Board Thread:Character Discussion/@comment-25926288-20161018212924/@comment-24674051-20161019053657

8Rob wrote: Writing is one of the weakest points in this show. They basically modify the characters according to what the plot needs.

For instance, we learned from the very beginning that Regina is a very unforgiving and rancorous person. I mean, the EQ still hates Snow White for the Daniel thing.

But in 2x20 Hook, Greg and Tamara tortured her. Literally. And what was her revenge for that? Nothing. She forgot about it. She has even helped Hook more than once. So, she is  unforgiving and rancorous only when the plot needs her to be like that.

Same with the Charmings in 4B. They were OOC the whole arc because the plot needed it.

Emma had her own OOC season in 5A. She wasn't even being evil. She was just plain stupid.

And Rumple.... well, he is the worst of them all for OOC moments. In 4A he wanted to take over the world???? That is one of the biggest wft plots so far in the show. Actually, I assume he was bluffing or something.

He also tried to kill Henry at the end of season 2. Because you know, you failed with your son, so killing your son's son will fix it, yeah.... The guy was like "I haven't wronged my son enough yet"

He was also OOC at the end of season 5. He was willing to hurt Henry again, to awake Belle, only to hurt her again. It's like Belle is his punch bag, he wants her next to him just to hurt her. Dude, It's been 5 seasons, get it together already.

He has had some episodic OOC moments during the whole show, especially with Belle. Ok, I'll agree that sometimes the writing on this show is cringeworthy. But OOC is not one of their flaws.

First, a quick tackle of Regina, Greg, and Tamara. Regina did not do anything to them because she did not have time nor opportunity. Her first priority was to fix the mess of the failsafe diamond (actually be a hero for once). And then, by the time they got to neverland, Greg and Tamara were dead. So there was not even an opportunity to be OOC in that instance.

I'll skil the others, and get back on topic. and let's take them in season order.

Season 2, he tries to kill Henry (making it look like an accident). Rumple has been built up as selfish and cowardly. Yes, Henry is his grandson. But according to the seer, the boy will be his undoing. And Rumple was looking for opportunities to sidestep taht prophesy. that is not OOC, that is totally in character.

Season 4A, Rumple taking over the world. Ok, taking over the world is a little extreme, and that particular pursuit is probably unexpected. But Rumple as the dark one is both a coward and yet all consumed with his power. His goal the entire Frozen arc was to cleave himself from the dagger so that he could have all of his power and leave Storybrooke. And what would he do with that power in the real world? I think the point with 4A is that Rumple wants to have all of the power of the Dark One with none of the limitations. and that is not at all inconsistent with his character. Particularly after the events of 3B with Zelena, removing himself from the dagger would be a high priority, and finding the hat conveniently sitting around was providential. Taking over the world? Maybe that was just a bit of Hyperbole, indicating that without the limitations of the Dagger there was nothing that was beyond his power. (or so he thought, anyway)

Season 4b, Rumple is dying, and looking to cheat death. yes, he knows what could happen when he dies with noone to tether the darkness, and that it endangers Belle. But in actuality, all Rumple cares about is saving Rumple. All of his manipulations were targeted for a single purpose of having the Author, with Pen and Ink, available to rewrite the ending to his story.

Camelot, Rumple was not very present, and when he was he was presented as a blank slate, with the potential to be either good or bad. And while his heart was a blank slate, his personality (cowardly, selfish, and opportunistic) was still the same. Even his heroic actions were grounded in his cowardly personality. so that when the opportunity presented itself to reclaim the darkness, he took it without a second thought. Not OOC.

In the UW, Rumple does come clean about his power to Belle when he is confronted, and I think that was the final straw for Belle (different topic there). But Rumple relied on his power to do things his way. Yes, he was ready to abandon everyone to the UW when Hades first approached him. Fully in character, which is look out for Rumple first. Once Hades got the contract, Rumple's goal changed to protecting His child, his second chance to be the Father he never was to Bae. He just did it his way. Not at all out of character.

And with what we have seen so far, Rumple is the same as ever. He's scheming in the background, trying to do all the wrong things for the sole purpose of protecting Belle (who does not want his help) and his child (who, if we can believe Morpheus, also does not want his help).

Bottom line: except for a brief bit of what I would consider hyperbole, Rumple character has not broken. It has not really developed either, which is a completely different problem, and one that can only be solved with better writing and character development for him.