“Once Upon a Time” is a show about fairy tales, and it knows it. That self-awareness is both its strength and its weakness. The ABC fantasy drama, created by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, premiered in 2011 and ran for seven seasons, ending in 2018. It follows Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison), a young woman who discovers she is the product of Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Prince Charming (Josh Dallas), and that she is destined to break the curse that trapped dozens of fairy-tale characters in Storybrooke, Maine.
The premise is simple. In the fairy-tale world, magic exists, but in Storybrooke, everyone lives ordinary lives. Emma arrives in town as a sheriff, and her arrival triggers a chain reaction that brings the stories back to life. What follows is a sprawling, often convoluted narrative that blends classic tales with original mythology.
Trailer, via TheMediaDB.
Storybrooke and the Curse
The show’s central trick is the “curse.” It turns fairy-tale characters into mundane people. Snow White becomes Mary Margaret, the schoolteacher. Prince Charming becomes David Nolan, the fire chief. Rumplestiltskin (Robert Carlyle) becomes Mr. Gold, the town’s mysterious pawnbroker. The curse is the engine of the plot, but it also creates a problem: the characters forget who they are.
That amnesia drives the early seasons. Emma tries to help them remember, but the memories come back slowly and unevenly. The result is a show that spends a lot of time explaining itself. Characters keep repeating their histories, and the audience gets used to hearing the same stories over and over.
The show is at its best when it trusts the audience. The flashbacks to the fairy-tale world, especially the ones set in the Enchanted Forest, are often more engaging than the present-day scenes in Storybrooke. These sequences are bright, colorful, and full of magic. They feel like the fairy tales we know, with talking animals and wicked queens.
Robert Carlyle and the Villains
Carlyle is the standout performer of the series. He plays Rumplestiltskin as a man consumed by fear and ambition. His performance is nuanced and frightening. He is not simply evil; he is a man who believes he is doing the right thing, even when his methods are monstrous. His scenes with his son, Baelfire (now Neal, played by Michael Raymond-James), are some of the most emotionally powerful moments in the show.
The villains are often more interesting than the heroes. Regina Mills (Lana Parrilla) starts as the Evil Queen and ends up as the mayor of Storybrooke. She is a complex character, capable of love and cruelty in equal measure. Her arc is one of the strongest in the series. The show handles her redemption with care, even if it takes a long time to get there.
The show’s treatment of women is inconsistent. Some female characters are strong and independent. Others are damsels in distress. The show’s tendency to sideline its female leads in favor of male-driven plots is a recurring issue. Emma Swan is the main character, but she is often sidelined in favor of the male characters around her.
The Musical Numbers and the Spin-Off
The show had a strange habit of inserting musical numbers. These songs were often performed live on set, with the actors singing directly to the camera. The spin-off, “Once Upon a Time in Wonderland,” was similarly structured, with characters singing in the middle of their adventures. The songs are meant to be emotional, but they often feel out of place. They break the immersion and remind the viewer that this is a TV show, not a fairy tale.
The show also has a habit of introducing new characters and then killing them off. This happens to several beloved figures over the course of the series. The deaths are often sudden and unexplained, which can be frustrating for viewers who have invested time in these characters. The show’s willingness to sacrifice its cast is both brave and careless.
The Seventh Season
The seventh season is a mixed bag. It introduces a new timeline, a new version of the characters, and a new threat. The storytelling becomes more abstract, and the show leans heavily on its mythology. Some fans found the final season confusing, while others appreciated the boldness of the direction. The finale attempts to tie everything together, but it leaves some questions unanswered.
The show’s legacy is complicated. It spawned a spin-off, “Once Upon a Time in Wonderland,” and inspired a fandom that continues to discuss its mythology. The show’s influence can be seen in later Disney properties, particularly those that explore the idea of fairy-tale characters living in the real world.
The Good and the Bad
The show is at its best when it focuses on character relationships. The dynamic between Emma and Regina is one of the most compelling in the series. Their rivalry turns into friendship, and the show handles the transition with sensitivity. The show also excels at creating a sense of community in Storybrooke. The residents of the town feel like a family, even though they are all strangers.
The show is at its worst when it prioritizes spectacle over substance. The show loves to introduce new magical creatures and locations, but it often fails to develop them properly. The show’s mythology is dense and sometimes confusing. The show expects the audience to keep track of multiple timelines, multiple versions of characters, and multiple villains.
The Numbers
- Premiere: 2011
- Network: ABC
- Creators: Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz
- Seasons: 7
- Episodes: 156
- Final episode: “Awake” (season 7, episode 22)
- Critical score: 6.6/10
“The show is at its best when it trusts the audience.”
The Verdict
“Once Upon a Time” is a show with a big heart and a bigger problem. Its ambitions are noble, but its execution is uneven. The show is at its best when it focuses on character and emotion, and at its worst when it loses sight of both. The show’s strengths are undeniable, but its weaknesses are equally apparent.
The show is worth watching for its performances, its mythology, and its willingness to take risks. It is not perfect, but it is memorable. The show’s legacy is secure, even if its final season left some fans wanting more.
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