"Once Upon a Time" season 5 will begin the reign of a Dark Emma. Fans know that the Storybrooke savior will don blonde locks and a long, shiny black coat as she executes her evil intent but storyline-wise, there are not too many hints on where she's headed.
But the recent leak of set photos have given fans an idea. One photo of Rumple, presumably training Emma, popped up. This seems odd since Rumple is in a coma, but in this photo, he is conscious and very much active.
The photo has prompted quite a confusion from fans so series co-creator Eddy Kitsis stepped in to clarify what's going on. In a chat with TV Line, he explained that when Emma became the Dark One in the season 4 finale, she "did not travel time, but she did travel realms."
He did not provide an explanation how a supposed to be bed-bound Rumple managed to hang out with Emma. But Kitsis said that season 5 will waste no time in giving answers.
"And why Rumple's there will be immediately explained within the first act of the premiere," he said.
Season 5 is, in a way, is a turnaround for the characters in the show. Emma was once her home's savior and Regina was always deemed as the villain. But in the upcoming season, they virtually change places and this becomes evident in another leaked set photo.
"I think that the hero has been evolving within Regina in the last year," actress Lana Parilla, who plays the Evil Queen, told Pop Sugar. "The cool thing about her is that she is both good and bad now, like everyone in the world, we all possess evil thoughts or whatever and I love that she is embracing both sides."
The actress concluded that her character will likely have "a huge impact in bringing Emma back into the light."
"Once Upon a Time" season 5 airs Sept. 27.
