Yeah, they always say something is going to happen with the Charmings. It always last like two scenes in one episode and is over. I am not convinced until they actually have an arc. They haven’t had an arc since Season 2.
Well with the evil queen back and how she sent and controlled the count to Snow, it would appear that they will get an arc this season.
And the first three episodes seem to be giving Snow more focus like:
1. Ep 1 on how we see her and Regina talking to each other more.
2. Ep 2 where we seem to see flashbacks with the Charmings and the count and their battle with him (when the queen was controlling him to kill Snow).
3. Ep will show the origin of the friendship between Snow and Cinderella at last.
Also we will see more focus on Charming’s past where he will discover something he believed in which is not true (where it is possible that Hook was involved and had something to do with it).
And with Snow endanger, I can see aside from Charming and Regina, I can see Emma trying to protect her alot more.
That seems clear enough that the Charmings will have an arc this season.