Once Upon a Time (AMC) - 1x01 Pilot grading thread

[Mister Johnson]

I'm assuming that's the Blue Fairy from Pinocchio, but I could be mistaken.

I'm willing to wager she's all of the fairies. The Blue Fairy, the Fairy Godmother, etc.

And this is less Fairy Tale Land than it is Disney Land. The existence of Jiminy Cricket makes that abundantly clear. Which is a shame, because the real fairy tales were much more fascinating and much more dark. The flashbacks so far have also been very wishy-washy and Disneyfied.

 

[sojourner]

This show is basically Enchanted: The Series.

 

[46379.1]

This show is basically Enchanted: The Series.

No no no, haven't you read the Internet? It's a Fables rip-off.

And judging by how many times I've read that the last week, Fables is the most popular comic in the World.

 

[Saxman1]

I fell asleep watching it On Demand with the wife. But I also nodded off during this week's Castle and Body of Proof. I drive over two hours each way to a temp gig and am toast after 9 p.m.

 

[Mister Johnson]

No no no, haven't you read the Internet? It's a Fables rip-off.

Well, actually, that's because it very much is. Just Disneyfied/Enchantedified.

And judging by how many times I've read that the last week, Fables is the most popular comic in the World.

It's very much an acclaimed series. One's ignorance to something does not mean that something isn't real.

 

[46379.1]

No no no, haven't you read the Internet? It's a Fables rip-off.

Well, actually, that's because it very much is. Just Disneyfied/Enchantedified.

So that's make Fables a rip-off of The 10th Kingdom...

Willingham himself said that his idea is not original. So what I don't understand is why all the fans of the comic gets upset and say things like that.

 

[Professor Zoom]

No no no, haven't you read the Internet? It's a Fables rip-off.

Well, actually, that's because it very much is. Just Disneyfied/Enchantedified.

So that's make Fables a rip-off of The 10th Kingdom...

Willingham himself said that his idea is not original. So what I don't understand is why all the fans of the comic gets upset and say things like that.

Since Fables has been optioned for TV, it looks like both ABC ripped it off AND now Fables won't get onto TV because IT will look like a rip off of Once Upon A Time.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

How would Fables be superior to OUAT (and Grimm, since it's debuting tonight)?

If both OUAT and Grimm are hits, I wouldn't be surprised if other networks start doing fairy-tale-based series. TV runs on herd mentality.

But it's up to whoever owns the rights to Fables to convince some network to license the property or at the very least sue their asses (assuming they have a good case).

 

[Mister Johnson]

No no no, haven't you read the Internet? It's a Fables rip-off.

Well, actually, that's because it very much is. Just Disneyfied/Enchantedified.

So that's make Fables a rip-off of The 10th Kingdom.

No, there's a big enough difference between those two for them to be different. The 10th Kingdom wasn't about The Big Bad Evil excommunicating the faerie tale creatures to the real world, where they are then forced to live as humans in a small community while trying to find a way to defeat The Big Bad Evil and return home. Once Upon a Time, however, is. The only real difference between Once Upon a Time and Fables is that there isn't a war raging back in their homeland (instead, Once Upon a Time just has a bitchy queen serving the same role, complete with an army), and they're brainwashed suckers rather than homeless refugees. That's about it.

Willingham himself said that his idea is not original. So what I don't understand is why all the fans of the comic gets upset and say things like that.

Being inspired by something is one thing. To rip it off is something else entirely. Once Upon a Time is a cheap knockoff of Fables with Disney characters and a less interesting Big Bad Evil who are brainwashed into living as normal humans in one small community rather than simply pretending to be normal humans in one small community.

Neither of those are anything like the 10th Kingdom aside from the fact that the faerie tale creatures are real. Likewise, Grimm isn't a rip off of Fables or the 10th Kingdom despite also involving faerie tales. Faeries tales alone don't make them rip offs. Stealing plot ideas and major concepts is.

 

[Mister Johnson]

How would Fables be superior to OUAT (and Grimm, since it's debuting tonight)?

It's darker, with a richer background, and more interesting characters all around. The individual storylines are great, they explore the consequences of introducing magic to the real world, and everyone has their own agendas, issues, and goals. Plus the events back in their homeland are also more interesting, particularly the reasons why the Big Bad Evil is doing what he/she/it is doing (I don't want to spoil it).

 

[Temis the Vorta]

It's darker, with a richer background, and more interesting characters all around.

Why couldn't OUAT evolve to be darker, have a richer background and more interesting characters? Those types of things need time to develop. I don't expect them in the first episode.

The first episode just needs to show some promise and engage the audience's interest - which it has done, judging from the ratings. There's nothing in your rather vague description of Fables that OUAT couldn't turn out to be.

And you can spoil Fables, it's unlikely I'd ever get around to reading it. Put it in spoiler code if you like.

 

[Vendikarr]

Well, actually, that's because it very much is. Just Disneyfied/Enchantedified.

So that's make Fables a rip-off of The 10th Kingdom.

No, there's a big enough difference between those two for them to be different. The 10th Kingdom wasn't about The Big Bad Evil excommunicating the faerie tale creatures to the real world, where they are then forced to live as humans in a small community while trying to find a way to defeat The Big Bad Evil and return home. Once Upon a Time, however, is. The only real difference between Once Upon a Time and Fables is that there isn't a war raging back in their homeland (instead, Once Upon a Time just has a bitchy queen serving the same role, complete with an army), and they're brainwashed suckers rather than homeless refugees. That's about it.

Willingham himself said that his idea is not original. So what I don't understand is why all the fans of the comic gets upset and say things like that.

Being inspired by something is one thing. To rip it off is something else entirely. Once Upon a Time is a cheap knockoff of Fables with Disney characters and a less interesting Big Bad Evil who are brainwashed into living as normal humans in one small community rather than simply pretending to be normal humans in one small community.

Neither of those are anything like the 10th Kingdom aside from the fact that the faerie tale creatures are real. Likewise, Grimm isn't a rip off of Fables or the 10th Kingdom despite also involving faerie tales. Faeries tales alone don't make them rip offs. Stealing plot ideas and major concepts is.

I know ABC had optioned Fables, and it was in development, then that fell through. Then ABC started work on Once Upon A Time.

While it is similar, it must be different enough not to be a "rip off." Otherwise Warner Brothers (the publisher of Fables) would be all over ABC's ass with lawsuits.

While you may see they are similar, they must be different enough to avoid being sued.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I wonder if all the public domain characters (Snow White et al) are innoculation against a lawsuit? Too much of the story is bound up in folkloric characters that nobody can claim. Also Disney lawyers are renowned for their fearsomeness.

Anyway, I'm sure we can count on lawyers to sue in any situation where there is even the vaguest possibility of a victory or even when there isn't. I'm not wasting any time wringing my hands for their sake.

 

[Professor Zoom]

How would Fables be superior to OUAT (and Grimm, since it's debuting tonight)?

Edited to change original post. Misunderstood.

Don't know if it's superior. But, there's already enough stories to last years and years. And very little flashbacks. Just moving forward in it's narrative. With a very clear, yet mysterious, bad guy.

 

[Starbreaker]

Just watched the pilot and thought it was okay. The horrible acting by Prince Charming almost made me quit watching 5 minutes in.

 

[Spot's Meow]

I, for one, like that the show isn't "dark" and "edgy," at least for the time being. To me that is very 2000s...I am kind of over the dark, gritty TV shows and movies, to be honest. Especially when the real world has been so shitty, I hardly want to watch TV and feel even shittier. I hope we are moving into a more romanticized and hopeful era of telivision and film. With the recent rise in popularity of sitcoms, I think others may feel the same. So far the show has just the right balance of hopeful charm and evil bad guys, but it's only the first episode, so who knows what direction it will go in.

 

[JD]

Sure it is a similar premise to Fables, but once you really dig in the actual stories appear to be totally different.
Big differences:
Reason they left:In Fables, the different kingdoms belonging to all of the characters are invaded by someone referred to only as The Adversary for the early parts of the series. In the end they escape to our world of their own free will. In OUAT, the fairy tale characters are cursed by the Evil Queen, and sent to our world against their will.
Where the live: In Fables they set up their own community in New York, and live in secret. The town is lead by King Cole, and Snow White with the Big Bad Wolf as their sheriff. In OUAT, the Evil Queen forces them all to live in Storybrook, Maine, with no memory of what they are. She is the Mayor.
Prince Charming: In Fables, Prince Charming is kind of a womanizing dick, but in OUAT
The tone: Fables is part of DC comics Vertigo line, meaning it is written for an 18+ audience. The first arc (all of read so far) features some violence, a hand full of F words, and a sex scene. OUAT, seems to be going for a more family friendly tone, with only the fight scenes, and some scary stuff with the curse, and maybe a little bit of fairly mild swearing, I can't remember.

 

[Professor Zoom]

I'm hoping they explain very soon why the Wicked Witch would curse herself too. It appears that way... maybe she didn't. Right now, to me, it looks like she did. I hope they clarify that very soon.

 

[davejames]

Finally saw this, and I thought it was actually REALLY damn good. I was expecting something really cutesy and overly whimsical, but the way they played it fairly straight worked surprisingly well-- and actually made these fairy tale characters seem kinda... cool and interesting.

Not sure if they'll be able to maintain it, but so far this is probably my favorite new show of the season. It's lightyears better than the generic Terra Nova and Grimm, that's for sure.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

ABC is the only one of the broadcast networks that seems to have the knack for doing shows that seem like more than the standard network thing. Once Upon a Time and Pan Am seem like shows that could be on cable (just throw in more sex, violence and bad language). Terra Nova, Person of Interest, The Playboy Club, and Grimm all are the standard type of broadcast show by comparison.