Board Thread:Spoilers!/@comment-24674051-20170113184853/@comment-24674051-20170114183143

Personally, from a story perspective, I think it is time to breath new life into the DO. From an actor perspective, I think Robert has grown tired of the daily grind, and would like to have more time to devote to his other endeavors. I could definitely see Rumple be killed in present day, but maybe have the ability to have Robert return for occasional backstory appearances. in any case, I do believe that Rumple will die before the end of the season. But that does not mean that Belle would be sent off. In fact, I feel that Belle's importance could be increased (from a story perspective) due to her knowledge and experience with the Dark One.