Board Thread:Character Discussion/@comment-25926288-20161018212924/@comment-24674051-20161021170558

Actually, I'm OK with some of what has happened with Rumple. I look as his character as an addict, with his addiction being to the Dark Power. He's had moments where he has tried to "kick the habit", and for a brief time it works (see the Neverland arc). But he is not a very strong person, so he soon falls back into his addictive ways, usually falling deeper than he was when he first tried to reform.

He's at the point where he is self-aware of his addiction, but is unwilling to let it go or make any changes. Now, he is once again an expectant dad, and really needs to step up. And he's deluded himself into thinking that he needs the Dark Magic to protect his son. This is what addicts do.

What I don't like is when they fail to acknoledge the past successes (I agree that Belle's comment about selflessness was wrong.) Rumple has had his good moments, and those good moments need to be acknowledged.