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The Mysterious Man, The Wooden Boy & The Dagger
| Posted by Once Upon A Fan on November 17, 2012 at 9:55 AM |
Article by Zach Van Norman
“Tallahassee” was a revealing episode that answered many questions from Season 1. We learned the reason for Emma's imprisonment (Neal), why she is so guarded when it comes to love (Neal), and, finally, who Henry's father is (Neal). We also found out that it was Pinaugusto (had to do it) who sent Neal the postcard, solving a Season 2 mystery as well. But “Tallahassee” revealed much more than Emma and Neal's history together. Many of the missing pieces of a major puzzle have now been played, which all but prove a widely-believed theory: Neal is Baelfire. But the evidence that proves this also has implications for August and the Blue Fairy. Let's put it all together and see what comes out of it!
What Could Possibly Be Inside That Box?
Emma has had a roller-coaster love story that very much mirrors that of Snow and Charming's. Both mother and daughter have spent time in jail while the men they loved weren't there for them. The key difference between them is that Emma's trip to jail was meant for the greater good. It was August's arrival in Portland that led to Emma's jail time, with his box in tow. The contents of the box were enough to convince Neal of the existence of magic, and furthermore, to leave Emma in jail, allowing her to embrace her destiny as the Savior. Whatever it was, it was major, but not enough to make him have an outburst of denial or shock. Neal accepted the existence of magic quite easily.
In Episode 18 “The Return,” August is shown to have a drawing of Rumplestiltskin's dagger. I, like many people, believe August's box in “Tallahassee” contained that drawing. It's all but certain that the only people who could have known about the dagger are Baelfire and Rumple, given that Rumple's desire to keep it secret was enough to drive him to kill his maid. It's doubtful that he would allow knowledge of its existence to go beyond himself. How did August know about the dagger? Rumple asked August the same question in Episode 18, and August's response was that “a little fairy” had told him.
For the sake of argument, let's assume that this is a lie. How else could he have known about the dagger? We know that any conversation about the dagger did not happen before Pinocchio went through the wardrobe, so he had to have learned of its existence after he arrived here. The only people who could have told him are Bae or Rumple, and neither of them did. It is possible that another character told him about it, but unlikely (see maid example). Therefore, the only person who could have told August is the Blue Fairy.
Switching gears, let's assume what August said is true, and a fairy did tell him. It's likely that it was the Blue Fairy who told him, as she is the one who played a role in the separation of Bae and Rumple. It's implied that he's been to Storybrooke before in Episode 13 “What Happened To Frederick.” Also, he tells Neal in “Tallahassee” that he's been searching for Emma since she was 16. It's plausible to think that his natural course of action after finding Storybrooke would have been to seek out the Blue Fairy, who would have told him how to find Emma and Baelfire while giving him the drawing. This would have been followed by his 2-year search and the events of “Tallahassee.” Furthermore, August's visit to Mother Superior at the convent in “The Return” was a meeting to let her know the status of their plan.
Either scenario points to one thing: the Blue Fairy told August about the dagger, which means that Regina isn't the only one who remembered their real lives for 28 years. If the dagger weren't enough, there's another piece of evidence that points to similar conclusions.
'Now all the lies can stop...Papa.'
August said this to Rumplestiltskin outside the latter's cabin in “The Return.” It was his attempt to convince Rumple that he was Baelfire. The two of them went to the forest, dug up the dagger, and August tried to use it against Rumple. He failed, Rumple knew the truth, and the jig was up. But it's interesting that August used the word ‘Papa’ to address Rumple. There are other ways to address a father figure. August refers to Geppetto as ‘Father.’ Regina called her father ‘Daddy’ in “The Thing You Love Most.” It's a pretty specific choice and something that he would have needed to know if he was going to succeed in making Rumple believe his lie. He could only have learned that from two people: Nealfire or Mother Blueperior.
It All Comes Down To The Dagger
The Dark One's dagger has done damage beyond cursing Rumplestiltskin. The effects of that event rippled out and touched many lives. The opening of the box, and the drawing of the dagger, set Neal free to embrace his former life as Baelfire. His choice to save Emma's future, while the right thing to do, wounded her deeply as his dagger-driven betrayal basically stabbed her in the heart. The closing of Emma’s jail cell, another box, brought the change needed to set her on a different path in life. How fitting that her rise through the ashes happened in Phoenix. Meanwhile, August and the Blue Fairy share a measure of responsibility for these things happening in the first place. All because of a dagger.
Categories: Fan Theories
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22 Comments
Very plausible theory. One thing, though. Baelfire was 14 when he came through to our world, and didn't Rumple take awhile to create the Dark Curse? We don't know exactly how long. Then Emma was born and another 18 years went by before she met Neal. He should be way older than Emma. I wonder how that will be explained.
anniegirl says...
Very plausible theory. One thing, though. Baelfire was 14 when he came through to our world, and didn't Rumple take awhile to create the Dark Curse? We don't know exactly how long. Then Emma was born and another 18 years went by before she met Neal. He should be way older than Emma. I wonder how that will be explained.
Rumple already mentioned the idea of travelling through the barriers of time and space. Portals work in this way. Baelfire could have landed in our world in the 1990's aged 14, growing up at the same time as Emma.
It's a great theory, Rumpel is 300 years, I think the time works differently in the story that Storybrook if Bae perfectly well could be the father of Henry, I hope so, that way everyone would be family
Great theory, Zach. I do hope that Neal is Bae, and he did accept what was in the box rather easily (let's say in comparison to Emma's rejection of August last season) so there has to be more to his story. The drawing of the dagger being the item in the box makes sense in this light! I agree that Blue did not lose her FTL memories either. Thanks for sharing this.
I've been saying for a while that it all (August's inside scoop) leads back to the Blue Fairy. I wouldn't say it is completely out of the picture though that she told Pinocchio before he went through the wardrobe. Just because we haven't seen it yet, doesn't mean it didn't happen. Though, I think you are right Blue remembered everything in those 28 years.
One thing about your theory I should point out. The fact that August called Rumple Papa doesn't mean he learned from someone that Baelfire called Rumple Papa. Grace calls Jefferson Papa. Papa is a common name used by FTL characters. I think he just went with what he knows about kids in FTL.
One thing about your theory I should point out. The fact that August called Rumple Papa doesn't mean he learned from someone that Baelfire called Rumple Papa. Grace calls Jefferson Papa. Papa is a common name used by FTL characters. I think he just went with what he knows about kids in FTL.
I agree with most of what you've written, though I have additional thoughts for some of your ideas. I think, like you've written, it's quite likely that Neal is Baelfire, but it might be also possible that he's not, which I wouldn't prefer, just because of all the implications it would bring to the Charming family being related to Rumpelstiltskin, I think it's too good to miss it. In any case it would be great stuff to make stories about.
What might have been in the box? Interesting question, I don't know, and have no good idea, but it was surely something which would Neal convince unquestionable to believe what August wanted to tell him.
And here is the next question. Did August know Neal somehow? I do remember August made a big fuss about the box with Emma (in 7.15 AM) and when he opened it, it contains an old typewriter, which he needed to convince Emma that he's a (n old fashioned) writer. What, if the box brings magically (in a world without magic!) anything August needs in that particular moment to convince any person to do what he wants them to do? In such a case August don't need to know the person, nor did he need to carry around a bundle of different items, just in case. In the moment the box is opened, it shows the onlooker (Emma in Storybrooke, and Neal before) what s/he should see, and it's done. It could have been that particular drawing in the dagger, or anything else.
Now the dagger. So far we've seen that 5 people know about the dagger: Rumpel, Bae, the Blue fairy, August, and (surprise) Captain Hook (the tattoo on his arm shows Milah's name, a heart and Rumpel's dagger through the heart). Until now, we don't know how much common knowledge it may have been in the FTLand, but I guess not everybody knows about it. So, how could August knew about it. Maybe, what was said in "The Return" is the truth, and it was told to him from a fairy, and in this case it should have been the Blue fairy. Which, as you've pointed out, would mean she didn't lose her memory in Storybrook, or got it back in time to tell August the story.
If it was the Blue fairy, who told August about the dagger, she'd told him surely all he needed to know about Rumpel's son, but I think, she wouldn't have missed the fact that the dagger won't work in this world.
August could have known all of this through Bae, which could be also possible, if Neal is Bae, but -- like the Blue fairy -- he should know that the dagger is of no use in this world. At this point of the story I'm not sure which is the path the story will go, but I got the feeling that August pretending to be Bae to force Rumpel to heal him with magic, was just August own (stupid) idea, which killed him nearly.
Your idea of August meeting the Blue fairy more than once would also give a good explanation how he get to know about Bae and the dagger.
Completely new question which comes into my mind during the whole discussion: what was August's, maybe also the Blue fairy's, doing when Mr Gold got Henry for Regina? Gold didn't know about anything of his past before Emma came into the town, so, who brought his attention to Henry?
What might have been in the box? Interesting question, I don't know, and have no good idea, but it was surely something which would Neal convince unquestionable to believe what August wanted to tell him.
And here is the next question. Did August know Neal somehow? I do remember August made a big fuss about the box with Emma (in 7.15 AM) and when he opened it, it contains an old typewriter, which he needed to convince Emma that he's a (n old fashioned) writer. What, if the box brings magically (in a world without magic!) anything August needs in that particular moment to convince any person to do what he wants them to do? In such a case August don't need to know the person, nor did he need to carry around a bundle of different items, just in case. In the moment the box is opened, it shows the onlooker (Emma in Storybrooke, and Neal before) what s/he should see, and it's done. It could have been that particular drawing in the dagger, or anything else.
Now the dagger. So far we've seen that 5 people know about the dagger: Rumpel, Bae, the Blue fairy, August, and (surprise) Captain Hook (the tattoo on his arm shows Milah's name, a heart and Rumpel's dagger through the heart). Until now, we don't know how much common knowledge it may have been in the FTLand, but I guess not everybody knows about it. So, how could August knew about it. Maybe, what was said in "The Return" is the truth, and it was told to him from a fairy, and in this case it should have been the Blue fairy. Which, as you've pointed out, would mean she didn't lose her memory in Storybrook, or got it back in time to tell August the story.
If it was the Blue fairy, who told August about the dagger, she'd told him surely all he needed to know about Rumpel's son, but I think, she wouldn't have missed the fact that the dagger won't work in this world.
August could have known all of this through Bae, which could be also possible, if Neal is Bae, but -- like the Blue fairy -- he should know that the dagger is of no use in this world. At this point of the story I'm not sure which is the path the story will go, but I got the feeling that August pretending to be Bae to force Rumpel to heal him with magic, was just August own (stupid) idea, which killed him nearly.
Your idea of August meeting the Blue fairy more than once would also give a good explanation how he get to know about Bae and the dagger.
Completely new question which comes into my mind during the whole discussion: what was August's, maybe also the Blue fairy's, doing when Mr Gold got Henry for Regina? Gold didn't know about anything of his past before Emma came into the town, so, who brought his attention to Henry?
VictoriaClarissa says...
It's a great theory, Rumpel is 300 years, I think the time works differently in the story that Storybrook if Bae perfectly well could be the father of Henry, I hope so, that way everyone would be family
Huh, if he came in the 1990s one of my main questions would be answered. I would be interested to learn where Bae ended up in our world. If he crossed into our world via Storybrooke, would that mean that Neal/Bae would have had to run away to end up in Portland, etc? (I'm guessing that he might have come to Storybrooke because A) The magic tree brought Emma and August to town or just outside of it and B) Fairytale Land is right under Storybrooke)
I would think that if the above were true, Bae in Storybrooke would be the only person who wasn't cursed during the 1990s. As the writers told us, Rumple didn't always know who he was, (and therefore, Rumple wouldn't remember his son early on) so this theory could work.
Also, I think that August may have called Rumple Papa because Rumple's story might be in the book.
Interested to learn how much the Blue Fairy knew. I always thought that August asked her to save him and also asked advice re what to say to his father.
Interested to learn how much the Blue Fairy knew. I always thought that August asked her to save him and also asked advice re what to say to his father.
DanielaSLib says...
I agree with most of what you've written, though I have additional thoughts for some of your ideas. I think, like you've written, it's quite likely that Neal is Baelfire, but it might be also possible that he's not, which I wouldn't prefer, just because of all the implications it would bring to the Charming family being related to Rumpelstiltskin, I think it's too good to miss it. In any case it would be great stuff to make stories about.
What might have been in the box? Interesting question, I don't know, and have no good idea, but it was surely something which would Neal convince unquestionable to believe what August wanted to tell him.
And here is the next question. Did August know Neal somehow? I do remember August made a big fuss about the box with Emma (in 7.15 AM) and when he opened it, it contains an old typewriter, which he needed to convince Emma that he's a (n old fashioned) writer. What, if the box brings magically (in a world without magic!) anything August needs in that particular moment to convince any person to do what he wants them to do? In such a case August don't need to know the person, nor did he need to carry around a bundle of different items, just in case. In the moment the box is opened, it shows the onlooker (Emma in Storybrooke, and Neal before) what s/he should see, and it's done. It could have been that particular drawing in the dagger, or anything else.
Now the dagger. So far we've seen that 5 people know about the dagger: Rumpel, Bae, the Blue fairy, August, and (surprise) Captain Hook (the tattoo on his arm shows Milah's name, a heart and Rumpel's dagger through the heart). Until now, we don't know how much common knowledge it may have been in the FTLand, but I guess not everybody knows about it. So, how could August knew about it. Maybe, what was said in "The Return" is the truth, and it was told to him from a fairy, and in this case it should have been the Blue fairy. Which, as you've pointed out, would mean she didn't lose her memory in Storybrook, or got it back in time to tell August the story.
If it was the Blue fairy, who told August about the dagger, she'd told him surely all he needed to know about Rumpel's son, but I think, she wouldn't have missed the fact that the dagger won't work in this world.
August could have known all of this through Bae, which could be also possible, if Neal is Bae, but -- like the Blue fairy -- he should know that the dagger is of no use in this world. At this point of the story I'm not sure which is the path the story will go, but I got the feeling that August pretending to be Bae to force Rumpel to heal him with magic, was just August own (stupid) idea, which killed him nearly.
Your idea of August meeting the Blue fairy more than once would also give a good explanation how he get to know about Bae and the dagger.
Completely new question which comes into my mind during the whole discussion: what was August's, maybe also the Blue fairy's, doing when Mr Gold got Henry for Regina? Gold didn't know about anything of his past before Emma came into the town, so, who brought his attention to Henry?
Nice insight.. i have a Question though... why everyone keep saying that Rumple didn't know anything about his past before Emma came to storybrooke?????
I think Zach did a great job on this Fan Theory! I think he made a lot of logical connections that are relevant to the characters and episodes so far in "The Return" and "Tallahassee." I know that I've been thinking about this issue since watching "The Return" about who could have plausibly given August the information about the dagger especially since Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold has been so secretive and protective of the dagger. There are really only two other characters that we know of at this point in the story that seem to be aware of the dagger and are relevant to the plot: Baelfire and the Blue Fairy. Can't wait to see the rest of the season to see how this plays out and how close Zach's theory is to what the writers eventually reveal. So exciting!!!! 
That's a really good point! Although I wondering if Mr. Gold's line from "The Return" about how he "traveled through time and space" to find Baelfire has been used to explain any discrepancies in the time line in the fairy tale world and our world in terms of Mr. Gold/ Rumplestiltskin's quest to find Baelfire. Otherwise I'm thinking Baelfire should be over a century old.
anniegirl says...
Very plausible theory. One thing, though. Baelfire was 14 when he came through to our world, and didn't Rumple take awhile to create the Dark Curse? We don't know exactly how long. Then Emma was born and another 18 years went by before she met Neal. He should be way older than Emma. I wonder how that will be explained.
There is an interview from last spring that was done with the show creators Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz about the season 1 and the pilot. They explain in the interview that Rumplestiltskin/ Mr. Gold woke up from the curse when he met Emma for the first time at Granny's Inn. (Which I have to admit that it's really hard to tell when you watch the pilot for the first time that this is really what happened in that exchange at the inn unless as a viewer you're told that information.) They also mentioned in the interview that Henry was impacted by the curse and didn't wake up until Mary Margaret gave him the fairy tale book. This might be a reason why fans make that reference, but who knows. We haven't seen any episodes yet that take place in Storybrooke prior to Emma's arrival. Should be interesting to see how that plays out though.
mehr says...
Nice insight.. i have a Question though... why everyone keep saying that Rumple didn't know anything about his past before Emma came to storybrooke?????
mehr says...
Nice insight.. i have a Question though... why everyone keep saying that Rumple didn't know anything about his past before Emma came to storybrooke?????
As WonderBelle below points out this was (at least one of two things concerning Rumpel) which were said by the show creators Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz in an interview. The second thing is the question about the fact that Rumpel is about 300 years old (Espenson and Carlyle via twitter, IIRC). For both exist no really good proves on the show.
Nr. 1: I've noticed a very slight difference in the clothes Gold wears. In the pilot he wears a shirt with black/grey & white checked pattern which is quite different from those he wears every episode after the pilot.
Nr. 2: The second point is also something which is not really well established on the show: if you look carefull you may recognise that the style of fashion varies during Rumpel's scenes on the show, and RC uses slightly different acents (was also pointed out by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz), as far as I was able to understand he uses different kind of dialects to do those scenes (I can hear that, but don't ask me what kinds).
So, there are some points you need to read interviews to get those informations. I think that this is a slightly waek point of the show, cos everything you need to understand should be part of the show itself.
Reply
Ranna156
09:36 PM on November 21, 2012
I definitely think it was the drawing of the dagger in there. However I don't think Neal is Baelfire...or if he is then I think he is also Peter Pan (I think Baelfire is Peter Pan anyway). Rumple is way to old for Neal to be Baelfire and I think the writers indicated that there wouldn't be any time travel. So my thought is that Neal is a descendant of Baelfire and knew about the dagger. Also he was pretty evasive when he was asked about believing in magic...so he totally already could have believed. As for him being sent to the 1990's...hmm but there are a lot of complications with that. Neal didn't seem like a technological dufus...and Baelfire essentially came from medieval times. That is really unbelievable imho that he would assimilate into this world so easily and know how to steal and drive and everything else in just a couple of years. The curse planted fake memories but Baelfire wasn't subjected to the curse. I also think it was the Blue Fairy who told August/Pino about the dagger...however its totally possible that it may have been a different fairy (Tinkerbelle)...especially if they are going to tie Baelfire to Peter Pan in any way.
Reply
Ranna156
09:41 PM on November 21, 2012
mehr says...
Nice insight.. i have a Question though... why everyone keep saying that Rumple didn't know anything about his past before Emma came to storybrooke?????
it was confirmed by the writers during a facebook podcast thing. Gold did NOT remember until he heard Emma's name. That is why he wanted to know what it was in the first place.
Reply
Gilles
08:36 AM on November 22, 2012
While it is an interesting theory, it is far from having been proven. Don't get me wrong - I not saying you're wrong. Just that I'm not convinced yet that Neal is Bae. He could be - but then again, he might not be.
The main problem with that theory is that we don't know what August has been up to during the 17 years in between August leaving the home and "Tallahasee", and the 11 years between "Tallahasee" and his arriving in Storybrook. For all we know, he might have met Bae about a year before the episode, Bae could have told him about the dagger and his Papa, thus sending August on his quest to find Emma.
The other problem if that, for August to be successful, he has to be 100% certain that Neal is Bae, and how would he know? If Neal is Bae, then August doesn't even know Bae, so how could he be certain he's dealing with the right man? If he is not Bae, then his reaction would be something like "Nice drawing, cool story. Say, you have any more of that s*** you're on?" (Remember, we're dealing with a low-life petty crook.)
Granted, the Blue Fairy could have told August about Bae. However, she is in a land without magic, and does not have fairy dust. So, how would she know where Bae is, what he looks like, and that he would meet Emma, and then convey the information to August? Besides, that plan takes for granted August will arrive at the right moment to break up Bae and Emma, something that cannot be assumed seeing how un-reliable August/Pinnochio turned out to be.
Furthermore, let's imagine Bae's reaction to finding out his Papa is in this world. He would probably assume Rumple came to be reunited with him. Bae would ask August how he knew his Papa, if his Papa is allright, and where can he go to find him. His reaction showed only concern for Emma, not for his father.
I'm sorry, but right now, there is just too many holes in this theory to say that it is "proven".
The main problem with that theory is that we don't know what August has been up to during the 17 years in between August leaving the home and "Tallahasee", and the 11 years between "Tallahasee" and his arriving in Storybrook. For all we know, he might have met Bae about a year before the episode, Bae could have told him about the dagger and his Papa, thus sending August on his quest to find Emma.
The other problem if that, for August to be successful, he has to be 100% certain that Neal is Bae, and how would he know? If Neal is Bae, then August doesn't even know Bae, so how could he be certain he's dealing with the right man? If he is not Bae, then his reaction would be something like "Nice drawing, cool story. Say, you have any more of that s*** you're on?" (Remember, we're dealing with a low-life petty crook.)
Granted, the Blue Fairy could have told August about Bae. However, she is in a land without magic, and does not have fairy dust. So, how would she know where Bae is, what he looks like, and that he would meet Emma, and then convey the information to August? Besides, that plan takes for granted August will arrive at the right moment to break up Bae and Emma, something that cannot be assumed seeing how un-reliable August/Pinnochio turned out to be.
Furthermore, let's imagine Bae's reaction to finding out his Papa is in this world. He would probably assume Rumple came to be reunited with him. Bae would ask August how he knew his Papa, if his Papa is allright, and where can he go to find him. His reaction showed only concern for Emma, not for his father.
I'm sorry, but right now, there is just too many holes in this theory to say that it is "proven".
When I saw it, the first thing that came into my mind was that it's Tinkerbelle in the box. It would have to be something extreme, wouldn't it, for a reasonable person from our world to instantly believe in all this crazy stuff? Seeing a winged fairy trapped in a wooden box is extreme.
I know that Neal/Bae is a very popular theory among fans, even since the first episode. But I don't think that Neal is Baelfire, and, indeed, I feel the matter is FAR from proven. For one thing, I believe that the producers said that Henry's father was NOT a fairy tale character (I wish I could remember where I read that). For another, I have a feeling that they're going to do something much more interesting with Baelfire (or maybe I'm just hoping they are).
My theory: August learned everything from the Blue Fairy who has always remembered, though she can't leave Storybrooke. And, more than likely, she has been able to mastermind things through August who can enter and leave. For example, making sure that Emma's baby ended up in Storybrooke, and making sure that Emma herself ended up there as well. August would have had all the info necessary to convince Rumple that he was Bae without ever having to meet the real Bae, as long as the Blue Fairy always remembered.
The thing in the box that convinced Neal could easily be anything; perhaps the writers don't even know what it is yet! But I like the theory that the box provides whatever someone needs. That's very fitting.
Of course Hook knows about the dagger! And he's going to stab Rumple with it the first chance he gets; I think that's the foreshadowing of his plunging the pre-hook hook into Rumple's chest in The Crocodile. Hook is clearly in league with Cora (who might also know about the dagger) and can you even imagine what would happen if he succeeded in killing Rumple and becoming the next Dark Lord!?
All I can say is, he betta don't!
My theory: August learned everything from the Blue Fairy who has always remembered, though she can't leave Storybrooke. And, more than likely, she has been able to mastermind things through August who can enter and leave. For example, making sure that Emma's baby ended up in Storybrooke, and making sure that Emma herself ended up there as well. August would have had all the info necessary to convince Rumple that he was Bae without ever having to meet the real Bae, as long as the Blue Fairy always remembered.
The thing in the box that convinced Neal could easily be anything; perhaps the writers don't even know what it is yet! But I like the theory that the box provides whatever someone needs. That's very fitting.
Of course Hook knows about the dagger! And he's going to stab Rumple with it the first chance he gets; I think that's the foreshadowing of his plunging the pre-hook hook into Rumple's chest in The Crocodile. Hook is clearly in league with Cora (who might also know about the dagger) and can you even imagine what would happen if he succeeded in killing Rumple and becoming the next Dark Lord!?
All I can say is, he betta don't!
DanielaSLib says...
As WonderBelle below points out this was (at least one of two things concerning Rumpel) which were said by the show creators Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz in an interview. The second thing is the question about the fact that Rumpel is about 300 years old (Espenson and Carlyle via twitter, IIRC). For both exist no really good proves on the show.
Nr. 1: I've noticed a very slight difference in the clothes Gold wears. In the pilot he wears a shirt with black/grey & white checked pattern which is quite different from those he wears every episode after the pilot.
Nr. 2: The second point is also something which is not really well established on the show: if you look carefull you may recognise that the style of fashion varies during Rumpel's scenes on the show, and RC uses slightly different acents (was also pointed out by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz), as far as I was able to understand he uses different kind of dialects to do those scenes (I can hear that, but don't ask me what kinds).
So, there are some points you need to read interviews to get those informations. I think that this is a slightly waek point of the show, cos everything you need to understand should be part of the show itself.
You're right about the different accents. Robert Carlyle has a heavy Scottish accent in interviews, while his accent as pre-DO Rumpelstiltskin is a milder version. As the mature DO, he has an almost high-British accent with occasional Gaelic additions (such as when he replies to Snow White, "What need have you of it, now that it's been plucked from your head?" also when he says, "Magic can do much, but no' that."). Generally his Scottish comes through on phrases like "waken up," which is one of the through-lines of the three faces of Rumple, and words like "sincerely" where the e is turned into a long e sound. Mr. Gold has the lightest of the Scottish brogues, but lacks the Britishness of Dark One Rumpel (which you can hear very pronounced when he asks Belle, "And is it everything you'd hoped?"). I'm trying not to read anything into the fact that he uses his most British sound for his darkest personality, and his most Scottish sound for his kindest (pre-DO Rumple)....But then, Scotland is suing for independence.
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