Board Thread:Character Discussion/@comment-11058666-20150826195114/@comment-25926288-20150830234706

Well, I don't think it was stretched far out. I think they had variables they did not account for.

Belle was probably not suppose to go past season 1. Bae was probably going to last for much of season 3,. m,aybe even early four. Rumple would still have his spiral of doom. Maybe have Belle come in late season 2 and small forms for Rumple's redemption post-Bae, deception and then now. So, I think they just didn't plan out Rumple's story after season 1. They knew where he started and know where he ends, but nothing really in between.

Rumple is best a main villain, with Zelena being recurring in present, while Cora is recurring in the past.