I still think the show can be fixed if they go back to focusing on the core motivations and personalities of the main characters that made the show so great in season 1. Did they lose a lot of potential dialogue and potential scenes getting rid of Neal, yup no doubt. But I still have hope (Oh geez I sound like Snow White here), that they can bring back some of the integrity of the show. Honestly, I think they bit off a little more than they could chew in this last half season. They tried to tackle the origin of the dark one and they failed. It was a lot of show mythology and they screwed up.
Maybe this next half season will make us like Hook more? Maybe Hades will be great. We already know he has some sort of history with Zelena and she was one of the better things from season 5A. And when A&E say things like the UW is just the start for savior Emma and that it’s going to open up a whole bunch of stuff, or whatever they said, that intrigues me because that’s a theme of season 1 and other than a few mentions of Emma still technically being the savior, that sort of hasn’t gotten lost over the years. Plus Gaston, and more Belle and Ruby and Mulan. I’m excited that they at least have the potential to turn this season around. I know, a ton of optimism after the crap show that was season 5A (and honestly I was fine with 5A until the final two episodes), but there is still a ton of story they can tell with Robin and Regina’s baby, more Henry, the LGBT relationship, Rumple’s motivations, and obviously all the returning characters and more Cruella, who we all agree, was outstanding!