Hell, it's better than season one Heroes. Of course while I liked Heroes season one I always thought that it was way over hyped.
Once Upon a Time (ABC) - 1x02 till the bitter end
- Thread starter Temis the Vorta
- Start date
I disagree. Heroes S1 in my opinion is probably the single best season of tv in the last decade-no filler, heavily serialized, writers intriduced and answered within a short period of time all the mysteries raised rather than dragging it out, the payoffs were satisfying, the writers clever ways of methodically merging at first the seemingly disparate storylines into one moment were astonishing, the pacing was pitch perfect, the action was just about right--not too much but not too little and not one bad episode in a 24 episode season(OUAT has had several like that horrible "trapped in a mine"/lame Jiminy episode. Compare that to the sluggish momentum of OUAT and the overreliance on "love".
OUAT doesn't have the narrative purpose S1 Heroes had--the writers knew where they were going and set about in each episode to advance the plot for that end goal never feeling like they were stalling or spinning their wheel. The writers even wisely realized the romantic stuff with Simone/Peter/Isaac was dull and moved to dump it expeditiously.
You sort of contradicted yourself there. If the Heroes writers had such a rock-solid game plan they either wouldn't have developed the romantic stuff (which in the context of your full post re:disapproving of OUAT's references to love I take you don't approve of in SF/fantasy contexts) or would have stuck with it as part of a larger game plan rather than waffling.
I see no sign of OUAT being "made up as they go along". Each episode is a piece of the puzzle, with scenes in one episode perhaps not having a payoff for weeks. For example the Belle episode featured a throwaway reference to "a mermaid problem" which we just know is going to be the focus of a later episode. The "trapped in a mine" episode answered a number of questions and answered new ones and was also the lynchpin for a later reference in last week's episode. And so far everything is holding together nicely.
As I said earlier, time will tell if OUAT keeps the momentum, but right now I see season 1 as completely on par with season 1 of Heroes, if not superior because although I enjoyed the earlier series greatly I got a lot of "get on with it" vibes as I watched even season 1.
My only concern is OUAT violating its atmosphere. Tonight's "Mad Hatter" episode looks more like a CSI episode than OUAT. Obviously you can't tell from the trailer. But they have to be careful - one thing OUAT is accomplishing that Heroes didn't and Lost certainly didn't is it's becoming a major family show. Too much violence or sex and they could lose core demographics.
Alex
I'm not sure if this was linked to previously in this thread, but I'll toss it out there in case it was not...
http://www.hulu.com/watch/338438/on...s-and-creators-of-once-upon-a-time#s-p2-sr-i1
That is about an hour long discussion with the stars, but more importantly the head writers and showrunners of OUAT, which was hosted earlier this month. If you enjoy the show you'll probably very much enjoy watching this.
Unfortunately, my impression(and the writers are coy about it) is that they are essentially winging it in terms of plotting out the show.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/338438/on...s-and-creators-of-once-upon-a-time#s-p2-sr-i1
That is about an hour long discussion with the stars, but more importantly the head writers and showrunners of OUAT, which was hosted earlier this month. If you enjoy the show you'll probably very much enjoy watching this.
Unfortunately, my impression(and the writers are coy about it) is that they are essentially winging it in terms of plotting out the show.
Well, tonight was an awesome "wing" then. Finally, some cracks in Emma's "it's not real" armor. Plus clues to how things work with the curse. Basically all stories have their basis in other realities. Looks like one of the writers has read Heinlein's Number of the Beast.
Fantastic. I always loved that concept and I loved what Heinlein did with it.
Maybe I was right about where Season Two will go after all.
Maybe I was right about where Season Two will go after all.
I loved last night's episode. It really clicked on all levels.
I really want to know what would induce Gold to team up with Regina. I hope that he is just playing her.
The Mad Hatter story was fantastic. From the moment that he forgot to limp after drugging Emma until "off with his head," I was floored.
This ep gave us a good "fairytale" story and a great break in the overall story. You could tell that Emma thought the Hatter was nuts, but methinks that Jefferson was making a litle too much sense for her.
He pointed out that they had been there for 28 years and nothing happened until she came to town.
Ergo, she brought the magic to the town.
His curse being that he could remember everything and his little girl did not remember him really ate at Emma because of Henry.
He forced Emma to voice the words that "the woman in the next room was her mother."
Then Mary Margaret goes all Rambo on the Hatter to protect Emma.
I also loved that when Emma said Henry, the Hatter responded - "The Queen's father?"
I was blown away. Great ep!
I really want to know what would induce Gold to team up with Regina. I hope that he is just playing her.
The Mad Hatter story was fantastic. From the moment that he forgot to limp after drugging Emma until "off with his head," I was floored.
This ep gave us a good "fairytale" story and a great break in the overall story. You could tell that Emma thought the Hatter was nuts, but methinks that Jefferson was making a litle too much sense for her.
He pointed out that they had been there for 28 years and nothing happened until she came to town.
Ergo, she brought the magic to the town.
His curse being that he could remember everything and his little girl did not remember him really ate at Emma because of Henry.
He forced Emma to voice the words that "the woman in the next room was her mother."
Then Mary Margaret goes all Rambo on the Hatter to protect Emma.
I also loved that when Emma said Henry, the Hatter responded - "The Queen's father?"
I was blown away. Great ep!
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I have to ask: Why wasn't Paige/Grace named Alice?
I was wondering if Alice was Grace's mother.
The Queen mentioned that what the Hatter did killed Grace's mother. What if he killed her by taking her to Wonderland?
He did say he hated the place.
The Queen mentioned that what the Hatter did killed Grace's mother. What if he killed her by taking her to Wonderland?
He did say he hated the place.
I was thinking the same thing....But what females have we seen in Storybrooke that are unaccounted for in the tales?
We're assuming a bate and switch?
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3230725/
A more prevalent actress with full this position when the mask is lifted if the character is unenvied... 'Literaly" HA! Oh English, you're such a tricky language... Or more likely, we'll find out that the Queen of hearts is an established character in Storybrook rather than Uma after having her way after Smash moving onto this sinking ship...
It's not sinking?
It should though.
HA!
It's Emma.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3230725/
A more prevalent actress with full this position when the mask is lifted if the character is unenvied... 'Literaly" HA! Oh English, you're such a tricky language... Or more likely, we'll find out that the Queen of hearts is an established character in Storybrook rather than Uma after having her way after Smash moving onto this sinking ship...
It's not sinking?
It should though.
HA!
It's Emma.
I liked this week's episode! It had a wild, chaotic, dangerous edge to it, which this show really needs more of. Also, the other worlds that the magic hat leads to really opens up the possibilities.
I also like Sebastian Stan as an actor and I certainly hope we haven't seen the last of his character. There was something a bit off-kilter about his performance, and not in the good "he's crazy" way - it was like he hadn't quite gotten a grip on the character yet - but he can settle into the role with time.
For Queen of Hearts stunt casting, they should see if Angelica Houston has some free time inbetween shooting Smash episodes.
I also like Sebastian Stan as an actor and I certainly hope we haven't seen the last of his character. There was something a bit off-kilter about his performance, and not in the good "he's crazy" way - it was like he hadn't quite gotten a grip on the character yet - but he can settle into the role with time.
For Queen of Hearts stunt casting, they should see if Angelica Houston has some free time inbetween shooting Smash episodes.
I took it this way - Only Emma and products of Emma (Henry) are really a part of this world. The others are in a holding pattern, and have been for 28 years. Therefore, Emma and Henry progress while everyone else was in a holding pattern. Emma's introduction to Storybrooke literally starting the clock ticking for all of the fairy tale characters.
I don't think August has been stuck though, and I also think he ages. That makes me think he is Rumple's kid. It is Rumple's curse after all. I don't see him screwing over his own kid. Bey and Belle are the only two people he has ever really cared for. There may have been an escape clause in the curse for Bey.
I don't think August has been stuck though, and I also think he ages. That makes me think he is Rumple's kid. It is Rumple's curse after all. I don't see him screwing over his own kid. Bey and Belle are the only two people he has ever really cared for. There may have been an escape clause in the curse for Bey.
The writers/producers said at paleyfest http://www.hulu.com/watch/338438/on...s-and-creators-of-once-upon-a-time#s-p2-sr-i1 that only Emma and Henry have grown over the previous 28 years.