The first episode being Rumple-centric is as likely as it being The Charmings-centric, I think. Just because we don’t like something doesn’t mean that it doesn’t make sense from the point of view of the writers. I just hope that the first episode won’t revolve around Charming family reunions only. That would be extremely boring to me. Besides their reunion can probably be done in one scene. I don’t see the need to drag it out. And getting back the kingdom, well I know it will take place in S2, but we all know the outcome of it. So it’s not interesting enough for the first episode in my opinion. The opening episode has to be exciting enough to get viewers hooked to watch the rest of the series. I’m just not sure that family reunions or getting back the kingdom are like that.
I guess for some people the final scene will always be about Rumple’s power hunger and period. It probably stems from the fact that they don’t like the character. But from the point of view of the plot that explanation doesn’t make sense. The guy worked on the curse for centuries, then willingly got himself transported to the land without magic where he was stuck for 28 years so that after these 28 years he could get back his magic. That’s ridiculous. I thought it was obvious that he’s got some agenda ( most probabably finding his son) and he released that magic because he needs to do something with it.