Once Upon A Time

[annwfyn]

So, I just finished watching Season One of Once Upon A Time.

• I loved the meta-plot. I was surprised I did, but I really did. It drew me along and kept me interested and just kept building every week, in all the ways Grimm never did. I also was amazed at the fact the writers made it work - if I'm honest, I didn't expect them to. I was also really impressed with how they wove the different fairy stories together, to create a single holistic world in the Enchanted forest, and then brought them into this world too.



• Man, they got lucky with the actors playing their two villains, especially Robert Carlisle. That man made the show come a little bit more alive for me every single time he walked on screen, either as Mr Gold or Rumplestiltskin. What's more they took two characters and managed to simultaneously make them entirely monstrous (the Evil Queen is pretty much a creepy rapist for starters) while also making them sympathetic, real and rounded characters who every once in a while I just wanted to root for. Then I remembered they were evil.



• Actually, on that note, does anyone else have the most inappropriate crush in the world ever on Rumplestiltskin? I just re-watched the 'Skin Deep' episode just so I could see him and Belle falling in love again.



• And yet I never forgot they were the villains. The kid who plays Henry and the actress who plays Emma are awesome and hold the side for the good guys really well. I cared hugely about both of them and I think it's amazing that the central love triangle is one between a boy and two mothers and it never gets old, is done insensitively, or feels less than compelling.



• I must admit, not all of the romances actually had quite the same effect on me. I feel kind of bad, but I am not actually sure I like Snow White or Prince Charming. I get that they are meant to have this epic love, but could it maybe make them act like decent people for a while instead of basically screwing over everyone and everything around them for the sake of this love. Also, I thought Prince Charming treated Abigail/Katherine like dirt. Both times.



• Also, I never really cared for Grumpy and his fairy. That whole episode rather bored me.



• I wish more time had been spent on Ashley/Cinderella and her story, actually. Of the three classic 'princesses' she and Belle struck me as far far better characters than Snow White, with a far greater capacity for depth and nuance. Also, her prince deserved to be given a little personality, when really he did an awful lot to drive along the story - like capturing Rumplestiltkin for example - whilst actually being less of a shit than Prince Charming.



• I will mourn the Huntsman forever. He was awesome.

So, that was Once Upon A Time.

Who else is watching? What do you all think?

Comments

[cairmen.livejournal.com]

I thoroughly enjoyed the entire series, although a) the last episode rather lacked the structure and surprise value of the rest (sudden dragon in the basement shocker!) and b) virtually all the "good" characters, notably including Emma, spent a lot of their time acting incredibly dumb.

Still looking forward to Season 2, though.

[andrewducker]

I agree about the last episode, which felt like it was going for EPIC rather than being true to what had come before it.

And yes, want Season 2 now!

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

I am very curious as to where they will go in Season 2, esp with Belle and Rumplestiltskin. On one hand, the show clearly needs its villains still, so he can't be redeemed by True Love's Kiss and settle down. On the other, I kind of feel like it would hugely cheapen that massive build up and moment of catharsis where they said they loved each other if it just...goes away. And then I don't want that really interesting dynamic to turn into a crappy unhealthy relationship with him being evil and her being with him at all.

So...I am waiting.

[raggedhalo.livejournal.com]

simara and I watched it and really enjoyed it. It manages not to enrage me with its Disney-ness.

I recommend The Almighty Johnsons for similar hiding-in-plain-sight fantasy shenanigans, albeit with much cursing, casual drug use and sex. Lost Girl is likewise pretty enjoyable on the same basis, albeit that its protagonist is not unproblematic and the show as a whole is not above fan service (for fans of most mainstream sexual orientations).

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

I tried Lost Girl but struggled with it. I think I found the main character very Mary Sue-ish and was a bit defeated by her in the end.

I shall try The Almighty Johnson.

[andrewducker]

I have a (female) friend who was costumed as Rumplestiltskin recently. And she has a signed photo of Robert Carlyle as her treasured possession.

I agree about Prince Charming. I'd like there to have been an explanation for why he was so godawfully behaved.

[akonken.livejournal.com]

I'm with you, in a nutshell. I was surprised the Huntsman died, and impressed.

(I haven't watched all of it - I missed episodes 5 and 6, I think, and haven't seen the last one yet.)

I really look forward to next season.