Spoiler Discussion: The apple was poisoned?!

[Serena]

Gender swapped Emma and Henry will be FUN when the writers also try to gender-swap the Graham storyline!

[PixiePaws1]

My 1st thoughts were grown up Neal ..as in Emma's brother not that other fuckwit....and CS daughter...but the ages sort of throw that out of whack.

No interest without CS and Snowing...and would avoid a show with a massive amount of Jared's Henry at all.costs....

[Curio]

7 minutes ago, Serena said:

Gender swapped Emma and Henry will be FUN when the writers also try to gender-swap the Graham storyline!

Ugh, we're actually going to finish this series without Emma ever finding out what Regina did to Graham. I mean, I always kind of knew it would happen this way, but it's starting to become more real now that we're nearing the end. We'll also never know if Snowing knows the full truth about Neal.

[Sarcastica]

12 minutes ago, Serena said:

Gender swapped Emma and Henry will be FUN when the writers also try to gender-swap the Graham storyline!

omg

[tri4335]

@PixiePaws1 Even if it is Henry in the future, I don't think the actor will be Jared.  In a way it is too bad they used Eion as August/Pinocchio; he would make a great brooding Henry ( in Season 1, that's who I thought he was). 

[Curio]

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A “strong yet vulnerable” leading man in his late 20s to mid-30s, a gent who was once optimistic and hopeful but now is a friendless, cynical recluse. That said, he still possesses a dormant, deep-seated speak of hope that waits for the right person to reignite it.

Um, A&E? Henry has always been friendless.

Edited February 16, 2017 by Curio

[KingOfHearts]

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Um, A&E? Henry has always been friendless.

In the words of Norman Bates, "A boy's best friend is his mother."

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In a way it is too bad they used Eion as August/Pinocchio; he would make a great brooding Henry ( in Season 1, that's who I thought he was). 

Who's to say he isn't? After Zarian, anything is possible. *cue A&E plot twist*

Edited February 16, 2017 by KingOfHearts

[sharky]

I mean, I guess it could be fine if it's Henry and the girl is the CS daughter. Maybe there was a new curse and anyone not born in the Enchanted Forest is left behind, which means Henry gets punted into the real world. And then CSD (Captain Swan Daughter), who was born to CS after the curse because, you know, TRUE LOVE, comes looking for Henry and he is the new savior and has to break the curse. He finds the new Storybrooke and I get the Cursed!Killian I always wanted -- who will then be ruined by A&E. Dammit.

Seriously, every scenario where this casting could work out ends with "and then it will be ruined by A&E." I think I can only do this under two circumstances. 1) This leads to what is announced as a final season or 2) ABC puts new show runners in charge of the rebooted show.

Frankly, at this point, I'm kind of hoping they get a shortened seventh season and tie up loose ends so Colin O'Donoghue can move to Wales and take over as the new Doctor Who. Let me have my dreams.

[tri4335]

14 minutes ago, KingOfHearts said:

In the words of Norman Bates, "A boy's best friend is his mother."

Who's to say he isn't? After Zarian, anything is possible. *cue A&E plot twist*

Mind blown!  And since I will never watch the reboot, this will forever be how it plays out for me.  Well done @KingOfHearts well done.

[KingOfHearts]

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I mean, I guess it could be fine if it's Henry and the girl is the CS daughter. Maybe there was a new curse and anyone not born in the Enchanted Forest is left behind, which means Henry gets punted into the real world. And then CSD (Captain Swan Daughter), who was born to CS after the curse because, you know, TRUE LOVE, comes looking for Henry and he is the new savior and has to break the curse. He finds the new Storybrooke and I get the Cursed!Killian I always wanted -- who will then be ruined by A&E. Dammit.

What if Gideon is Hope's adoptive father? (I just now realized that Gideon is Henry's uncle.)

The Black Fairy can be Mayor Poppins. Rumple's heart can be "The Thing You Tolerate Most" for the curse. 

Edited February 16, 2017 by KingOfHearts

[sharky]

I can't fully explain how far my eyes rolled back into my head when you pointed out that Gideon is Henry's uncle. For f-'s sake. I had not realized that yet so thanks for screwing that up for me. ;)

But yes, Gideon is Hope's adoptive father. That could work. Gideon doesn't want to be the new Savior. He wants to be the new Evil Queen. He sacrifices the Black Fairy's heart -- the thing he loves most -- to enact the curse that makes him mayor and banishes Henry and then CSD is adopted by Gideon because he's evil and that's what the Evil Queen would do. Then she finds the book, she finds Henry, yadda yadda yadda, the show gets cancelled.

[Curio]

3 minutes ago, KingOfHearts said:

What if Gideon is Hope's adoptive father? (I just now realized that Gideon is Henry's uncle.)

You know what? I could totally see it.

I'm choosing to be like Snow and I'm going to be unrealistically optimistic for a second. An adult Henry Mills and Hope Swan Jones team up could potentially be a nice way to bookend the series...IF...A&E execute it well. (Big giant IF there.)

Season 1 began with 10-year-old Henry searching for Emma because he discovered the story book, and Season 7 would begin with 10-year-old Hope searching for Henry because she discovers the same story book. Hope is adopted by Gideon and she lives in Storybrooke where we have yet another memory curse. We can finally see what a cursed Emma or cursed Hook would look like. (Gideon figures it's more tortuous to have Emma and Hook live in the same town as their daughter but not actually be able to raise her.) Hey, even Regina would finally get the chance to be cursed. Hope's search for her family would lead her to Henry in New York City because he was banished to the Land Without Magic and is crashing at Neal's apartment. Since Henry is the Author, Hope needs him to fill her in on some of the missing pages that have been ripped out by Gideon. Hope read a page about how Henry was able to break the first curse, so surely he can break this one, but a bunch of other details are still fuzzy. Also, she just wants her brother back in her life. Unlike Season 1 Emma, Henry does believe in magic and knows the truth about Storybrooke, but after years of living in the Land Without Magic and desperately trying to find any portals, he had given up hope on finding his family again. (Cue Henry saying some angsty line about how "I once came to New York City when I was about your age to destroy magic, but now I'd give anything to have it back!") In comes Hope, and she has the magical MacGuffin that can bring Henry back to Storybrooke and break the curse.

Adult Henry is in Emma's role, Hope is in Henry's role, and Emma and Hook would be in Snow and Charming's roles as the True Love couple we all know should be together, but Gideon keeps separating them like Regina did. A&E can continue doing their random thematic flashbacks to the Enchanted Forest and other skipped moments (*COUGH like Hook's adventure to get the magic bean COUGH*) to keep the true spirit of the characters alive throughout Season 7. It would also be a nice way to bring Jared back for cameo roles.

To add even more to the Season 1 parallels, the very first scene of Season 7 could be Captain Swan finally having their big wedding day in Storybrooke, but in barges Gideon pulling a Regina and interrupts the wedding. He casts the Dark Curse. Season 7 is bound to be the final season, so the series finale would be Hope breaking the curse, Captain Swan and everyone else regaining their memories, and the last scene would finally give Emma her happy ending wedding. (I don't see CS having anything more than an engagement in the Season 6 finale, so the wedding would inevitably have to happen in Season 7.)

The only issue with all of this is that there's not nearly enough emphasis on Regina, so it's probably all way off. 

[Rumsy4]

It would be so horrible if Emma doesn't get to raise her second child as well in their early years. And I've no interest in seeing Cursed!CS having affairs with other people, etc.. I do think there's a good possibility of Gideon casting the Dark Curse though. Would he love the Black Fairy the most, or would that be Belle? :-p

[Shanna Marie]

I've been trying to think of who these new characters might be if they aren't adult Henry and "Hope," but I can't think of any major storybook-type characters they fit. There was that clever bit in the article referring to Annie, but are there other famous orphans in stories? They've burned through all the characters they might have used.

I would think that they'd have learned that their storytelling pace makes having a child character/actor a bad idea, so they wouldn't want to repeat with another 10-year-old who would be maybe 12 and played by an 18-year-old actor by the time the series ends. Then again, I doubt the reboot would last that long.

You know, there's enough material to have done a reboot about another Disney princess, since we never did see the backstory of Maleficent, Briar Rose, and Stefan, never saw the courtship of Aurora and Philip, never saw how Aurora and Mulan saved Philip after the Wraiths, never saw Aurora and Maleficent dealing with each other while still in the same town. It would kind of be like "Once Upon a Time Offscreen," but they could show Aurora and Maleficent coming to terms in the present, with flashbacks of the Sleeping Beauty backstory, and meanwhile the original regulars are around the edges and sometimes intersecting.

[Curio]

4 minutes ago, Rumsy4 said:

It would be so horrible if Emma doesn't get to raise her second child as well in their early years. And I've no interest in seeing Cursed!CS having affairs with other people, etc.

In this imaginary scenario, I'm allowing Emma and Hook secret moments where they're able to bond with their daughter throughout the years in cursed Storybrooke behind Gideon's back. Hook is Hope's geeky math teacher who secretly allows her to stay in at recess and chats with her about life. Emma is...I don't even know what cursed Emma would be like...but she notices that Hope is lonely, so they secretly hang out. I mean, it's better than nothing. (And I'm with you...no affairs! We'll just say Hook is the opposite of a Ladies' Man and Emma doesn't have time for a boyfriend. But they do have time for falling in love with each other again, even if cursed Emma scoffs at the idea of dating the nerdy math teacher at first.)

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Would he love the Black Fairy the most, or would that be Belle? :-p

It would be a pretty bold move if Gideon killed Belle, but I don't know if ABC would allow that. Maybe Gideon and his grandma really bonded in the Dark World and he ends up killing her.

[KingOfHearts]

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He wants to be the new Evil Queen.

It would be awesome if Gideon took the whole heroes and villains thing to an extreme. He would be the opposite of Henry and Belle - he would desperately want to be a villain instead of a hero. He would cast the Dark Curse, kill Rumple, then try to emulate him at his darkest. (Kind of like Kylo Ren.)

If Henry was living in New York, why would he lose hope? Why wouldn't he be trying to save his family? What would make him think everything is lost, if he has the almighty Author pen?

Edited February 17, 2017 by KingOfHearts

[Souris]

Calling it now: Hook and Regina are married and/or Emma and August are married in this curse.

[KingOfHearts]

Just now, Souris said:

Calling it now: Hook and Regina are married and/or Emma and August are married in this curse.

Just what we need, more Adultery Queen.

[Curio]

4 minutes ago, Souris said:

Calling it now: Hook and Regina are married and/or Emma and August are married in this curse.

I doubt Hook and Regina would ever happen, but I wouldn't put it past A&E to put Emma and August together. I mean, there's got to be a reason they randomly forced him into a prominent role in the spring premiere and have retconned him into a nicer guy.

I'm starting to think we might be giving Gideon too much credit in this hypothetical Season 7. The Black Fairy has been name-dropped since all the way back in Season 3. We've speculated for a few years that she might ultimately be the Big Bad in the final season. I just don't see much motive for Gideon to adopt this new 10-year-old. But the Black Fairy has motive because she's been set up this season as having a history of stealing babies. If the writers were planning long-term, I could see them throwing that baby detail in there because they planned on having the Black Fairy stealing Emma and Killian's daughter in the future.

So yeah, I'm now thinking the Black Fairy casts the final Dark Curse and becomes mayor.

[RulerofallIsurvey]

2 hours ago, sharky said:

Seriously, every scenario where this casting could work out ends with "and then it will be ruined by A&E." I think I can only do this under two circumstances. 1) This leads to what is announced as a final season or 2) ABC puts new show runners in charge of the rebooted show.

There.  I fixed your post for you.  ;)

[Watt]

Every time I leave for a week or two and come back the spoilers keep getting worse. Stop!

[Curio]

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If Henry was living in New York, why would he lose hope? Why wouldn't he be trying to save his family? What would make him think everything is lost, if he has the almighty Author pen?

 

 

Whoever casts the new curse could make it extra special powerful so that absolutely no one from the outside world can get in. If Henry was stuck in the Land Without Magic for ten years and couldn't find a single portal to get him back to his family that entire time, that would probably make him very cynical and have him lose all hope. (We'll just assume his magical author powers can't work in the Land Without Magic.) Maybe that's why he's described as a recluse because he's the weird hermit who spends all of his free time trying to find crazy theories about magic and portal hopping. His entire apartment is probably filled with newspaper clippings and yarn strings connecting theories about how to get to Storybrooke. (Kind of like Lily.)

And now I have the mental image of an adult Henry trying to perform that idiotic wishing well act he pulled in the Season 5 finale. Except when he does it as an adult, he just comes across as a crazy person or a street performer.

Edited February 17, 2017 by Curio

[Souris]

3 hours ago, Curio said:

I doubt Hook and Regina would ever happen, but I wouldn't put it past A&E to put Emma and August together. I mean, there's got to be a reason they randomly forced him into a prominent role in the spring premiere and have retconned him into a nicer guy.

So yeah, I'm now thinking the Black Fairy casts the final Dark Curse and becomes mayor.

Regina has to have SOME major role in all this, because it's still A&E. There's no way she's not going to be all up in this.

Whose heart would the Black Fairy crush for the curse?

God, I just can't believe we're maybe looking at YET ANOTHER MEMORY CURSE if this spec pans out. A&E are utterly creatively bankrupt. They have ONE basic idea and they just keep repeating variations on the theme. It's embarrassing.

[KingOfHearts]

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God, I just can't believe we're maybe looking at YET ANOTHER MEMORY CURSE if this spec pans out.

I'm totally okay with a memory curse if there's fake personalities like S1.

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Whose heart would the Black Fairy crush for the curse?

If Pan can crush Felix's, I'm sure the Black Fairy can crush Rumple's.

Edited February 17, 2017 by KingOfHearts

[KAOS Agent]

The whole thing sounds awful. I have zero interest. If we watched six seasons of these characters fighting for a good and happy life with family and friends only for it all to be destroyed by another curse, I don't even know if I'll even bother watching 6B. I was fine with a reboot where the existing characters worked with a few new ones who then carried on with their own stories while the originals lived happily ever after. I probably wasn't going to watch it, but at least it wouldn't destroy the characters I have enjoyed watching. I want nothing to do with Emma losing another child who grows up sad and miserable or Snowing being separated again or Belle being locked up. I'm not interested in Emma and Henry 2.0. Who in the audience would be interested in knowing their favorites are suffering (possibly offscreen) while watching Olivia Twist and Adult!Henry run around doing nothing? 

[Curio]

3 minutes ago, Souris said:

Whose heart would the Black Fairy crush for the curse?

 

Rumple. That way, they don't have to bring Robert back as a regular cast member next season and save some money. Also, it would be crazy if the Black Fairy is so evil that the thing she loves most is a child she didn't even bother naming. And then the Black Fairy would become the new Dark One.

Just now, KingOfHearts said:

I'm totally okay with a memory curse if there's fake personalities like S1.

Yeah, I'm okay with it if we get the fake personalities. Memory curses are just a part of the show's DNA at this point. They happen so regularly that it's weird when they don't have a memory curse once a season. 

[KingOfHearts]

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And then the Black Fairy would become the new Dark One.

Dang. Black Fairy + Dark One sounds terrifying. She would be nearly unstoppable. 

Edited February 17, 2017 by KingOfHearts

[Curio]

9 minutes ago, KingOfHearts said:

Dang. Black Fairy + Dark One sounds terrifying. She would be nearly unstoppable. 

Replying in the speculation thread.

[ParadoxLost]

8 hours ago, Souris said:

If you want a laugh, go check out Adam's Twitter timeline. He's currently in damage control mode and wording things very carefully to give the illusion that it's all speculation and not true.

The first thing I thought when I read the TVLine article was that the network was pulling a move like they did with Castle (the news that they were firing the female lead was totally a network test balloon to decide if the fans would accept a reboot/cast change before renewing).

The network most definitely leaked this.  Its either a negotiating ploy or testing the waters about a reboot.  Its a no lose for the network.  They either find out that fans will support the show despite a cast change/reboot. Or they piss fans off enough that they cheer the cancelation, diverting anger from the network

[PixiePaws1]

I  was thinking how they might try to redeem Rumple  (personally i think he needs to die an excruciating painful death after everything he did and intended to do, to Emma). 

Since he mentioned the coming war and if he hates his mother more than he hates everybody else, he might actually fight for the 'heroes' against the Black Fairy..but die in the process..

I would loath him even getting a remote sprinkle with the 'redeemed hero' brush after all he has done to Emma &co...!

[Curio]

1 hour ago, PixiePaws1 said:

I  was thinking how they might try to redeem Rumple  (personally i think he needs to die an excruciating painful death after everything he did and intended to do, to Emma). 

Since he mentioned the coming war and if he hates his mother more than he hates everybody else, he might actually fight for the 'heroes' against the Black Fairy..but die in the process..

 

 

I've got your solution.

If the Black Fairy's ultimate end game is to become the new Dark One, Rumple would be smart enough to put a backdoor "FU" loophole into his death. Knowing ahead of time that his mother wants to kill him, even in death Rumple will get the last laugh because he'll secretly set up the beginning stages of the Dark Curse spell without her knowing about it. If she doesn't kill him he's safe, but if she does kill him, then that will set off a chain reaction that enacts the new frozen-in-time Storybrooke curse. So while the Black Fairy may think she has ultimate power and control as the new Dark One, the moment she kills her son, she becomes the new magicless mayor and all magic is eliminated from Storybrooke. Even though the Black Fairy would have a slight advantage over everyone else because she'd keep her memories like Regina did in Season 1, Rumple making the backdoor curse clause would be a way for him to try and protect everyone else in Storybrooke by forcing his mother to give up all her magic in order to live in a magicless town.

Basically, the Black Fairy thinks, "By killing Rumple, I can have both the power of being a Black Fairy and the power of being a Dark One at the same time. I'll be the most powerful creature ever and will be the ultimate ruler of the Enchanted Forest and all the other random realms that exist." But Rumple thinks, "If you're going to kill me, Mother, then say goodbye to all your power because by killing the thing you love most, you're also going to live a boring and repetitive life without magic for a very long time. And hopefully one of the useless heroes can actually destroy you when you don't have magic."

I have no idea if any of that makes sense, but it would tie in well with this Henry/Hope quest where they have to convince everyone in Storybrooke of their real personalities again. Also, maybe young Henry knew that if he stayed in Storybrooke there would be no chance of breaking the curse because he'd lose his memories and become brain dead like everyone else. So making a sacrifice for his family, he left behind the storybook for his little sister to find one day, escaped the curse, and he awaited the day she'd figure it all out and come find him in New York. 

I swear I'm not actually excited to see this on screen, but the way the writers have set up their world-building, there's actually a lot of story potential here.

Edited February 17, 2017 by Curio

[Souris]

46 minutes ago, ParadoxLost said:

The first thing I thought when I read the TVLine article was that the network was pulling a move like they did with Castle (the news that they were firing the female lead was totally a network test balloon to decide if the fans would accept a reboot/cast change before renewing).

The network most definitely leaked this.  Its either a negotiating ploy or testing the waters about a reboot.  Its a no lose for the network.  They either find out that fans will support the show despite a cast change/reboot. Or they piss fans off enough that they cheer the cancelation, diverting anger from the network

I wondered about it being a trial balloon, as well. I wouldn't be at all surprised. However, since the Once reboot "leak" didn't specifically involve killing a beloved character like Castle's did, I don't think the blowback has been or will be as strong. Now, if it came out JMo definitely isn't returning, then there might be some more significant blowback.

Edited February 17, 2017 by Souris

[PixiePaws1]

@Curio

I think you are pretty spot on....!

[KAOS Agent]

Any speculation about a new curse and a need for Operation Cobra Part X presumes that the existing characters will return, but will be cursed. The whole point of the reboot is to ditch the expensive existing regulars and replace them with cheaper actors. Basically, I think they've got Colin, Lana & Bex still under contract, so you have Hook and Regina around and maybe Zelena. Then possibly Emma. Everyone else will be gone. They may still be in Storybrooke, but we wouldn't get to see them. That makes for a pretty sad state of affairs. A Black Fairy/Dark One dark curse does make sense narratively, but I don't see how it can work when so many of the regular characters would be missing. Now, they could do some sort of alt-verse where all of the Once characters don't exist and these new characters come to Storybrooke to get help knowing that Emma has defeated the Dark Curse in her world. Like it could be an Underbrooke type place in the Black Fairy's world or whatever. Sets remain the same. Some existing characters could go along to help, but the disappearance of others is explained and their happy endings aren't wiped out.

[Serena]

I will say, I can see the following as the kind of trick A&E would pull (again): episode 620, towards the end, Storybrooke gets cursed. Episode 621-622 we see Henry try to to get into Storybrooke/save all the cursed people. Bookending this is the "leading man" and little girl from the casting call. At the end of the episode, suprise!, we find out the leading man is Henry and thus all the scenes with him have been a flash forward.

Then, depending on which actors agree to come back next season, Henry can get into SB and have adventures with them. The others? Well, they're somewhere, under a curse, and Henry's mission is to find and save them! Then, if the actors missing agree to come back for the season finale, he can save them then.

[sharky]

Just a head's up: ABC has posted the new episode on its press site so heavy spoilers may be out soon. Adjust your spoiler viewing accordingly. 

[Souris]

The new ep has been pretty heavily spoiled already thanks to the Atlanta event, so spoilers won't have the impact they would usually.

Any speculation about a new curse and a need for Operation Cobra Part X presumes that the existing characters will return, but will be cursed. The whole point of the reboot is to ditch the expensive existing regulars and replace them with cheaper actors. Basically, I think they've got Colin, Lana & Bex still under contract, so you have Hook and Regina around and maybe Zelena. Then possibly Emma.

@KAOS Agent makes a very good point. 

Edited February 17, 2017 by Souris

[sharky]

What does it say about me that I forgot the episode was already spoiled? Or really, what does it say about the episode?

[Souris]

More thoughts about the reboot:

Channing Dungey indicated that they hoped the reboot would last for more than one season. (Though one always has to run stuff like that through a PR speak filter.) So whatever it is, it has to allow for that, unless they actually plan for S7 to be the last.

I think @KAOS Agent is right in that whatever is going on next season, many of the current cast members will not be around or will be around only sparingly as recurring guest stars. Perhaps some get sent back to the EF while others end up in our world (either in the real world or in another cursed SB).

Jen made it clear she wasn't up for a long-term renewal, so I seriously doubt she'd re-sign for more than one season. So I guess it depends on what ABC is envisioning for the reboot and how much longer they think the show can last. Will they announce S7 as the last or will they hope to get more seasons out of it? I suspect they will hold off on any prediction about longevity until after they see the spring ratings. But the reboot will have to be planned for either option.

[Serena]

There's also the option that the cast/Jen will sign up, but for less episodes, like Ellen Pompeo on GA. With this kind of set up (Emma being cursed, grownup!Henry and little girl taking the Emma/Henry roles), the show could go on with a relatively similar formula and it'd allow Jen time off to pursue other interests.

[Rumsy4]

8 minutes ago, Rumsy4 said:

EQ/Charming sing-off in the Musical Episode. http://tvline.com/2017/02/17/once-upon-a-time-musical-spoilers-regina-charmings-sing-off/

Phew! I was so worried we wouldn't be getting the sing-off!

[maryle]

So, the musical will focus on EQ versus Snowing.

I am sorry for snowing fans (I kinda am too) but this storyline is as tiresome as rumbelle soap drama.

And I don't know if the pessimist side win me over but I am now preparing myself for Emma dying be similar to Robin Hood if she doe die. 

And cs engagement or wedding be a d plot in the final. Maybe I take this thread too seriously

[Free]

1 hour ago, Souris said:

More thoughts about the reboot:

Channing Dungey indicated that they hoped the reboot would last for more than one season. (Though one always has to run stuff like that through a PR speak filter.) So whatever it is, it has to allow for that, unless they actually plan for S7 to be the last.

I think @KAOS Agent is right in that whatever is going on next season, many of the current cast members will not be around or will be around only sparingly as recurring guest stars. Perhaps some get sent back to the EF while others end up in our world (either in the real world or in another cursed SB).

Jen made it clear she wasn't up for a long-term renewal, so I seriously doubt she'd re-sign for more than one season. So I guess it depends on what ABC is envisioning for the reboot and how much longer they think the show can last. Will they announce S7 as the last or will they hope to get more seasons out of it? I suspect they will hold off on any prediction about longevity until after they see the spring ratings. But the reboot will have to be planned for either option.

It's PR speak either way, as for the reboot, it's not going to last seasons with the way the series has been heading and most of the remaining viewers are only there for the main cast.

[Curio]

11 hours ago, KAOS Agent said:

Any speculation about a new curse and a need for Operation Cobra Part X presumes that the existing characters will return, but will be cursed. The whole point of the reboot is to ditch the expensive existing regulars and replace them with cheaper actors. Basically, I think they've got Colin, Lana & Bex still under contract, so you have Hook and Regina around and maybe Zelena. Then possibly Emma. Everyone else will be gone. They may still be in Storybrooke, but we wouldn't get to see them. That makes for a pretty sad state of affairs. A Black Fairy/Dark One dark curse does make sense narratively, but I don't see how it can work when so many of the regular characters would be missing. 

I don't know if they're necessarily gutting a ton of regulars. “[Executive producers Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis] would be looking for the seventh season to be a springboard in a new direction from a narrative standpoint,” Dungey tells EW, “which doesn’t necessarily mean that we’re not bringing cast back, it’s just how do you kind of hit the reset button in a way that gives you opportunity to expand the stories that we’re telling?”

I think we should be calling Season 7 a narrative reset instead of a reboot. Dungey says the new direction doesn't necessarily mean they're not bringing the cast back, so I wouldn't automatically assume they're ditching a lot of regular cast members. Obviously, from a narrative standpoint, some easy characters to ditch would be Rumple, Belle, and Zelena, and if they plan on doing adult Henry, then Jared would be demoted as well. Even before all this talk about a reset, those were the characters we were predicting would get some kind of exit.

A lot of this is going to come down to whether or not ABC officially announces Season 7 as the final season. If they do that, then I could see people like Jen being more open to signing on for one more year. But if ABC wants the actors to be flexible and sign on for more than one season, then we might see some issues.

As far as regulars being gone in a potential new Dark Curse, I think it wouldn't be too strange if certain characters didn't show up for large chunks of time. Snow and Charming are already wallpaper at this point, so they could be occasional guest characters who pop up randomly like Grumpy and Granny. Other characters could have disappeared to the Enchanted Forest or not be introduced to the plot until halfway through the season. 

1 hour ago, Rumsy4 said:

Phew! I was so worried we wouldn't be getting the sing-off!

The writers really know what the audience wants...

Edited February 17, 2017 by Curio

[KingOfHearts]

I realize the network is pulling some PR strategies, baiting the press with reset talk for a reaction. Yet, I'm still confused as to what they really believe they can milk out of the show so late in the game. We can probably all agree it's dead in the water and there's no saving it now. Couldn't they just hand out the character conclusions and be done with it? Why chase around the bush with new guest stars or regulars? Why reset the narrative when the road left is so short? It's most likely a last ditch effort to drum up attention. (In fact, I know it is.) ... I just answered my own question. 

Edited February 17, 2017 by KingOfHearts

[Souris]

1 hour ago, Curio said:

I think we should be calling Season 7 a narrative reset instead of a reboot. Dungey says the new direction doesn't necessarily mean they're not bringing the cast back, so I wouldn't automatically assume they're ditching a lot of regular cast members. Obviously, from a narrative standpoint, some easy characters to ditch would be Rumple, Belle, and Zelena, and if they plan on doing adult Henry, then Jared would be demoted as well. Even before all this talk about a reset, those were the characters we were predicting would get some kind of exit.

A lot of this is going to come down to whether or not ABC officially announces Season 7 as the final season. If they do that, then I could see people like Jen being more open to signing on for one more year. But if ABC wants the actors to be flexible and sign on for more than one season, then we might see some issues.

I really think that's the crux of the matter. How much longer does ABC think the show can last? I honestly can't see it lasting past 7 seasons with the state of the ratings now and how they will inevitably fall further. But ABC may want to ink actors for longer "just in case." I think inking for multiple seasons would be a non-starter for Jen and probably some others. And that's even assuming that ABC would WANT them and their large paychecks. ABC may offer only recurring or guest star status for current regulars who aren't contracted for S7 as a way to save money.

Does ABC really only want it for one more season so they have something for next season amid all the other ratings chaos and while they develop other shows? Is talk of future seasons nothing more than PR speak? Networks never admit a show is on its last legs until it's either canceled or a final season is announced -- until then it's always "there are lots of stories left to tell."

I daresay we won't know the answers to these questions until the schedule is announced in May -- if then.

Edited February 17, 2017 by Souris

[sharky]

Well, I think some of those answers will come before that. ABC -- and us -- will have a much better idea of what to do with the show after the first few weeks of ratings. If it tanks, they'll have just enough time to pull together a quick farewell. If it can maintain ratings, I can see them sending word about a renewal by April maybe before upfronts. The problem is we don't have any performance numbers yet. 

[Curio]

Adam announced Season 6 last year on March 3. If ABC gives them the same amount of buffer room this year, we'll hopefully know if Season 7 is greenlit around the time 6x11 airs and before ratings come in. I doubt we'll get the same luxury this year.

2 hours ago, KingOfHearts said:

Yet, I'm still confused as to what they really believe they can milk out of the show so late in the game. We can probably all agree it's dead in the water and there's no saving it now. Couldn't they just hand out the character conclusions and be done with it? 

There's no feasible way to wrap up the entire show this season in a satisfying way. They've already written the standalone (if there's an EQ vs Charming sing off, then this is for sure a standalone) musical episode apparently, and they've probably already started writing the finale. There's not much room to change things if the execs pull the plug suddenly. If this was meant to be the final season, it sure didn't feel like it. I refuse to believe two Reginas dominating the screen time was A&E's ultimate plan for the final season.

I don't care how crazy this reset is or if adult Henry accidentally hooks up with a relative when he returns to Storybrooke. I'll take 22 episodes of no double Regina to wash Season 6 out of my mouth.

Edited February 17, 2017 by Curio

[KingOfHearts]

Quote

I refuse to believe two Reginas dominating the screen time was A&E's ultimate plan for the final season.

This show, these writers, though. ;)

Does anyone know why Adam keeps saying he's so excited about 6B? What's so different about it? He hasn't raved nearly as much about other arcs. I don't think it's just generic hype. There's probably something that's legitimately getting him giddy. IIRC, he said it was one of his favorites to write.

They're starting to film 6x19.

Edited February 17, 2017 by KingOfHearts

[Souris]

Adam has said he's excited about show plots before, so that's not new. Maybe he thinks it NEEDS more talking-up since fan excitement is at a pretty low level right now.

I think there will be a S7. The question mark is whether ABC will announce it as the final season at the upfronts (or whenever they make the announcement about it).