Robert Carlyle Reveals Why ‘Once Upon a Time’ should have Ended Sooner

The star of Once Upon a Time, Robert Carlyle, thinks the show lasted longer than it should have. He was in every season of the hit ABC show as the sneaky Rumplestiltskin, who had many names like Mr. Gold and the Dark One. 

In season 7, the show changed a lot, and Carlyle played a lousy cop named Weaver, who forgot he was Rumplestiltskin. He also played another version of Rumplestiltskin from a different world, who turned out to be the final bad guy in the last episode.

In an interview with The A.V. Club about The Full Monty’s comeback, Carlyle talked about his experience on Once Upon a Time. 

He said he was thankful for being on the show and complimented the first seasons, but he also confessed that it might have lasted too long. Here’s what he said:

It was great. Probably if I’m a hundred percent honest, went on a bit too long. I think it slightly ran out of steam toward the end. But I think certainly the first four seasons of Once Upon A Time were as good anything I’ve been involved in.

Robert Carlyle Reveals Why ‘Once Upon a Time’ should have Ended Sooner
Robert Carlyle and Emilie de Ravin in Once Upon a Time (2011)

Before the final season of Once Upon A Time, the show had many chances to wrap up its story. 

One of them was at the end of season 3. That’s when everyone in Storybrooke got their happy endings. 

Emma embraced her true home, Regina found her soulmate in Robin Hood, Snow White, Prince Charming welcomed a new baby, Rumplestiltskin and Belle tied the knot, and Hook gave up his ship and ego for Emma. No curse or villain was threatening their peace and happiness.

The story could have naturally ended before season 7 in one other way. 

It was in season 6 when Emma completed her mission as the Savior, and everyone celebrated their happy endings at Granny’s Diner. That was also when the storybook that started with season 1 closed its final page.

The only way to keep Once Upon a Time alive after season 6 was to reset the clock and the characters. Season 7 had its flaws, but it also had its charms, thanks to the brilliant performances of Carlyle, Lana Parrilla, and Colin O’Donoghue. 

They brought new layers and twists to their iconic roles. The final season wrapped up Rumplestiltskin’s journey by making him face his darkest self. Once Upon a Time could have said goodbye earlier, but it gave Rumplestiltskin the ending he deserved.

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About Once Upon a Time

Once Upon a Time is an American fantasy adventure drama television series that aired for seven seasons on ABC from October 23, 2011, to May 18, 2018. The action alternates between two main settings: a fantastical world where fairy tales happen; and a fictional seaside town in Maine called Storybrooke.

The “real-world” part of the story unfolds with the characters of Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison) and her 10-year-old son, Henry Mills (Jared S. Gilmore). Henry discovers the other people of the town are fairy-tale characters. The audience is shown the backstory of the town’s people as fairy-tale characters, in conjunction with their unfolding stories in the “real world”.

Once Upon a Time was created by Lost and Tron: Legacy writers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz. The core themes of the show are hope and optimism.

Epic Dope Staff

Epic Dope Staff

Our talented team of Freelance writers - Always on the lookout - pour their energies into a wide range of topics bringing to our audience what they crave - fun up-to-date news, reviews, fan theories and much much more.

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