Board Thread:Spoilers!/@comment-1916997-20151229033119/@comment-25926288-20160222132443

CoolDudeAl wrote: Hmcooper4 wrote: Somewhere in 5x21-5x23, there needs to be some reasonable setup for next season. (Of course, we don't know what any of the sub-plots for 5B are). And this season finale may be important, given that some of the original actors for the series are, i believe, due for potential contract renewal. While I don't look for a wholesale turnover of cast, we could potentially see some of the current mains either set aside, or possibly even killed off.

So whatever the plot line for the finale is, I would anticipate setting up for whatever next season holds (and more than just a final scene or 2). 3 out of 4 season finales basically had 11th hour reveals for the next season though, so I'm not sure if we will get much set up for Season 6. Only Season 2 had a good amount of set up for the Neverland arc. Season 4 had some subtle hints toward a Camelot arc coming, and maybe a bit of foreshadowing about a "dark Emma", but I don't think I'd consider it reasonable set up. And Seasons 1 and 3, with the breaking of the curse and the tease of Elsa, had basically no setup. In fact, even the actors have stated being surprised by both events. I'm thinking the set-up is more for the "two hour episode finale of randomness" which sets up the next arc. Or at least the big event.

4a had 408 and 409 leading up to 410 Shattered Sight. 4b had 420 as the set up for 421 and 422 which set up the arc for 5a. Otherwise, foreshadowing-wise, CDA is totally right when they tend to foreshadow at the very last minute, unless it's the Underworld and they say it five times per episode XD