Board Thread:Character Discussion/@comment-34563899-20180202235154/@comment-28162607-20180203171845

In seasons 1 and 2 Rumple committed crimes including mass murder, attempted murder of a child, human trafficking, domestic violence, child abuse, slavery, and assisted in casting the Dark Curse. I think someone willing to condemn thousands of innocents to get what they want is a villain.

In season 3 he halted his villainy to defeat a common enemy. Yes he sacrificed himself, but he was all out of options by then and only did it for Belle and Neal. So while it was good, teaming up with the heroes to defeat a common enemy is not a redemption arc.

In season 4 he severely abused Belle (manipulation, gaslighting, sexual assault, stalking) and as well as that he dabbled in slavery, assisted the Snow Queen in the destruction of Storybrooke, genocide, assisted in kidnapping a child, tortured August. How is that not a villain?