Board Thread:Spoilers!/@comment-5899967-20170127112941/@comment-24674051-20170127181247

I agree with CDA.

I think a fresh take on the DO might be good, although they did sort of try that with Dark Swan and failed miserably. But where that failed, imo, is that they were trying to keep Emma's character intact while being the DO, and that simply does not work.

The way I would go about it would be based on the following...

Rumple, as we have seen, is still suffering from heart issues. Zelena reminded him that he can still die from heart problems earlier this season (which is what sent Rumple on the path to exterminate Zelena this time). there are 2 ways to use this. the first is that Zelena, in an effort to defend herself, cancels the effects of the heart support magic, or you could have some new enemy of Rumple (Not Killian at this point) discover the secret of Zelena's potion and concoct a counter measure that they trick Rumple into taking. Either course has Rumple dying quickly, and we know that him dying without passing the darkness on to a new owner is not a good thing.

With his death imminent and unable to be countered, that forces someone to step up and volunteer to take in the darkness. This could be any of the mains, or a new character introduced.

Yes, this would be somewhat of a repeat of the end of season 4, but how everyone responds to the new DO, and how the new DO responds, can depart from what they tried with Dark Swan.

The tragic part that could be added is that Rumple's death occurs just as Belle and Rumple are reuniting, finally coming to terms with who each other is, and what each brings to the table. They have save Gideon from the Black Fairy (though what age he is at this point is up for debate) and are  ready to start raising him when this happens. Which could set the stage for Belle to be the one to take the darkness as a way to be with Rumple, even if it is only in her head. (I always thought Belle, in her Lacey personality, would be a really good DO).