Board Thread:Show-Related Questions and Answers/@comment-30851494-20161226023129/@comment-25375217-20161226053804

Arguably (but I won't get into that here) barring Season 4, Rumple has always been motivated by one, or both, of two things: love and power.

He tries to save Malcolm from being arrested for the love of a father.

He takes the power of the Dark One because he loves his son and wants to protect him.

He refuses to go to the Land Without Magic because he has become obsessed with his power.

He does practically everything leading up to the Dark Curse so that he can have his beloved son back while keeping his power.

He almost gives up his power for Belle's love.

He sends Belle away because he's obsessed with his power.

He agrees to let August destroy the dagger because he believes it will make his beloved son happy.

He sacrifices himself for the newfound love he has for his extended family.

Etc. etc. etc.

So in Season 5, he's lost his power. He no long has it to drive him.

He does the right thing and saves Belle for the sake of her love. It's all he has left to drive him, so he's inevitably going to go for it. But then Belle still refuses to give him her love, and he sends her away. Now he's left with nothing. Belle probably won't come back. Baelfire is dead. His extended family...? Ehhh.

Then Emma shows up, and something clicks.

He has a "vial of magic" that could maybe, just maybe, give him his power back.

What does he have to lose?

...And then Belle shows back up and suddenly he has love in his life again and we're back to the back-and-forth.