Beauty
- Episode aired Oct 27, 2017
- TV-PG
- 43m
Tilly tries to lead Weaver to remembering his true self; Ivy takes Lucy trick-or-treating; Rumple and Belle attempt to cement their happy ending.Tilly tries to lead Weaver to remembering his true self; Ivy takes Lucy trick-or-treating; Rumple and Belle attempt to cement their happy ending.Tilly tries to lead Weaver to remembering his true self; Ivy takes Lucy trick-or-treating; Rumple and Belle attempt to cement their happy ending.
- Sir Gaston
- (archive footage)
- (uncredited)
- Skeleton Girl
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe music playing while Belle and Rumple are building and decorating their home is the opening song from Up, when Carl and Ellie are decorating their home.
- GoofsIf Ivy knew that Lucy had been talking about the haunted house all day it doesn't make sense that she hadn't tried going there before Henry had shown her the list Jacinda had given him of potential places Lucy would go.
- Quotes
Belle French: There's something I need to tell you. When I translated the prophecy all those years ago, I realized that the sun that needed to set at the Edge of Realms, it wasn't the one in the sky. It was mine. "When the Dark One finds eternal love at the sun's brightest set." It means that you have to believe our love is powerful enough to outlast death. Only then will you find the path that will lead you back to me.
Rumpelstiltskin: How could you keep that from me?
Belle French: I knew you wouldn't accept it. You would have spent all our lives searching for another answer. And... I wanted to live our lives. And we did. And now, it... it's time to let me go.
Rumpelstiltskin: Belle, I can't. I'm afraid.
Belle French: Let me tell you a story, then. Once upon a time, there was a beast who took a girl prisoner. But he fell in love with her. And then he let her go. That is when the girl realized that she loved him, too.
Rumpelstiltskin: He thought he would never see her again.
Belle French: But in the end, she came back to him. More than a few times.
Rumpelstiltskin: I remember that story.
Belle French: See? You let me go once before, and... we found our way back to each other. You're a good man, Rumple. Your heart is pure. You will find the answer you need to get rid of the dagger, and you will find your way back to me again. I promise.
- Crazy creditsThe opening sequence shows a Hallowe'en-themed cemetery in front of Seattle skyline.
- ConnectionsReferences The Exorcist (1973)
Despite the overall disappointing quality of the seventh and final season, there were exceptions. Meaning that there were episodes that were above decent level. "Beauty" is one of those exceptions. More than decent actually, found it very good on the whole with many great things but also a couple of things that prevent it from being exceptional. One of the season's best episodes though by quite some way and one of the better episodes of the last two seasons.
"Beauty" is at its weakest with the trick-or-treat story-line, that didn't strike me as particularly relevant and didn't either grab me or make me feel much.
Another weak link is once again Dania Ramirez as Jacinda, there is just no charm or any kind of appeal to her at all, actually find her rather irritating and that she has no chemistry with the rest of the characters.
The best thing about "Beauty" and what elevates it to a greater level, without it actually the episode could potentially have been another average at best episode, is the Rumpelstiltskin and Belle subplot. It is incredibly heartfelt, have tissues at the ready as you will need them, and Rumpelstiltskin and Belle's chemistry is pure magic. Robert Carlyle's Rumpelstiltskin is at his most poignant and this is Emilie De Ravin's Belle at her most emotive and easiest to get behind. Was not really the biggest of fans of Belle generally, but have always loved Rumpelstiltskin and consider him one of my favourite 'Once Upon a Time' characters.
Other characters and subplots are worth mentioning. Adelaide Kane's Ivy really shines here, particularly in her non-soap operatic not derivative chemistry with Andrew J. West (who has settled very well, easily one of the better new additions) as Henry. Characters that were underused before have more to do (i.e. Tilly), there are some big unexpected reveals and unanswered questions are answered. A lot goes on but it doesn't feel too much, there are big time jumps but they don't have too much of a disjoint. The writing is not perfect but there is less soap, camp and awkwardness than was heard in a fair bit of Seasons 6 and 7 (and some of the second half of Season 5).
Production values continue to impress, have never really had an issue with them though, the odd dodgy special effect aside. They are beautifully designed and atmospheric, nicely photographed. The music doesn't ever sound cheap or out-of-kilter, fitting well with the mood and never found myself questioning its placement. The main theme is still memorable.
Altogether, very good and nearly great apart from one subplot and one performance. See it though for Rumple and Belle. 8/10
- TheLittleSongbird
- Aug 1, 2019