Once Upon a Time (ABC) - 1x02 till the bitter end

[Temis the Vorta]

I'm starting to think that Snow White did nothing to the Evil Queen except exist, and that's what the Queen can't stand. It's just pure jealousy/spite, nothing more.

There's another shoe that's going to drop. It might be something that predates the scenes we saw with the Genie - maybe Queenie was angry about something before she started getting even angrier about the King going on and on about his wife and daughter.

Anyway, all the backstories and setup we've been getting are fun, and it looks like there's more to come next week, but I'm wondering when any progress is going to be made on the actual storyline here, namely removing the curse.

First, Emma needs to be convinced that there's a curse to remove and it's not all just Henry's imagination. I'd like to see some kind of progress on that level soon, because all we've really gotten is characters sniping at/mooning over each other, and the novelty is really wearing off at this point.

 

[nvek86]

I liked the fairy tale parts of the newest episode, but the Storybrooke stuff was quite predictable. Hopefully Emma has already realised that Glass is just spying for the mayor (isn't she supposed to be able to tell if someone lies) and uses it to feed him false information.

She's said that Snow White took something from her. She even said as much in front of Snow, who didn't seem puzzled or otherwise ignorant of the reference.

Wasn't it something about Snow White not being able to keep a secret the Queen told her?

 

[sojourner]

Anyway, all the backstories and setup we've been getting are fun, and it looks like there's more to come next week, but I'm wondering when any progress is going to be made on the actual storyline here, namely removing the curse.

First, Emma needs to be convinced that there's a curse to remove and it's not all just Henry's imagination. I'd like to see some kind of progress on that level soon, because all we've really gotten is characters sniping at/mooning over each other, and the novelty is really wearing off at this point.

You realize that Emma probably won't start to believe until some game changing event happens in the cliffhanger season finale right? If that soon. How many seasons do you think they want to get out of this premise? 2?

 

[Kosh Naranek]

Someone on another board said that they thought the "Stranger" was Henry from the future. I thought it was an interesting idea.

The town storyline is not boring me, but it is def the show's weakest link. I keep wanting them to get back to fairytale land.

However, I don't mind the glimpses of Eion B.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Eion Bailey looks nothing like Henry would when he's grownup. Also, time travel seems too sci fi for this show (much as I'd love it if the fairy tale characters are actually space aliens or something).

Ratings are holding up well.

Once Upon A Time was up 6% and hit an 11-week high in total viewers (10.8 million).

 

[davejames]

Anyway, all the backstories and setup we've been getting are fun, and it looks like there's more to come next week, but I'm wondering when any progress is going to be made on the actual storyline here, namely removing the curse.

First, Emma needs to be convinced that there's a curse to remove and it's not all just Henry's imagination. I'd like to see some kind of progress on that level soon, because all we've really gotten is characters sniping at/mooning over each other, and the novelty is really wearing off at this point.

I'm still enjoying getting to know the characters myself, as well as their past selves in fairytale land.

And while I'm fine with Emma discovering a few more clues along the way (like those keys in Regina's desk), I think it's WAY too early to have her believing completely in the curse.

She's been established as such a cynical, real world woman that it would be completely unrealistic and out of character to have her suddenly believing in Evil Queens and curses and fairytale stories. A process like that needs to be a bit more gradual, I think.

 

[davejames]

I can't believe that Emma fell for such an obvious ploy...of course Sydney was working for Regina...duh! Emma needs to get smart and not let her emotions overtake her intelligence. it's not that plausible that a yes-man like Sydney would ever break from someone like Regina. Guy's too wimpy for that.

Actually I was completely fooled as well. Sydney had always been a nervous, bumbling mess around Regina, and was constantly being put down by her. And his petty anger and jealousy over the election sounded pretty plausible as well.

There was no hint that he was really this smooth and confident guy like we saw at the end of the episode.

...and that jungle gym the Mayor had built didn't very safe to me. Looked rather dangerous with all those pointy ends.

The odd design of that structure had me thinking it was more than just a jungle gym. Like maybe it could be some kind of relay station or generator or something.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Shouldn't they have been able to tell the difference between the blueprints for a jungle gym and the blueprints for a luxurious mansion?

 

[Santeria]

Shouldn't they have been able to tell the difference between the blueprints for a jungle gym and the blueprints for a luxurious mansion?

Especially such a crappy one. And how was it safer than the wooden castle? It had tons of sharp metal edges all over the place.

 

[sonak]

um, so is it totally OK for a mayor to take public funds to do what she wants as long as the townspeople like the end result? I thought that was kind of funny.

Not enough Mr. Gold in this episode. The fairy tale story was pretty good, but yeah, the town story is kind of stagnating.

 

[24thcenstfan]

I enjoyed last night's episode, but I feel like there is no order to the stories they are telling based in Fairy tale land. Last night's backstory with the Queen still married to Snow's father and Sydney seemed like character development that should have come earlier in the season.

...and that jungle gym the Mayor had built didn't very safe to me. Looked rather dangerous with all those pointy ends.

Why do you think the Fairytale stories should be told in order? Didn't we start the series with the last story set in Fairytale land? The stories seem to be about the character the real world episode focuses on. It lets us know who they were there and gives us insight on who they are in Storybrooke.

To me it seems like they are jumping all over the place with the stories set in Fairytale land. Not just with different character stories, but with individual character stories as well. They don't necessarily have to tell a character's story in A, B, C, D... fashion, but I personally would like a little more natural progression with the development. It allows me to keep everyone's story a little straight. That's just personal preference though.

...and that jungle gym the Mayor had built didn't very safe to me. Looked rather dangerous with all those pointy ends.

The odd design of that structure had me thinking it was more than just a jungle gym. Like maybe it could be some kind of relay station or generator or something.

Good call. The Mayor seems to have an ulterior motive with most everything she does, so it wouldn't surprise me.

 

[sojourner]

Sometimes a jungle gym is just a jungle gym.

 

[JD]

The people complaining about the non-chronological flashbacks obviously never watched Lost. Their flashbacks (and other "flashes") jumped all over the place, and they're pretty much just following the same style here. And I definitely agree that something more needs to happen in the Storybrooke storyline. Honestly, it's almost a little weird that we go from the Fairytale land, to normal Storybrooke. At this point I would really like the see them starting to work a little magic, or at least weird events into the Storybrooke plot. I thought maybe things were starting to go that way when Regina killed Graham, but then things went back to normal. I'm really enjoying the Fairytale land stuff, but at this point if something more doesn't start happening soon in the Storybrooke plotline I might give up on the show.
I will admit next week's episode does look very interesting though.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

The stories we're getting have a pretty simple goal - to give us a richer understanding of all the principle characters. From that perspective, it's not important to see the stories in order or remember every last detail. What's important is that Queenie and Rumples are far from simplistic villains; Glass is in thrall to a very dysfunctional and self-destructive love for Queenie; Prince Charming was thrown into a situation he didn't ask for and wasn't prepared for and he's just a simple peasant boy at heart; Snow White is a naive goody two shoes but she's been toughened up by her life in the woods cavorting with dwarves, so don't underestimate her; Jimny Cricket is a tormented soul; and who have I forgotten? I think that's pretty much it.

I think at this point, we have enough info on these people that this story can now start to move forward.

PS, I agree with the general sentiment that the playground design was quel suspicious.

 

[Anwar]

Eh, maybe they'll have it turn out she's really using it as the secret repository for magical items and hiding them under everyone's noses through their kids. It shows a LITTLE cunning, which Regina usually lacks.

Makes sense she acts like the big bully though: She kept her memories of Fairytale land and back there she never had to use tact or diplomacy on anyone since she was the Witch Queen. She was just so used to intimidating people and bullying them into doing what she wanted through her power that she doesn't know how to do anything else.

 

[RJDiogenes]

The "real" world story is far from stagnating. There have been developments in every episode. The sheriff was killed with magic, Mary Margaret got involved with whatsisname, Emma got elected sheriff, the stranger arrived, has stolen the book, Emma found the mysterious keys, and so on.

 

[Kosh Naranek]

I think the "real world" story just comes off a tad dull in comparison to their "fairytale" lives.

I assume that is on purpose. The curse took away everyone's happy endings. It makes sense that they would be trapped in a tedious ho-hum world tied down by jobs, bills, ennui. Our world is fairtytale Hell essentially.

I don't think it would be in step with Emma's character to suddenly start buying the fairytale story. She grew up in the system and worked as a bounty hunter. She is a pretty jaded gal. Buying the story would mean that she would have to accept that she is living with her mother, a chick that appears to be her own age. Her dad is the local coma patient and her son is living with an acutal witch not just a stone gold bitch. That is a lot for anyone to grasp and that is just the tip of the iceberg.

That means that the local shrink is a cricket. The local vamp is actually Red Riding Hood. The knocked up maid is Cinderella. The local pawn broker / land owner is a magician with phenom power. The local reporter is a former genie. I could go on....

I would personally cry BS if she just bought it lock stock and barrel at this point.

 

[Anwar]

And besides, how long has she been in town by this point? A month? That ain't very long.

 

[Sindatur]

Yea, her lack of acceptance was getting to me as well, but, a couple episodes back when she did the Scully thing with Henry (As Mulder) and turned to him for advice, despite her disbelief, was enough for me to some progress along the lines of believing, so, as long as we get baby steps, I'm fine with her disbelief

 

[Temis the Vorta]

The "real" world story is far from stagnating. There have been developments in every episode. The sheriff was killed with magic, Mary Margaret got involved with whatsisname, Emma got elected sheriff, the stranger arrived, has stolen the book, Emma found the mysterious keys, and so on.

None of that adds up to any forward motion, it's just a lot of wheel spinning. The plotline that needs to happen is pretty obvious: Emma removes the curse. So the first step is, Emma believes in the curse. This process could be stretched out into sub-goals that inch Emma towards believing there is a curse, that's fine. I'd be happy to see any little progress vs more wheel-spinning.

Emma doesn't need to be sheriff to start believing in the curse, so that means nothing. Snow and Prince's relationship is irrelevant. The relevance of the stranger, the book and the keys is unclear.

All we've gotten so far is that Emma and Regina are butting heads, plus we know who's on whose side and what their psychological issues are. It's all setup and backstory. Time for them to start making use of it for the actual story.

I don't think it would be in step with Emma's character to suddenly start buying the fairytale story.

It doesn't have to be "sudden!" Any progress towards that end would be welcome. It could be the start of her incremental realization that there is a curse, and could occur over several episodes. Right now, they're just spinning wheels because let's face it, the core story is really not very substantial and if they want to spin several years out of this premise, they need to stall as much as possible. It's the same thing that happened with Lost.