Board Thread:Spoilers!/@comment-5094906-20150506222110/@comment-24674051-20150508143239

Robert Carlyle stepping down his invovlement would be sad blow for the show, but from my experience, the Good shows learn how to adapt. Rumple still appears in flashbacks (much like Cora and some of the other guests).

And honestly, if Robert is not as active in acting on the show, maybe he could become more involved in directing, and take on one or two episodes from the directors chair. I'd be interested to see his take from that side of the camera.

One game changer that I see, though, that does not involve Robert leaving, is what was set up in "Mother". Rumple dying, but the Dark One living on. Now, how that would affect the show, who knows, but that would be a game changer.