Board Thread:Spoilers!/@comment-26225812-20150618081046/@comment-25926288-20150707174121

The problem with the Rumple arc is that he didn't choose love over power. The choice was made for him.

None would expect Rumple to become the Dark One again, if he chose Belle over the dagger.

But they didn't do that, they used a plot contirvance and a deus ex machina and did pointless stuff.

They could have had Rumple do True Love's kiss and free the Darkness, which the Apprentice tries to contain and then Rumple collapses and is put under a preservation spell. Then do the rest they did in the finale.