10 TV Side Characters We Loved More Than The Main Character
8. Mr Gold/Rumplestiltskin - Once Upon a Time
Known in our world as Mr Gold, the frail, yet cunning pawn shop owner of the small town of Storybrooke, Rumplestiltskin comes into his own in the fairy tale world thanks to an awesome character arc that easily cements him as the most compelling character of the bunch in Once Upon a Time.
Much like Jeremy Piven's Ari Gold in Entourage, Robert Carlyle's Rumplestiltskin never fails to steal every scene he's in. His sneaky intellect is something you can't help but adore, and when we see his softer side it's enough to make your heart burst.
In the show's early seasons, we're told of his tragic past raising son, Bae (short for Baelfire), which adds a layer of complexity to his inherently evil persona, and though Emma Swan's quest as the Savior is enough to keep the viewers' attention, it's Carlyle's phenomenal performance as the slimy antagonist that makes for the series' best moments. It's plain to see that the Glasgow-born actor has a blast as both the quiet, methodical Mr Gold and the extroverted, flamboyant Rumplestiltskin.
Snow White and Prince Charming be damned (though they are also superb!), this exotic, yet eloquent bundle of evil is the stealer of the show.