Once Upon a Time takes viewers on a fantastical journey where fairy-tale enchantment intertwines with the struggles of reality, offering a fresh take on classic stories we all thought we knew.
Created by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, the show invites us into the dual worlds of present-day Storybrooke, a sleepy small town in Maine, and the various fairy-tale lands populated by princes, princesses, and evildoers.
From Snow White and Prince Charming to Rumplestiltskin and the Evil Queen, the show breathes new life into iconic characters while ingeniously weaving them into an intricate, ever-evolving narrative tapestry.
This is not your childhood bedtime story, but a complex saga where heroes and villains grapple with choices that are anything but black and white.
What Is Once Upon A Time About?
Once Upon a Time presents an ambitious narrative split between two worlds. There is the real-world town of Storybrooke and the magical fairy-tale lands.
A powerful curse, cast by the Evil Queen Regina, has trapped famous fairy-tale characters in Storybrooke, wiping their memories and robbing them of their happy endings.
The series begins with the arrival of Emma Swan, the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming, though she doesn't know it.
Emma, played by Jennifer Morrison, is a bail bonds collector who is prophesied to break the dark curse. She's drawn into Storybrooke’s mysteries after discovering she has a son there named Henry, who believes in the curse.
Lana Parrilla plays Regina Mills, the Evil Queen, whose villainy is as complex as her love for her adopted son, Henry. So can Emma convince Henry that the curse isn't real or will she be drawn into the other world?
Each season brings new story arcs that introduce different fairy-tale characters, realms, and challenges.
From venturing into the Enchanted Forest or into Neverland to save Henry, to confronting the darkness within during the saga of the Dark Swan, the series continually reinvents itself.
Once Upon a Time can be dark, whimsical, romantic, or suspenseful, often within the same episode.
A fusion of genres, the series is as much a family drama as it is a fantasy adventure. Throw in the creative use of flashbacks and what you get is valuable context and character depth, allowing for investment beyond the fairy-tale façade.
Once Upon A Time Official Trailer
Is Once Upon A Time Worth Watching?
One of the show's strongest points is its in-depth character development. Even villains are given nuanced motivations and redeeming qualities. From the first season to the final season, characters evolve and change beyond the classic fairy tales that we all know and love.
The dual timelines and worlds provide an intricate storytelling mechanism that keeps viewers hooked. The fairy tale world provides the context and backdrop for how Storybrooke came to be in the modern world but with new characters and twists, you are always kept guessing as to whether or not everybody and everything is as it seems.
Visually it's a really clever show with elaborate costumes that bring the fairy-tale world to life and overall it's really easy to watch which is probably why it was such a huge hit when it was originally released.
However, with seven seasons that all have 22 episodes, there's a lot of time to fill and at times, the show suffers from pacing issues. Honestly, some story arcs drag for what seems like an eternity. Just as you think a plot has been foiled, something always happens to eek it out a little bit more.
And as good as the characters are, the more that get introduced, and there are a lot of them, the more complex Once Upon a Time becomes. Basically, you have to watch it from the beginning to have any hope of following the story.
Overall though, Once Upon a Time is one of those shows that has multi-generational appeal. So if you're looking for a family show, you could do worse than checking this one out.
How Many Seasons Of The Show Are There?
In total, there are seven seasons of Once Upon a Time to get stuck into.
The first season introduces the curse and the main characters. Emma Swan arrives in Storybrooke and starts unravelling the mysteries.
In the second season, the show explores the consequences of breaking the curse and dives deeper into the characters' pasts.
Neverland and the Wicked Witch’s story arc are the theme of the third season with the fourth introducing the characters from Frozen.
The fifth season takes a dark turn with a trip to the Underworld before moving on to season six which focuses on some of the untold stories, concluding the main narrative.
The seventh season marked a significant change for the show. The majority of the original cast did not return so the storyline was set in the future with a main narrative led by an adult Henry Mills, wrapping up the entire series.
Is It Suitable For Younger Kids?
Once Upon a Time is generally considered appropriate for older children and teenagers, but it may not be suitable for younger kids.
The show is rated TV-PG, which suggests that parental guidance is recommended. The show deals with complex themes like love, betrayal, redemption, and loss.
While these themes can be educational and foster discussion, they might be hard for younger children to fully understand or may be emotionally intense.
The show's intricate narrative, with its dual timelines and large ensemble cast, could be confusing for younger children who may not be able to follow the storylines.
However, it does offer strong moral lessons and showcases the power of love, friendship, and making the right choices.
It also provides excellent opportunities for family discussions about character development and moral dilemmas.
Cast Of Once Upon A Time TV Show
Ginnifer Goodwin as Snow White / Mary Margaret Blanchard
Jennifer Morrison as Emma Swan
Lana Parrilla (The Lincoln Lawyer) as the Evil Queen / Regina Mills
Josh Dallas as Prince Charming / David Nolan
Jared S. Gilmore and Andrew J. West as Henry Mills
Raphael Sbarge as Jiminy Cricket / Dr. Archibald Hopper
Jamie Dornan (The Siege Of Jadotville) as the Huntsman / Sheriff Graham Humbert
Robert Carlyle as Rumplestiltskin / Mr. Gold
Eion Bailey as Pinocchio / August Wayne Booth
Emilie de Ravin as Belle French
Meghan Ory (Chesapeake Shores) as Red Riding Hood / Ruby
Colin O'Donoghue as Killian Jones / Captain Hook
Michael Raymond-James as Baelfire / Neal Cassidy
Sean Maguire as Robin Hood
Gabrielle Anwar as Rapunzel / Lady Tremaine / Victoria Belfrey
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