The Once Upon a Time 'Reset' Plan: How Do These New Characters Fit In? 

Once Upon a Time Eyes Musical Episode for Spring — Who Will Sing?

As ABC ponders a possible renewal, the numbers for Season 6 thus far tell this story: averaging 3.5 million weekly viewers and a 1.1 demo rating (in Live+Same Day numbers),

is down 30 percent from this time last year, and currently ranks sixth among the network’s dozen dramas. As such — and with the contracts for Jennifer Morrison (read story) and other key cast members due for renewal this spring — there has been evidence that a “reset” of sorts is on the drawing board, should the show get renewed.

Having heard from series creators Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis some “interesting” potential ideas for the future, ABC entertainment president Channing Dungey recently told our sister site Deadline, “Regardless of what we decide to do … I think [Adam and Eddy] would put a little bit of a bow here” — what she later called “closure in this particular narrative” — “and then there is a ‘next piece’ that comes after that. So they are trying to figure out what that [next piece] is and how that works.”

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Dungey similalry suggested that Season 7 could offer “a springboard in a new direction from a narrative standpoint,” in a talk with EW.com. “[That] 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?”

Along those lines, TVLine now has a first bit of intel on how the series’ current run (resuming Sunday, March 5) will end, and in doing so tee up any possible Season 7.

Namely, the May finale will introduce a pair of guest stars, both of whom have the potential to join the ensemble as series regulars if the show moves forward. First up, the fantasy drama is casting 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.

The other role being cast is a precocious 10-year-old with a “constant twinkle of mischief in her eye.” And though this girl comes from a broken home, those struggles have only made her stronger — something which will come in handy when darkness threatens “everything she holds dear.” And while the character breakdown notes that this lass “never lets the hard knocks of life get her down,” you would be

to guess that she is a certain little orphan named Annie.

tweaked narrative plan for any possible Season 7, and how these two noobs figure into it?

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“strong yet vulnerable” leading man is going to be Henry -time jump coming….

My thoughts exactly. Seems like the lowest common denominator for a soft reboot.

You don’t know that. If you looked and read carefully, they said two guest stars. None of them sound related to a grown up Henry. And since they were hinted to be new regulars for the possible s7, they be replacements for one or two regulars who either left or died off this season.

A “leading man” – as i carefully read – wouldn’t be a guest star. Its quite common that someone would be a guest star at the end of one season and then regular cast next season

You misunderstood me. I said that these two possible characters do not sound related to one of our regulars. They said new and that makes the male not sound related to Henry being an adult. And when it comes to being new regulars for next season, most likely they might be replacing two regulars we know who might have either got killed off or left. That’s what I meant.

A terrible idea. Just cancel this show so it can go out on a…average level (i loved it once but it’s long past its high point). It’s ratings aren’t impressive and, most importantly, there’s no new story left to tell. Let it go.

100% that’s Henry. He has a daughter he doesn’t know about and bam, story comes full circle.

Every time a curse happens the show is “reset ” only to recover from it months later. How is this different?

Yes. That’s the premise of this show. Like Alias (and the Arrowverse shows), it resets each season with a new story arc that is somewhat self-contained, sometimes more than once.

I think it might be more the fact that they’re already saying that these 2 new people are potential series regulars that has people spinning. We get new recurring characters every half season, but never with an announcement that they’re intended new regulars. Personally, this doesn’t make sense to me.

Are they actually going to kill Emma and have this person be a new Savior?

This sounds like a really bad idea. If this idea is on the ‘drawing board’ at the moment, I hope it doesn’t go through. It’d be a disaster. Honestly, I’d much rather watch a Hook and Emma spin off or something.

Given the series had the dramatic drop in ratings for season 5, which was definitely the weakest (started with 1.8 ended with 1.1 approximately), IMHO (not to mention it hemorrhaged viewers after Robin’s unnecessary death), they should be lucky the effect of S5 isn’t even worse on S6. The ratings are low but stable. I think it’s only thanks to Lana Parrilla’s BRILLIANT performance. So yeah, reset, do whatever you wish but keep Lana Parrilla at all costs.

Seems like an obvious time jump for adult Henry. My first thought for the girl was Robin. This could be good/at least interesting, if they really commit to it.

If the guy is Henry, I guess something awful happens to his family to make him that way. I won’t be surprised in the least if it’s Emma dying.

that sounds like a male version of EMMA and a female version of HENRY omg. OUAT’s reverse gender reset is coming for season 7 i’m SHOOK

The current mains, especially Jen & Colin, are why I’m still watching. So why would I watch a new show without them?

Honestly i wish they would write an ending for them as closure from the show, in like a happily ever after with Emma and Hook, and also Snowing. To me thats a better ending then starting or rebooting something else.

This show needs to be cancelled already. The writers think audience is stupid and will see the same plot over and over again. Also the show died when they made CraptainSwan the main couple. Hook sucks and ruined Emma’s storyline.

A young broken girl I never saw on that show!

Anyway, without Emma and Killian I won’t watch anymore. I think for a lot of fans they still watch for their favorite character and a bland reboot will probably fail.

They should do a final season with their beloved character.

Could they be an adult Henry and and 10 year old Robyn?

I agree if they don’t keep at least Jennifer, Colin, Jared, Lana, and at least half of Snowing since I always wondered if one of they could be killed off, I would wish they would cancel it. I do think Robert probably will leave and maybe Rebecca. It could go either way for Emilie. My guess on these new characters is the male being an adult Henry and we’re getting flashforwards, that way if the original cast stays it’ll be like when LOST switched to flashforwards. The little girl could be baby Robin, or even if Emma and Killian have a daughter as the article seems to imply she’s not an orphan. Maybe Henry left Storybrooke to live his own life but some bad things happened and now his baby sister, Robin, or whoever this girl is needs him to fix things. But I agree if they can’t get most of the main cast back there’s no reason to continue the show. They just need to end it and try to give everyone a happy ending and we already do know the finale will work as either a series finale or season finale depending on what ABC decides to do.

The contracts are up. Trying to get the old cast even for final season would be expensive at those numbers.

Lol! This show needs to END!!! I’m so glad I stop watching at the beginning of Season 6 I couldn’t take it anymore, writerts cast away Hook & Emma, cutting Jen and Colin’s screen time, completely abandoned Emma’s story for irrelevant plots! This reset will FAIL!

Once upon a time should end with season 6.

As long as hook and emma are a big part of the story i’ll be here

Don’t bet on it. One of them might not make it. And already, Hook hasn’t been seen filming a lot lately.

Funny how in BTS photos from yesterday and the day before, it was all Hook, Emma, Snow and Charming.

I love OUAT but would rather it end then there be a reset. Let the characters we’ve had all these yrs get their happy endings. I don’t want a reboot especially if there is chance these guest stars could become regs and become the focus. Plus those guest roles seem like descriptions for characters we’ve already seen.

Then they better end it now cause this sounds like a terrible idea. Let’s just remember what happened to glee in its last season. 🙊😱😱

For me Emma Swan (JMo) is the heart of the show. Its her journey & happyending I’m here for – which is Henry, Hook & her parents!!!

Agree 1000% If there is no Emma, Emma’s family, or her TL Hook, I’m gone.

Doesn’t sound interesting. I just want them to end this season with Hook and Emma having a fairytale wedding. We need a Happily Ever After for this fairytale show. Bad enough there has been so little Emma and Hook this season so far and it’s boring without them in my opinion.

I don’t want a reset, I just want more of Hook and Emma. If they’re not significantly involved in S7, I don’t want to watch anymore.

Emma might make it as well a second her family.

Give the series a shortened final season to properly end this once charming series with the original cast.

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