Skin Deep
- Episode aired Feb 12, 2012
- TV-PG
- 45m
Emma suspects Gold is planning vigilante justice when his house is robbed, as flashbacks show when Belle made a deal with Rumplestiltskin.Emma suspects Gold is planning vigilante justice when his house is robbed, as flashbacks show when Belle made a deal with Rumplestiltskin.Emma suspects Gold is planning vigilante justice when his house is robbed, as flashbacks show when Belle made a deal with Rumplestiltskin.
- Henry Mills
- (as Jared S. Gilmore)
- Dr. Archie Hopper
- (credit only)
- Belle French
- (as Emilie De Ravin)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaBelle serves Rumplestiltskin tea and she drops a cup, breaking a piece off. This is similar to Chip and Mrs. Potts from the Disney animated film, Beauty and the Beast (1991).
- GoofsIn The Price of Gold (2011), it is established that Ashley is 19; however, in this episode she is drinking at a bar (21 in Maine, just like the rest of the U.S.). This may also be true for Ruby, who looks young, though her age has only been previously established to be 17+ since she serves liquor in a restaurant.
- Quotes
Belle: You're a coward, Rumplestiltskin. And no matter how thick you make your skin, that doesn't change.
Rumplestiltskin: I'm not a coward, dearie. It's quite simple, really. My power... means more to me than you.
Belle: No. No, it doesn't. You just don't think I can love you. Now you've made your choice. And you're going to regret it. Forever. And all you have... is an empty heart. And a chipped cup.
- Crazy creditsThe opening sequence shows Rumplestiltskin's spinning wheel.
Like "7:15 A.M" saw Season 1 back on track after stumbling a little with "True North", "Skin Deep" is on near-top form in one of its best episodes after "Fruit of the Poisonous Tree" underwhelmed a little. The David and Mary Margaret subplot didn't add as much as it could have done and didn't go very far. The writing and character detail however has come on such a long way since 'Once Upon a Time' first started and this is one of Season 1's better examples.
Belle and Rumpelstiltskin's chemistry is done beautifully, not fully developed perhaps but it didn't feel too rushed, nor did it feel cold. This is helped by storytelling that's charming, witty, harrowing and poignant and by the character writing for Rumpelstiltskin, who warms the heart as well as darkens it (the most interesting he's been of the season up to this point). Belle is written charmingly.
"Skin Deep" is a very handsomely mounted episode, settings and costumes that are both colourful and atmospheric, not too dark or garish and never cookie-cutter. The special effects, after being pretty bad in a couple of episodes like "True North", are superior here. It is photographed beautifully and there were some make-up that suited the characters perfectly. The music is haunting, ethereal and cleverly used with a memorable main theme.
The writing is humorous, very touching and has a lot of character nuance and great one-liners from particularly Rumpelstiltskin. Likewise with the storytelling, where the real world and fantasy world parallel is adeptly handled.
Robert Carlyle takes the acting honours here, a fun, dark yet oddly charming characterisation.
Overall, great episode and one of the better ones to me of the first season. 9/10 Bethany Cox
- TheLittleSongbird
- Dec 7, 2017
Details
- Runtime45 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9 HD