The first half of "Once Upon a Time" Season 6 showed the various challenges that beloved characters have had to face including a sleeping curse that affected Snow (Ginnifer Goodwin) and David (Josh Dallas). With David trying to protect his wife from the Evil Queen's (Lana Parrilla) latest plans, Prince Charming's sleepless days will eventually impact his decisions and change his behavior.
"Once Upon a Time" characters Snow and David are under a cruel sleeping curse where both cannot be awake at the same time. With the couple trying their best to adjust to their new life while searching for a way to break the curse, the Evil Queen's plans to defeat Emma and her friends will force David to keep Snow sleeping while he handles the threat.
In the midseason finale of "Once Upon a Time" Season 6, viewers witnessed how David partnered with Hook (Colin O'Donoghue) to keep Storybrooke safe while Regina (Parrilla) tried to rescue Emma (Jennifer Morrison) from the wish realm. However, David's decision to have very little rest, coupled with the mystery surrounding his father, will push him to explore a darker side of himself.
Showrunner Edward Kitsis shared in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that David is close to reaching his breaking point. Without Snow beside him to keep him grounded and thinking rationally, Prince Charming will start to give in to his "darker impulses," according to the Kitsis.
Kitsis added, "What we're seeing through David is somebody who is at his wits end ... Without Snow ... We're going to see him have to confront his own demons."
The showrunner also made a similar comment in an interview with TVLine where he shared how the sleeping curse will continue to impact the said couple in upcoming episodes. Describing Snow as David's "calming center," Kitsis even teased that Prince Charming may find himself in some troubling situations when the ABC fantasy series returns to the small screens.
"Once Upon a Time" Season 6 is scheduled to air its midseason premiere in March 2017. Watch the teaser clip for said episode below: