Board Thread:Show-Related Questions and Answers/@comment-27103721-20151119151345/@comment-91424-20151119162239

ChocolatEyes613 wrote: CadoDoan wrote: They said being a Dark One affects people differently. Maybe that's why. That.... also, it took a while for Rumplestiltskin to become a leathery crocodile. One a side note, JMo's white helmet-hair is not very flattering.

Actually, he became scaly right after he killed Zozo and became the new DO, as seen in "Desperate Souls".

Anyway, Nimue, Rumple and Zozo all had scaly, glittery skin, but Hook and Emma look more normal. Emma's complexion is more pale than before, and her hair is white and does not look very healthy (it looks like she hasn't washed it for ages). Judging from the preview for "Broken Heart", Hook looks more normal, although he does look a bit darker than before.

Someone on chat had a theory that the extreme changes only happen to those who fully embrace the darkness. That is one possibility. Or perhaps the darkness simply affects people differently?