Once Upon A Time…How Freaking Good Is This Show?
Monday, April 16, 2012Posted in: Once Upon A Time
Tags:fairy tales, Ginnifer Goodwin, Once Upon A Time
Oh. Em. Gee. I have so much love for this new series.
I love the parallels between the fairy tale world, and the modern, and the way the stories intertwine.
In terms of casting, Robert Carlyle is perfect as Rumpelstiltskin/ Mr Gold, and I love Ginnifer Goodwin as Snow White/Mary Margaret Blanchard. I love her for her fab haircut as Mary, if for nothing else. Lana Parilla as the Evil Queen/Regina Mills is also genius. I also love the casting of James (Prince Charming)/ David Nolan. Him and Snow White/Mary Margaret have great chemistry together. All that yearning and longing and their sheer desperation to be together, regardless of the obstacles placed in their way, well, that’s like manna to my starved romantic soul. As Wendy Williams would say, I love their love.
I think Jennifer Morrison as Emma Swan is probably the weakest link, casting-wise, but I’m not exactly sure why, anybody else agree with me?
One of my favourite things about this show is that although it’s essentially about good and evil, we still get a multi-faceted set of characters. Mary Margaret is good, but she’s in love with a guy who belongs to somebody else, Regina Mills is thoroughly evil, yet she’s shown that she loves Henry, her one soft spot. I think it would have been a mistake for the producers to have made her a totally evil witch who didn’t care about anybody. It’s good to feel conflicted about a character who we should rightly hate.
Anyway, Once Upon A Timehas now become my weekly must-watch TV. It’s so good.
Have you guys been watching? What do you think?
If you live in England and you haven’t been watching, it’s on Channel Five every Sunday, normally at 8pm or 9pm. Jolly good show!
By the way, do any of you guys snort like a two-year old whenever the co-producer’s name comes up? How unfortunate he is to be called Brian Wankum. Lolol.
Alice
April 16
5:04 pm
I freaking LOVE this show. Love love love!
This is a great show and I absolutely adore the cast/characters and storyline. Yes, “Robert Carlyle is perfect as Rumpelstiltskin/ Mr Gold,” absolutely perfect. There were times when I read the synops (ex, the Beauty and Beast storyline) and I think there’s no way it’ll be pulled off. Then I watch Robert Carlyle and kick myself for ever doubting him.
The multilayered characterization is the best, giving all the fairytales a twist as well as showcasing actual character development. As in…how the evil people came about…that they chose to be like this because of losses. That’s genius, imho, since I always found that aspect lacking in many of the stories/fairytales I see/read/watch.
As for Emma Swan, I think her character development has been a bit on the slow side and therefore not as strong. I just want her to stop doubting and believe already! XP A few weak episodes here and there, but overall great. Just great. 😀
“By the way, do any of you guys snort like a two-year old whenever the co-producer’s name comes up? How unfortunate he is to be called Brian Wankum.”
Yes, yes I do giggle a little each time. Especially since I thought it was a joke the first time I saw it. -_-
I’m so happy you like it! 😀 I’ve been trying to get people hooked on it, but not many bites. Ok, I’m done gushing.
Karen Scott
April 16
5:16 pm
Hi Alice, by all means gush away, it’s an excellent show! So glad I’m not the only one with a Beavis & Butthead type sense of humour, poor Brian Wankum, lolol.
Lori
April 16
11:10 pm
I never even noticed poor Wankum’s name.
I adore this show and like you the only character that hasn’t done it for me is Emma but I’m starting to like her a lot more now.
I especially liked how they’ve finally shown why Regina hates Snow so much and again, it adds more layers.
And I adore the 8 dwarves. Grumpy is a freaking doll.
Shiloh Walker
April 17
3:50 am
i adore OUAT. My fave part is when Mr Gold says… “please…”
*g*
Roslyn Holcomb
April 17
2:46 pm
I watched for a couple of episodes, but Emma Swan annoys the shit outta me and I just can’t stand it. Unfortunate actor choice IMO.
Eve Vaughn
April 17
8:06 pm
I love OUAT!! It’s my new favorite show. And I’ve had a crush on Robert Carlyle since The Full Monty. He’s such a phenomenal actor. Not sure how far behind in episodes you guys are over there so I won’t give it away but you’re going to be surprised with the upcoming twists. Although, I have to disagree about the Queen really caring about Henry. I think he’s just a pawn. It’s really no coincidence that out of all the kids she could adopt, she found him. That lady always has an agenda.
Karen Scott
April 18
5:18 am
@Ros I tend to dislike heroines with blonde hair, I’ve never really noticed before, but when I think back to films I’ve enjoyed, or even books, the heroines never have blonde hair. I wonder if I have an unconscious prejudice against blondes? I wonder if that’s why I can’t take to Emma Swan’s character? Or perhaps it’s just that in comparison to the other characters she’s just not as multi-layered? I’m not all that fond of blonde heroes either, but I’m fully aware of that prejudice! Prince Charming/David barely gets away with it because he seems to have more red in his hair, than blonde, plus he’s got a nice face. Yes, indeed I am shallow.
@Shiloh I love that I apart from the self-serving part who loves deals, I can’t tell what Mr Gold’s motivations are.
@Lori, Grumpy s to die for, lol
@Eve *Tackles and hugs!* long time no see! I can’t wait until Slutty Ruby/Red’s story. I love the fact that they have Red Riding Hood who looks like a groomed version of Amy Winehouse!
Jeannie S.
April 18
6:14 pm
I love this show!! Everything is not what you think it is in fairy tale land, and there are so many layers. I really enjoyed the Mad Hatter episode. I don’t mind Emma Swan (although she isn’t my favorite character), and I think she will be a believer in this season.
I don’t think Regina loves her son, Henry. She did love her father whom she named him after. Possibly she wants to love him (and why she named him Henry), but she just doesn’t have it in her anymore. She can feel regret (like when she crushed the hunter’s heart which made me cry), but love? I think she is past that now.
Oh yeah, can’t decide who I love more, Grumpy or Mr. Gold/Rumpelstiltskin.
Bren
April 19
6:34 am
I absolutely can’t get enough of this show! The complexities of the backstories and character development alone are enough to make any story-addict’s jaw drop in gleeful awe. The twists–this show’s got ’em in spades! What about the story of the Genie of the lamp or Red Riding Hood?
I love how they tied the Rumplestilskin and Beauty and the Beast fairy tales together. I wonder if/how they will bring in Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel.
My one concern is that the nature of the show is such that the people of Storybrooke won’t be able to figure out what’s going on for some time in order to maintain tension and the narrative. So how long will they drag this out and will it get tiresome after a while?
I guess I’ll keep watching and watching to find out!
Shiloh Walker
April 20
4:49 am
I’m afraid to meet Karen or Eve now until my hair gets colored again. O.o I’m blonde…blonde-ish.
:OP
Roslyn Holcomb
April 20
3:19 pm
You may have a point there, Karen. Though I have enjoyed shows with blonde leads in the past, Dharma & Greg come to mind, i do remember thinking about this show and Alcatraz, “oh gee, another spunky blond, that hasn’t been done before.” i really live the concept, but can’t get past it. I do love Grimm, though I think the lead in that show was somewhat miscast as well. I need him to be just a bit more kick ass. Each week I find myself wishing his aunt hadn’t die. Now she was a bad ass!