So I have been rewatching the series again lately and still really enjoyed the first half of season 5 actually.

Don't get me wrong, I am on board with season 1 (maybe along with season 2) being the best season. And I do think the show was getting worse starting from season 3. ( In fact in my opinion, worst seasons are : 3a, 4b, 5b, 6)

But I really do like season 5 a. I mean the Brave part was a bit forced in some episodes but overall it was enjoyable to watch. Emma being the dark one was interesting. And it keeps calling back Emma in season 1, it was interesting to see the strong and sensitive Emma with the dark one's way of thinking. That actually made me thinking things differently - or rather, what would things probably turned out if I was making decisions thinking like a dark one.

And being the dark one did not only make Emma more rational and see things more clearly, but also magnified Emma's dark feelings like insecurity. Part of the reason why she turned Hook into a dark one was because of her magnified insecurity. The scene was also touching to wtach. It was both romantic and sad.

I also really like the tale of Nimue. It was hard to choose between love and revenge. But even after she chose revenge, she still loved Merlin after all those years (I mean literally, thousands of years, Nimue still loves Merlin, she even used his heart for the dark curse). Also funny how Nimue chose revenge over love to turned into the dark one, but Emma chose love over duty to turn into the dark one. Despite all that, I hate Merlin's ending tho. It was dark and romantic. But Merlin, the most powerful sorcerer of all the realms, can be killed only by being crushed heart. I mean, even witches knows to protect their hearts according to Cora's family.

For Rumple, it was fun to see him being a hero. But man, the disappointment when he once again, chose power over everything. They should have kept him on the hero team and maybe show some struggles along the way but finally overcoming his desire for power. It was so abrupt and disappointing to watch where Rumple just randomly re-gain his power.

But anyway, season 5a would make it to my top 3 favourites. (1, 4a, 5a)