
==========================
More amused snark - this time with Regina! They are having so much fun here getting their digs in. And you can tell he was waiting for her to stalk in so he could play a little. Which means we get another lovely smile from him. Neither one of them has had so much fun in years. :)
Regina. Shall I move some things? Make a bit of space for your rage?
You found that loophole in the town charter.
Legal documents - contracts, if you like. Always been a fascination of mine.
Yes, you love to trifle with technicalities.
I like small weapons, you see. The needle, the pen, the fine point of a deal. Subtlety - not your style, I know.
==========================
And one last scene of smug amusement. Made even better by the awesomeness of the pink, striped shirt (yes, I unironically LOVE it) and the dark pink and black checked tie. I think this may have been his favorite part of the whole scheme - being able to finally let Emma in on the plan. Because, really, if you are going to be brilliant and manipulate everyone around you like chess pieces it makes sense that you would want to be able TELL someone just how good you are at being bad and just how thoroughly they have been played. I get the feeling he doesn't get to do that too often since it is certainly in his best interest to keep those around him in the dark as to his aims and intentions.
It’s all part of the act, my dear. Political theater in an actual theater. I knew no one was going to vote for you unless we gave you some kind of extraordinary quality, and I’m afraid saving old Regina’s arse from the fire just wasn’t going to do that. We had to give you a higher form of bravery. They had to see you defy me and they did.
No way. There’s no way you planned that.
Everyone’s afraid of Regina, but they’re more afraid of me. By standing up to me, you won them over. It was the only way.
This entry was originally posted here and has
comments. Comment here or there.
Yes, there are also some excellent Emma scenes and excellent Emma/Regina scenes in this episode and I do love them! However, this is the story of Rumpel's backstory and, as he is by far my favorite character on the show, this picspam is ALL ABOUT HIM. I managed to cut it down to six different scenes - three of Rumpel and three of Gold - and that was tough enough.
I'm starting with the Rumpelstiltskin scenes. And the first one I've picked is when he is talking the beggar and learning about the dagger. If I were to be completely fair, the earlier kiss my boot scene is more powerful but it is powerful enough that I have trouble actually watching it. It's too painful to see him humiliated in front of his son like that. For this scene here, in its favor as a favorite scene, it does have the excellent line about Rumpel being the town coward and how he would be dust without his son. His desperation is truly a long standing part of him and not a simple reaction to his run in with the soldiers. He would do anything to save Bae. And we know how the Dark One loves to hear that.
You need to find another way. You need to choose a different path.
Choose? What choice do I have?
Everyone has a choice.
I’m the town coward. The only choice I have is which corner to hide in. I’m lame, friendless. The only thing I’ve got is my boy. And they’re going to take him away from me. If they take him away, I would truly, truly become dust.
==========================
Now he's with Bae the next day telling him the story about the dagger. Rumpel is all fired up *g* and is probably feeling more alive than he has in years. He has hope of something better. It turns out to be a really bad idea but he doesn't know that yet. *pats him* His son is more skeptical and unsure (probably because he doesn't fear the way his father does - he isn't desperate) but he loves his father and makes the decision to support him. I love Carlyle's performance here. He goes from happy and almost bouncy to near tears and then, when he has Bae's support, back to pleased and almost conspiratorial.
I’d love to see that, but if the law says I’m to fight, I… I can fight.
No, no, no! The law doesn’t want you to fight, son. The law wants you to die. That’s not battle - that’s sacrifice, son. You look at that red in the sky. That’s not the… The fires of the battlefields - that’s the blood of our people, son. It’s the blood of children. The blood of children like you. I mean, what sane person would want to get involved with that?
So, it’s true. It’s true. It’s true you ran.
I had no choice, son.
And Mother? Did she leave you like the knight said? You told me she was dead.
She is dead.
==========================
Oooh, and now we have evil!Rumpel. Our new Dark One who has just killed all the soldiers who have come to take his son away. Yes, he's evil and Bae is completely freaked out (not surprising!) but damn if he doesn't make a very sexy Dark One. I love the bit where he is toying with them about his name.
Papa? What has happened to you?
You’re safe, Bae. Do you feel safe, son?
No. I’m frightened.
I’m not. I protected what belongs to me and I’m not scared of anything.
==========================
It's time for the Gold scenes! I so completely adore snarky, amused, in control Gold with that little, smug smile that it's like all his scenes in the episode were made for me. Just look at that smile in this scene with Emma. And it comes complete with a snarky comment, which doesn't seem all that snarky written out 'Well, it is my shop.' but the amused exasperation with which he delivers it makes me smile too. I also love the mix of sadness, regret, creepiness, and what looks like a genuine desire to do something nice that he brings to the offer of the walkie talkies.
Well, look. Your boy might like these, don’t you think? You could play together. (He holds up a pair of walkie talkies.)
I don’t-
No, please. They...They grow up so fast. You enjoy these with your boy. Your time together is precious, you know? That’s the thing about children - before you know it, you lose them.
==========================
More amused snark - this time with Regina! They are having so much fun here getting their digs in. And you can tell he was waiting for her to stalk in so he could play a little. Which means we get another lovely smile from him. Neither one of them has had so much fun in years. :)
Regina. Shall I move some things? Make a bit of space for your rage?
You found that loophole in the town charter.
Legal documents - contracts, if you like. Always been a fascination of mine.
Yes, you love to trifle with technicalities.
I like small weapons, you see. The needle, the pen, the fine point of a deal. Subtlety - not your style, I know.
==========================
And one last scene of smug amusement. Made even better by the awesomeness of the pink, striped shirt (yes, I unironically LOVE it) and the dark pink and black checked tie. I think this may have been his favorite part of the whole scheme - being able to finally let Emma in on the plan. Because, really, if you are going to be brilliant and manipulate everyone around you like chess pieces it makes sense that you would want to be able TELL someone just how good you are at being bad and just how thoroughly they have been played. I get the feeling he doesn't get to do that too often since it is certainly in his best interest to keep those around him in the dark as to his aims and intentions.
It’s all part of the act, my dear. Political theater in an actual theater. I knew no one was going to vote for you unless we gave you some kind of extraordinary quality, and I’m afraid saving old Regina’s arse from the fire just wasn’t going to do that. We had to give you a higher form of bravery. They had to see you defy me and they did.
No way. There’s no way you planned that.
Everyone’s afraid of Regina, but they’re more afraid of me. By standing up to me, you won them over. It was the only way.
This entry was originally posted here and has
comments. Comment here or there.