I'm currently rewatching the show (I'm on season 5) and I had forgotten how much I love some of the characters:
1. Belle. She is so criminally underrated it pains me. Yes, she is sometimes written poorly. Yes, her character arc is recycled quite a lot. And yes, her relationship with Rumple is so back and forth you get whiplash (don't get me wrong though, they're still my favourite relationship on the show by leaps and bounds). But in the end, I find her so endearing and charming (more so than Charming himself, which is a testiment to how much I disklike him). Her intelligence is too often downplayed, and although I do think they could have given her a more useful role in a lot of the arcs, I never seem to get bored when she is on screen. She's just the sweetest, but without being as annoying as the Charmings. Plus, I love Emilie De Ravin with muy heart and soul.
2. Regina. I mean, how could you not root for her. She is interesting, and powerful, and dark, yet good, and so very hot. And she cares about her son more than anything else in the world. I love Lana, and I love Regina. Although the 'will they won't they' with her being a villan/hero is tedious, Parrilla plays it so well that I can't hate it. She makes me feels all the emotions. Her and Emilie are the only two that can have me in tears just by looking sad, and I have no idea why. In the end, you can see why Regina/Lana is the fan favourite. She is the Katie McGrath/Lena Luthor of OUAT (whom I also adore with my entire being and could punch me and I'd thank her).
3. Rumple. Robert Carlyle is a mastermind, I've decided. He is fantastic, and is capable of making me forgive Rumple no matter what he does (although, when he hurts Belle I'm very capable of holding a grudge). His character, much like Regina, is so interesting, and that comes from their moral ambiguity. Yes, he may be the Dark One, but watching him go to the ends of the earth for Belle is so wholesome. He genuinely loves her, and watching that in one scene and then watching him toy around with dark magic in the next is intriguing to say the least. And to say the most, it's one of the best parts of the show.
4. Emma. Whether she is the worst or actually a great character seems to be a popular topic of discussion within the fandom. I, for one, will always root for Emma. She's great, and her story throughout the seasons has been great to watch. I love her heart, and her resolve, and her love for her family and friends. Her relationships with the characters is likely one of the best things in the show; with the Charmings and her story as an orphan; with Henry and her evolution as a mother; with Hook and their growth; with Regina and their development from rivals to co-parents to one of the most important people in each other's lives (Yes, I ship both CaptainSwan and SwanQueen, one thing this show got right was the cast and their chemistry). She has her moments, but in the end I find her to be a vital part of the show: as much as I love the others, I don't think I would have enjoyed the show as much as I did if it weren't for JMo. Plus, she seems so sweet in real life, and I'm obsessed with her hair.
5. Zelena. A queen. How can you not love her. She is the funniest on the show. Rebecca Mader is who I wish I was. That's it. She's amazing. Fantastic. Needed a spin-off.
6. Hook. He is so loveable.
7. Ruby.
8. Blue. I have no idea why, but I love her so much. I think it's derived from mylove for Teegan Connor Tracy. She is incredible.
9. Tinkerbelle. She was a great character.
Least Favourites (please don't attack me this is an OPINION)
1. Neal. He just annoyed me with everything he did. Genuinely.
2. The Charmings. Both of them, annoying. It was cheesy to say the least. I know they opitimised hope and optimism on purpose, but sometimes my pessimistic brain just could it handle it. I see where Regina came from, with the whole vendetta thing. They're boring. I love Gin and Josh though, they're so sweet
3. Henry. He was the most annoying child on a television show EVER for me. I promise, everytime he came on screen I visibly mellowed out. The amount of story time wasted on him was unreal. Also, the amount of times Regina was so entirely crushed by him was not acceptable. He was un grateful. Yes, she did awful things. but there were times when she deserved to be heard to. I just really cannot stand him.
4. Peter Pan. Interesting character, but the arc was somewhat tiresome. I'm much more interested in Regina's arc that season with Zelena, and Belle's with Rumple.