'OUAT' Season 5 Predictions You Need

Slowly but surely, we're inching closer to the premiere of Once Upon A Time Season 5 and all the drama that comes with it. We have a pretty good idea of what we're in for at this point, for the most part. Emma is the new Dark One and Regina will lead her loved ones to Camelot in the search for Merlin, who's the only wizard who can banish such darkness for good. There, we'll run into King Arthur, who'll be having a bromance with Charming, and Merida, who'll get BFF with Belle. Beyond that, there are little tidbits: Snow's going to be angst-ridden over losing Emma again, Zelena will remain evil, etc. That pretty much sums it up thus far, right? And while that is indeed a whole lot of info, I'm sure Once writers will throw us some curveballs from time to time, so making predictions about what's going to go down isn't all that easy. That doesn't mean we can't try, though!

The fun in making predictions really only comes at the end of the season, when you can look back and see what you actually got right. The predictions here aren't necessarily what I want to happen, but what I think will based on logic and the general themes/priorities of the show. Of course, I could be completely off-base about any or all of these, but I'd like to think I've got a pretty good handle on Once now — perhaps a better handle than it has on itself! — and can generally get what they're going for. Let's get into it, shall we?

Regina Will Ultimately Be The One To Save Emma

In one way or another, Regina — who we already know is leading Operation Emma — will be the one to restore Emma to her former self, whether by getting to Merlin and/or convincing him to help, or even just by continually reminding Emma of her own humanity (and everyone else of Emma's humanity when she seems to have left goodness behind). This role reversal — Regina the Savior, Emma the villain — will bring them closer than ever and strengthen their bond in even deeper ways.

Merlin Will Be A Bit Of A Jerk

For some reason, I have the feeling that finding Merlin won't suddenly solve things in the "Evil Emma" department. Something tells me that Merlin won't be all that anxious to help, and might even be a bit of a jerk and/or egomaniac, given his unmatched power. Let's hope I'm wrong...

Snow & Charming Will Have Marital Problems

Are Snow and Charming meant to be together forever? Sure, it's True Love and all that. That doesn't mean that their marriage is going to be forever smooth. Having lost Emma for a second time will likely have some difficult effects on their relationship and we could see them fighting/dealing with a distance that grows between them, perhaps in how they deal with the situation or in casting blame on each other, etc. I don't think it'll tear them apart forever or anything, but you know.

Emma Will Do Something To Hurt Henry

Not something serious, and nothing irreparable, but likely Emma's inability to completely resist the pull to her new dark powers will backfire in a way that affects Henry, and it will be this that sort of snaps her back to reality/gives her new-found strength to hold onto who she is at her core.

Rumple Is Going To Go A Bit Crazy

We know we'll be seeing Rumple in another timeline, tutoring Emma as the Dark One, but how will present Rumple/Mr. Gold deal with his new life without power? My guess is not well. He'll likely try and make a deal with the devil (whoever/whatever that may be) to get magic back, and things will probably get a bit ugly. We can't lose Rumple as a villain, anyway — he's too brilliant!

Regina & Robin Will Break Up

I'm sorry, Outlaw Queen fans. I know I'm pretty strongly in the Swan Queen camp, but I'm also open to multishipping and I never really minded Regina and Robin together, even if I didn't necessarily think it was built to last. Unfortunately, I think Season 5 will spell the end for them, particularly once Zelena gives birth to Robin's baby. After all, Regina only pursued Robin so passionately since Tinkerbell told her that someone with a lion tattoo was her soulmate. Sometimes real life just gets in the way, and I don't see things going well for them.

Images: ABC; Giphy (6)