Board Thread:Rant and Rave/@comment-25926288-20170618042330

Reading through reports from fans from a fairly recent convention (like hours ago), I've sort of agreed with Bobby's (Robert Carlyle aka the actor for Rumplestilskin/Mr. Gold) assessment on some critiques or simply his own thoughts of the show. (link: https://salty-rumbelle.tumblr.com/post/161927308242/season-7-and-more)

Now, I've been quite adamant about Direct Disney Insertion and how it really hasn't done much for the show and seems to be slowly dripping into a net negative. However, that's my personal opinion as some could argue fandom, acting, CGI, etc. But I think I can pretty much say that Once has a curse hovering about it and that curse is P-L-O-T. (Not the concept, of course, but the puppetmastering of the story that takes place.)

As what I've read, Carlyle seemed to mention some of the show's unanswered questions and inconsistencies. These then to highlight what I feel is the show's biggest flaw. Before I go into example, I do want to put a small disclaimer: Yeah, this isn't unique to Once, but it doesn't mean this issue is any less relevant. So, examples....

One that I saw mentioned was Rumple and Zelena have this animosity over Neal's death. Let's stretch that to Emma as well. There are a few issues that arose during the three seasons that followed.

1. Emotional portrayal: Neal's death is sad, bleak, and was rooted it something that is quite real in a way. But soon, it's used as a "Oh no, she didn't" *snap,snap* when sassy, helpful Zelena combats the bad, bad Rumple who's threatening Belle. This is rather odd. Either it way you see it, I don't think one could really argue that it was unnecessarily tossed in there.

2. Used, but disappears for large gaps of time: Emma clearly dislikes Zelena and her dislike for Zelena's action had set up her Dark Swan plans. But the next time Emma interacts with her pretty much Emma helping her and then eventually doing wedding-related stuff. Emma may be a good person and all, but Zelena ever apologized for any of that or showed remorse to Emma or Rumple. As I see it across the web, I'd adapt a phrase and call it the "Villains Exception Clause". Posssibly a topic for another day.

3. Payoff, or ending: None really. Zelena "killed" Neal. Rumple "kills" her. Zelena and Rumple one-up each other. Sitting at the Last Supper with happy days here at last. Does not compute.

Another example was the Serum Evil Queen and Rumple. Many fans were like, "What?!" But that was because it felt more out-of-left-field or just plain weird. When the plot once leaned toward Rumple being Regina's father, being a teacher/enemy type person, no one would think Regina actually "fell" for him, or the other way around. I mean, Rumple didn't even like Zelena and she was pretty overt.

Let's not get started on Rumple and Belle never really making up or Rumple and Hook's neverending rivalry. (Sorry for the Rumple focus, lol)

All these things seem to stem from the random manuevering of characters and their plotlines to the benefit of whatever new idea the writers come up with aka the new plot. To be easy on the writer for a moment, I'd say that wrapping up everything is hard. However, we had seasons to end the neverending rivalries, the non-existent remorse/apologies, and the lack of payoff. DDI may have played a role in some aspects, but the Machievellian approach to plot sacrificing the characters is what I feel is the greatest flaw this show has. When an actor says it and the factionalized fandom often expresses this, I feel there's some merit to this.

What do you think Once's greatest flaw is? Do you agree with Carylye on the show's quantity of inconsistencies and unanswered/ undeveloped issues? Feel free to comment and more! 