I would be a lot comfortable with Belle/Rumple if I could tell whether the show knows how disturbing it is. It seemed as though they were aware of it back when they first introduced this storyline, but now I can't tell, and that makes me uncomfortable. Because they really did right by Belle in the past storyline, and yet here they had her watch Rumple attempt to beat Hook to death and still stay by his side, because she sees the possibility of a change in him - a change Rumple himself does not entirely seem to see the need for, at least, not now, not when he has more to gain by being who he is. And that's disturbing, but I don't entirely know if the show knows how disturbing it is?

I don't think he's going to get a straightforward redemption story right now the way Regina is, but the show also has stuck to its point about monsters sometimes needing saviours of their own (this episode pointedly juxtaposed Belle's rescue of Philip with the Rumple storyline) and that's something I do appreciate.

It's also why Belle screaming I will always fight for him when Regina captured her bugged me

ITA. And then it made me sad because the only person who's ever said this about Regina is Cora.

I believe the ship name is Rumbelle, so you're better off not learning it.