Board Thread:Show-Related Questions and Answers/@comment-3440938-20180410013556/@comment-1916997-20180411193756

I agree with Esk. The Darkness/Nimue is the Big Bad. Remember, it/she can appear to anyone who is a Dark One, so even if the form is Rumple, or we don't actually see Emma or Hook talking to Rumple/Nimue/etc., they are still there.