Bearing in mind I haven’t watched since 3×14 (I think? Or 15/16)…killing off Neal was just about the worst thing they could’ve done for Rumple. I always knew that, but this confirms it. Now he’s on a REVENGE quest? What is he, Regina?? That and the fact that he apparently spent all of S4A trying to get unchecked power is just…incredibly lame. It’s a Bond villain motive. What made him interesting was that there was a personal nature to his motivations.
I agree. The writers royally screwed over Rumple’s character. They should’ve just left well enough alone and let Rumple’s sacrifice stand. Neal deserved that second chance, and Rumple’s current behavior doesn’t warrant one. It’s clear Bobby didn’t like what the writers did to Neal and Rumple either, and that he isn’t a fan of Rumbelle. So Bobby probably just wants Rumple’s character to embrace the dark side completely and die so he can be freed from his contract to go pursue worthwhile acting endeavors.
Here’s the analogy I like to use: Rumple without Bae is Darth Vader without Luke Skywalker. Not particularly interesting!
And yes, Rumple is now the Darth Vader to Hook’s Han Solo. Not that interesting or that original *head’s desk*
"That’s how you know you’ve really got a home. When you leave it, there’s this feeling that you can’t shake. You just miss it." Neal Cassidy