How did magic come to make such a mess of Storybrooke in season two of Once Upon a Time? It’s all Rumplestiltskin’s fault, some savvy young fans say. And they’re right. Perhaps that’s why Charming (Josh Dallas) paid Rumplestiltskin (Robert Carlyle) a visit in his Mr. Gold Pawnbroker & Antiquities Dealer shop in Steveston south of Vancouver earlier this week. Or maybe he’s seeking Rumple’s help to locate his missing loved ones, Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison), who are nowhere to be seen in Storybrooke in episode two.
Robert Carlyle spent most of Tuesday afternoon and evening inside Mr. Gold’s pawn shop, visited first by his formidable foe, the Evil Queen (Lana Parrilla), as fake smoke seeped out every time she exited out the door. After their interior scene wrapped, Carlyle and Parrilla both met with fans, some of whom had been waiting since 11 a.m. (I didn’t time it right to see Carlyle either on his way to or from set).
Then it was time for Charming (Josh Dallas) to come calling. as fans & locals multiplied outside Mr. Gold’s. Next to me, a teen holding a skateboard phoned his Mom to tell her that Robert Carlyle was on set. I asked him why he didn’t mention Charming? “Oh she’s in love with Mr. Gold. I tell her he’s ‘hideous’,” he said with a laugh.
Once Upon a Time season two premiere airs Sunday, September 30th, at 8 pm. on ABC in the U.S. and 7 p.m. on CTV in Canada.