So I have good news, and I have bad news. Jennifer Morrison is leaving Once Upon A Time. I know. Devastating. Maybe so devastating that you stopped reading and closed your laptop right then and there. But, on the off chance you didn't, here's the good news: Morrison has agreed to appear in one episode of Season 7. Of course, Once Upon A Time Season 7 is still up in the air. But this gives fans of the show a very clear outcome to hope for and a place to direct our positive energy. It won't stop anyone from crying over Morrison's departure, but maybe it will help.
And don't forget that there's still more of Season 6 to look forward to. The two-part finale, an episode titled "The Final Battle," will air on May 14, simultaneously wrapping up the Season 6 storyline and introducing a potential Season 7 one. In the meantime, you can read over Morrison's departure announcement, which she shared with fans via an Instagram post early on Monday.
“As I reached the end of my 6 year contract on ONCE UPON A TIME, I was faced with a significant decision. ABC, Eddy Kitsis, and Adam Horowitz very generously invited me to continue as a series regular. After very careful consideration, I have decided that creatively and personally, it is time for me to move on," she wrote. "...My 6 years on ONCE UPON A TIME has changed my life in the most beautiful ways. I am absolutely blown away by the passion and commitment of the Oncer fans. I am so honored to have been a central part of such a special show."
As she mentions, Morrison has starred as the fiercely independent Emma Swan on OUAT since the show's very first episode in 2011, so she's more than put in her time on the fairytale classic. In fact, at the time of this writing, she's featured in 134 episodes, and the Season 7 appearance that we all have our fingers crossed for would take her to 135. That's nothing to sniff at, so let's try to see this as a celebration of all our time together instead of a heartbreaking goodbye.
There's a lot to be grateful for here. There's the fact that the actor gave her fans the news directly on social media, in her own words, instead of making us guess. And there's the fact that we've been assured of one more episode, presuming that Season 7 happens. In the grand scheme of things, that's kind of the best case scenario.
So wipe away those tears, get your chin up, and keep soldiering through — just like Emma Swan would want.
