I gave it a Prince Charming.
I'll be sticking with it.
I'll be sticking with it.
Once Upon a Time (AMC) - 1x01 Pilot grading thread
- Thread starter Temis the Vorta
- Start date
I think this is the best pilot I've seen in a while. I'm a really character based person and I'm trying really hard to think of a pilot where I instantly took to the characters in the pilot. Buffy did that for me, so did Heroes and of course Lost did. Last season was a dud and this season hasn't been much better. But it looks like I found a show.
I can't really find fault with the pilot but I was left a bit....concerned. They pretty gave us EVERYTHING on a silver platter. They spelled out how the entire season would play out. I'm not sure I like that. I really like the premise, but I don't really see how they can maintain an entire season (let alone multiple seasons) out of this. There's no mystery whatsoever; it will just be a matter of waiting for certain things to happen--not WHETHER they will happen but WHEN they will happen. That doesn't seem terribly fun to me.
*shrug*
I can give it a few more episodes; maybe it will surprise me. Who knows? But right now, I'm not very optimistic.
*shrug*
I can give it a few more episodes; maybe it will surprise me. Who knows? But right now, I'm not very optimistic.
doubleohfive
Fleet Admiral
I watched the pilot last spring. Loved it then, love it now. Very much looking forward to episode two.
Oops, sorry. Freudian slip.
I guess I wish it were a bit more like The Walking Dead. Now that show would rock!However, it was pretty good for a mere ABC show. It's the kind of show that SyFy would do, only ABC does it more competently.
The premise and actors grabbed me enough that I want to see where they're going with it. Looks like they will take an interestingly non-traditional and surprising approach to interpreting the characters (something Grimm is also going to need to do.)
doubleohfive
Fleet Admiral
Kitsis and Horowitz are great writers. I've no doubt they have a great story to tell.
Is that a Lost reference? I was trying to match it up with a fairy tale - Emma Swan = I'm a Swan - either The Ugly Duckling or something to do with Odette/Odile from Swan Lake. Maybe Emma will have a split personality, sprout wings and start exploring her bisexuality.
PS, ratings are off to a strong start!
Hurray!
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The Hatch was officially known as the Swan Station.
I remember that part, but I'm wondering whether it's a fairy tale reference (which would be more interesting if it were a clue about the character which would be revealed in the future.)
Like how Snow White is named Mrs. Blanchard, Rumplistilkstin is Mr. Gold and The Evil Queen is Regina. There's a trend towards names having some fairy tale significance.
Like how Snow White is named Mrs. Blanchard, Rumplistilkstin is Mr. Gold and The Evil Queen is Regina. There's a trend towards names having some fairy tale significance.
I wouldn't expect to much to be made of Emma's name since she doesn't seem to have been affected by the curse. The names of the rest of the characters appear to have come from the Evil Queen and her curse.
Here's a pretty intersting interview I found on IGN with Lana Parilla (Evil Queen/Regina), Jennifer Morrison (Emma Swan), and Josh Dallas (Prince Charming/John Doe. I'm curious what all of these unexpected directions will be.
Here's a pretty intersting interview I found on IGN with Lana Parilla (Evil Queen/Regina), Jennifer Morrison (Emma Swan), and Josh Dallas (Prince Charming/John Doe. I'm curious what all of these unexpected directions will be.
^^^ Wait, so -- from the publicity stills linked on that page, there is a sort of "white swan/black swan" thing going on between Snow White and the Evil Queen, with the nest and the feathers and all. So "Swan" is meant to be significant, looks like.
Also...yay, Raphael Sbarge! (But too bad he's really a cricket!
)
Also...yay, Raphael Sbarge! (But too bad he's really a cricket!
)
I really enjoyed it. I might even say it was my favorite pilot this season. My top three are all ABC shows, so I guess they are doing a great job this year! Not so much for the other networks...
doubleohfive
Fleet Admiral
I'm happy that I liked Henry! It seems that, so often, the kid is badly miscast. Appears to be great casting here--I thought he was perfect; not too precious or precocious, and he had a sweet smile.
Robert Carlyle (whom I first saw on SGU) is always excellent, it seems. One of those actors who picks the role that he can bring that extra something that makes is his.
Robert Carlyle (whom I first saw on SGU) is always excellent, it seems. One of those actors who picks the role that he can bring that extra something that makes is his.
Apparently the pilot got higher ratings than Sunday Night Football and was only 2 million less than the World Series. That's a pretty damn good showing, especially for a SF/F series. Unless it utterly tanks after this, there might actually be a hope of this staying around for a bit.
By the way - the pilot doesn't mention this, but that goth girl who appears in the final scene (where Rumpelstiltskin collects the rent) is supposed to be a certain hooded fairy tale character too.
By the way, I love how ABC - a Disney-owned network - was able to work in not only Snow White, but the Disney-created dwarfs, and of course Jiminy Cricket. Someone speculated about the Stargate actors that may appear, but I think we're more likely to create a drinking game about all the Disney characters that could show up. Cinderella certainly has to appear at some point (I think the fairy dressed in blue and played by Keegan Connor Tracy is probably from that story). Sleeping Beauty as well. And who knows, maybe Beauty and the Beast and Tinker Bell too (and if they cast Ron Perlman as the Beast ABC will officially become Coolest Network Ever).
Alex
By the way - the pilot doesn't mention this, but that goth girl who appears in the final scene (where Rumpelstiltskin collects the rent) is supposed to be a certain hooded fairy tale character too.
By the way, I love how ABC - a Disney-owned network - was able to work in not only Snow White, but the Disney-created dwarfs, and of course Jiminy Cricket. Someone speculated about the Stargate actors that may appear, but I think we're more likely to create a drinking game about all the Disney characters that could show up. Cinderella certainly has to appear at some point (I think the fairy dressed in blue and played by Keegan Connor Tracy is probably from that story). Sleeping Beauty as well. And who knows, maybe Beauty and the Beast and Tinker Bell too (and if they cast Ron Perlman as the Beast ABC will officially become Coolest Network Ever).
Alex
I found that out beforehand when I looked up the show on the IMDb, but it was still easy to pick up on.
I am intrigued by the pilot. I shall be ready for episode 2.
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