Interesting Episode, nice take on the B&tB; tale. RC is just superb in this series and it was nice to see the next step of Mr Gold's past.
A couple of interesting references; the first whimsical in florist being called "Game of Thorns" which I thought was cool. The other is in the last 10 odd seconds of the episode and maybe a little more esoteric. As the Mayor walks to "Belle's" room she passes a long haired guy mopping the floor which appears to be a reference to "Chief" from Once Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. The look is right, the context fits and is perhaps a hint towards Belle's freedom... though if he frees her the way he freed Jack Nicholson, Mr Gold's wrath would decimate Storybrooke... to say the least.