Post by Power NeXus on Dec 22, 2011 15:26:34 GMT -5
Once Upon A Time is a drama series that premiered on ABC last October. It is on it's seventh episode so far, and there have been a confirmed twenty-two episodes for season 1. So far, the critics have not loved it, but have given it generally positive reviews. Fan ratings have been much higher.
Premise (Tread carefully. Here there be spoilers...)
The show focuses around 28-year-old Emma Swan (Ginnifer Goodwin), who is approached by the 10-year-old son (named Henry) whom she had never met before. By showing up on her doorstep, Henry forces Emma to drive him back to his home in Storybrook, Maine, where she meets his cold-hearted mother. It is here that Henry informs Emma of his idea that every person in Storybrook is a fairy tale character. They just don't remember their old lives due to a spell enacted by the evil witch (whom he believes is his mother). However, he says that Emma is the one destined to break the spell.
Simultaneously, as this story progresses, we are given glimpses of things that transpired in the fairy tale land. Henry's conspiracy theory turns out to be completely true, and with each new episode we are shown new developments and twists from the fairy tale story that effects the characters in their new "real world" lives.
Characters
While many fairy tale characters are given roles in this show, there is a specific bunch who have stayed crucial to the plot. This bunch includes the Evil Queen (now the mayor of Storybrook), Jiminy Cricket (now a psychiatrist), Prince Charming (now a coma patient), Snow White (a schoolteacher), the huntsman who was sent to kill Snow White (town sherrif), and Rumplestiltskin (richest man in town).
All of these characters are very well portrayed, both in their fairy tale and real world lives.
Plot
The plot is the only thing that has almost turned me off to this show. Not because it's lame or predictable, but because it's taking a very long time to progress. The status quo is changing, but only a little bit at a time. I'm just hoping that this is one of those things where the longer they take to develope each intricate plot twist and detail, the more epic the finale will be. Thankfully, the most recent episode (episode 7) managed to provide a very satisfying "OH S**T" moment at the end that's making me itch for the next episode.
Overall review
It's not the kind of show I would normally be in to (due to the fairy tale theme, it's rather obviously aimed mostly for female audiences). Nevertheless, I have found the characters to be interesting, the plot to be enticing (albeit slow in progressing), and there's still just enough of my "inner child" left in me to still enjoy the fairy tale magic of it all.
6.5 out of 10, for now.
Currently, it's an allright show (enough to keep me watching), but it looks like it will be getting better soon.
