Board Thread:Character Discussion/@comment-34563899-20180202235154/@comment-25926288-20180204203407

I think there are two key moments of where their relationship soured.

1. When Rumple injured himself, Milah was upset. Rumple made a life-altering decision without her (as they should be partners). This is a bit overplayed though, as she adjusted and accepted their current status.

Milah’s sense of adventure is curved as she has motherly responsibilities and Milah grows a tad bit harder over time as Rumple grows a bit more doting with his son. But then...

2. Rumple gave away the chance at a second child through their marriage (a life-altering decision) without her. Instead of working it out, Milah decided to right that wrong...with more wrong (becoming abusive).

As Milah became distant and desiring change, Rumple became more focused on Bae and stability. I believe that Hook staged a fake-abductionof Milah, while Milah allowed for that mistake, she underestimated the cost (many years of her sons life). I think some paint her as running from her motherly duties, but I think she purposefully made the mistake to leave, but briefly, which didn’t happen. (Obviously, I doubt pirates can stay in town forever and there is a war going on and stuff.)

We would need a flashback in-between to see if her claim was true about wanting to come back earlier for Bae.

In their relationship, I think it was just Rumple making big mistakes and instead of continuing to work things out, Milah exited out of the conversation and relationship. Milah didn’t make a mistake in leaving Rumple. She made a mistake in the way she left (with Bae, after a discussion, and with an idea for the future).

However, Rumple was indeed a major antagonist in the previous seasons as he was solely focused on furthering his goals despite anyone’s wishes. Sure, Rumple helped people, but that’s far less than the more self-oriented actions he takes.