Board Thread:Spoilers!/@comment-1916997-20170111004119/@comment-25926288-20170111020429

I think it's either a launch point for a spin-off or something, given the popularity of Netflix and other platforms. This, it would be sort of a hybrid of spin-off and Main, with Main ending in 7, while the spin-off picks up with those side characters.

As I always state, the show was established on Rumple's quest for his son, Snow facing and Evil Queen's quest for happiness, and Emma finding her place in the world. Rumple' story essentially looped, Regina's pretty fine, and Emma's "happy ending" is just waiting around the corner. So, 7 could end with happy ending achieved and just that "one more fight" and finish.

So, if Emma is done the show is done. Regina and Rumple are major players which would leave the show a shell of itself (which isn't necessarily bad, just tough). So, I don't think there will be much to get rid of if they really plan to end the main show in 7. (Unless Rumple dies or something).

Seasons 1-3 are already sort of Part 1, 4-6 Part 2, but I rather a spin-off than drag through a Part 3. It's so weird that they have such a large universe, but it feels like they'll soon be grasping at straws.