I actually liked the way they ended the season. They wrapped up a lot of things but then gave us just a bit of new information to wonder how they are going to approach next season. I thought this was a much better approach than the cliff hangers that leave you wondering if characters have been killed off or if characters are having affairs with other characters, etc.
I also thought that, once again, they did a GREAT job with messing with our heads with the “good” side of the villians. I actually felt the most sorry for Regina in the episode – especially when the BF told her she should go hide and she told Henry that no matter what anyone tells him she does love him. And then instead of going somewhere to hide she just went back home and went into Henry’s room and smelled his pillow and started to cry. It made me think “This poor woman – she just lost ANOTHER man she loved” but then right as they get me to feel all sorry for her the purple smoke comes billowing in and she gets her EQ facial expression all over again and I’m like “Ugh!! No – still evill!!!! No lesson learned!!”
Then you have Rumple who gets all lovey dovey emotional when he sees Belle and actuallu reaches out to touch her because he can’t believe that she is alive and is horrified that Regina did that to her. And then my heart is ripped out (no pun intended) when he breaks down and hugs her and tells her that yes, he will protect her and no, she doesn’t know him but she will. And when Belle calls him Rumplestiltskin and they tell each other that they love each other – JOY and HAPPINESS ALL AROUND. Dancing puppies and kittens!!! World peace on the horizon!! But no – once again they mess with my head, another character that simply cannot learn from his mistakes (and it’s the character who’s motto is “All magic comes with a price”????) and Rumple decides that bringing back magic is a super idea. I guess because with Belle at his side it will turn out better this time! (Said sarcastically).
Really, I get the whole reason for Rumple thinking he needs to bring back the magic, he just doesn’t seem to take his own advice very well. 🙄
But Carlyle is still an acting God. 😉