For some pop culture perspective, Han Solo intended to leave at the end of A New Hope and yet, he came back at the last minute too and helped Luke. I think next season, we will see Hook shine and really become the hero.
Nice reference and given how nerdy A and E are, it’s probably spot on. I posted in another thread that if S1’s theme was Belief and S2’s theme was Repentance (proposed by RaulYbarra) then S3 will be Redemption for Rumple, Regina and Hook. I think those three are going to go through a very intense journey emotionally as characters. At the end of S3 I expect to have very different Rumple’s, Regina’s and Hook’s. Not saying their redemption is complete because it’s a series thing for at least Rumple and Regina, but all three will have reached a new stage in their overall character arc.