Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-26184308-20150322015532/@comment-25926288-20150322025943

We don't have any confirmation. He is the best and talented actor. Most of those rumors are baseless. I get around to many forums and sites and they most noted thing concerning Rumple was the effort that Robert Carlyle puts into Rumple. I was actually going through my head on this issue right now. Most say he has seemed to lost that spark that made him relish the role, especially after Neal died. Although it isn't uncommon for actors and writers to disagree, Carlyle still gives among the best performances of this show.

I noticed that they said this, but I didn't pay it no mind until I saw Rumple's scenes with Anna. He just had this vacant look and a not-so Rumple voice (before he changed his voice slightly depending on who he interacts with, lol, like the Sheriff of Nottingham). Then continued scenes, flashback and present day with this creepy vacant stare and not-so Rumple voice. But you still see the old Rumple in certain notable scenes. Many especially mentioned his not so Rumple voice the flashbacks and even the promo narrated by him.

It's also seen in his interviews, which he rarely gives. Interestingly enough, Carlyle was against the fantasia hat from being apart of the show (he didn't think it belong from previous season 1). And lo and behold, it came. He seemed to be excited working with Jared Gilmore, hoping for Rumple and Henry to start to bond, but we didn't get that at all. Then a following interview sometime later when asked about Rumple, he said your guess is as good as mine. This is after he had so much thought and intuition towards Rumple beforehand and now apparently "our guess is as good as his". I wouldn't blame him if he's tired of all the makeup and life of actors and stuff, but to change like that must means something changed that we may not know. He does as I said show effort and great scenes with certain actors.

These are where the rumors are based. Go watch Rumple season one, two, and three part 1. Any scene(s) and compare it to Rumple and Anna or Rumple and QoD in Darkness on the Edge of town. He's great as always but something seems missing. If you are extreme, look at his creepy vacant stare when trying to "help" the fairies and Belle.