Board Thread:Spoilers!/@comment-2153169-20180101145807/@comment-25375217-20180102055131

DracoWombat wrote: DatNuttyKid wrote: Ugh... This is incredibly disappointing to me.

So does this mean they're just not doing a redemption storyline? Or are they going to force one on Gothel...? Or, I guess, Wish Hook has technically never been redeemed.

Really, this makes me think we won't get a Season 8. Unless there's a major surprise, there isn't anything interesting here. Once generally speaking does not write heroes well and Jacinda is already a pretty unpopular character, while Tiana lacks storylines (at least so far). The most popular characters in the past have been redeemed villains and they've killed their only two obvious choices.

I'll hold out hope for something to happen in the second half that gives them a better chance, but... This doesn't bode well. Adelaide's exist says nothing about wether OUaT is getting an eighth season. The Reaper has it as 45% chance of renenwal and F3 considers it a bubble show. Networks never cancel shows just because actors are leaving, and if season seven has shown us anything, it1s that OUaT isn't the kind of show where any single actor is necessary for the plot.

But what are they going to do for Season 8? Again, unless something happens in the second half, they've written off both of their best chances for interesting character arcs. Seasons 1-6 of Once were carried by Emma, Regina, and Rumple. Henry is an okay Emma, though he's really much better at being Snow, but without Victoria and Drizella, we don't have a Regina or a Rumple.

It's not that I think this decision will result in them being canceled. Odds are, the decision will be made by the time this airs, even if it's not official. But the fact that they're writing off both of the characters who have the most potential to fill the niche the target audience usually enjoys (that is, redeemed villain) makes it feel as if they aren't planning for an eighth season. And given the fact that the people at ABC tend to like this show, I'm inclined to think they've already made the decision to cancel it and have given Adam and Eddy a chance to give the series a satisfying resolution.

This is all just my speculation, though, and mostly uninformed and abnormally pessimistic speculation at that.