Board Thread:Spoilers!/@comment-26443838-20160811151224/@comment-24674051-20161017152102

Or maybe Nyx finally realized that turning a powerful evil wizard into a genie is not the greatest idea, and released him form the lamp. And let's face it, Jafar would be a terrible genie. Although, an "all powerful Genie" might be just the thing to balance Rumple.

However, I am becoming more convinced, particularly after the last scene of "Strange Case" that the Oracle is really Jafar under a glamor spell. And the staff is Aladdin trapped. and the "red Bird" has be Iago (or at least a strong nod toward that character). and Jafar is tricking Jasmine into some action that she thinks will help find Aladdin, but will actually be of benefit for Jafar.