Once Upon a Time (OUaT) Season 4

The last time I did a post on OUaT was in 2013 (click here to read that). I thought I would share what I think of the show now that it got better in my opinion and it's close to the end of the 4th season!!

The second half of the 4th season is much more interesting and entertaining then the first half. I got over the whole Frozen thing so it was just getting annoying to see it everywhere, but the inclusion of new characters like Cruella was a good idea. It might get tiring at times to keep track of all the characters and their stories, but once they start to connect, it makes more sense.

Episode 20 "Lily" was my favorite episode from the second half of season 4. This episode was really suspenseful and it was interesting to see Regina and Emma team up to beat Gold's plans. The way Regina was talking Emma out of doing something she would regret was great and it definitely showed how much Regina has changed from the very beginning. I love how Regina is now on the good side; a hero in her own way. The episode also ended at an interesting point ;)

I can't wait for the finale and wonder if there will be another season! I highly suggest you watch the show if you haven't already. You can watch Once Upon a Time on Hulu.

Once Upon a Time (OUaT) and OUaT in Wonderland (on ABC)!

I'm finally doing this. My reaction post on the winter finale of OUaT and its partner in Wonderland! To read my last post on OUaT, please click here. I never shared my initial thoughts on OUaTiW, so I'll start with that.

Once Upon a Time in Wonderland

Honestly, I wasn't excited about Once Upon a Time in Wonderland. After seeing the trailer of what this spinoff to OUaT would be about, I got the impression that it was too lovey dovey, basically not for me. I am not a fan of hard core romance in any form of entertainment, so I hesitated to watch OUaTiW when it first came out. But, I watched the first episode on a whim after the first few episodes came out. It wasn't as great as the original OUaT, but not bad either. Yes, this show is focused on love, which just goes to show how much of American culture is obsessed with love. Why did I continue to watch it? Besides that this "series will have crossover episodes with Once Upon a Time that will also involve a connection with the characters that are trapped in Storybrooke, Maine" (Wiki), OUaTiW got interesting. I like the idea of mixing and matching characters from different stories all together (see my fairytale mash up ;), so characters from Alice in Wonderland mixed with Aladdin was a new idea.

As for some characters, the Knave looks like someone from HP4 and the Red Queen plays her role well (ie. a snobby, spoiled Queen). My favorite episode out of the 8 so far, was the 7th where Jafar's past is explored. I had a feeling from the beginning that the old man in the cage with Cyrus was the father of Jafar and this episode proved me right. The Sultan really wasn't a great father. I kind of sympathize with Jafar for his past and blame the Sultan for the way Jafar turned out, hence the name of this episode "Bad Blood." Of course, Jafar's growing evil desires didn't help, but the bad influence from his father was the catalyst it seems. The family problems/ relationships makes this show similar to OUaT, which I found interesting.

Winter Finales!!!

On the note of OUaTiW, it is about time the Red Queen/ Anastasia came back to her senses. Of course, she did make big mistakes that she regrets, so she has to deal with the consequences like any other person. I loved how it ended with Will/ Knave taking Cyrus's place in the bottle. Not that I don't like the Knave after all his help to Alice, it just got interesting and I can't wait to find out his experience as a genie. I am curious to see how the Red Queen's reacts now that Will is gone.

As for the original OUaT, the last episode "11: Going Home" was sad. After watching what Regina went through to get Henry (episode 9; my fave episode overall from the first 11), the fact that she had to leave him to save everyone was unfortunate. But, I guess that is the price she had to pay for all the bad things she did out of revenge. From the "villains", I grew to like Regina the most. She did try to change for Henry, even if it was too late. I loved this show from the start, so I really can not wait till March for OUaT to continue!

Once Upon a Time on ABC Sunday @ 8/7c

Ever since I did my first review on a TV show, I have wanted to do a review/ impression of Once Upon a Time. The show is currently on its 3rd season, but for those who are not familiar with this ABC show, below is a little bit of the plot from seasons 1 and 2.

Season 1 (Source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Once_Upon_a_Time_(season_1)

The show is based on the theory that there is an alternate universe where every classic fairy tale character exists—a world that has a loose connection to our world. On the night of her 28th birthday, bail bonds collector Emma Swan is reunited with Henry Mills- the son she gave up for adoption ten years ago—and takes him back to his hometown of Storybrooke, Maine- a place where nothing is what it seems.

Henry has in his possession a large book of fairy tales and is convinced that Emma is the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming who sent her away so she would be protected from a powerful curse enacted by the Evil Queen, a curse in which she is the only one with a happy ending. It's because of the curse that everyone in Storybrooke is frozen in time with no memories of their former selves—except for the Queen, who is Storybrooke's mayor and Henry's adoptive mother Regina Mills. Emma refuses to believe a word of Henry's "theory" and returns Henry home, but then decides to remain in the New England town...and causes the hands of the clock tower to move for the first time in 28 years. As Emma stays in Storybrooke and soon becomes Sheriff following the sudden death of Graham Humbert, Regina's antagonistic attitude raises her suspicions and prompt her to move in with Henry's teacher Mary Margaret Blanchard, who is really her mother Snow White...

Snow and Charming reunite with each other and Regina returns to her mansion alone as Emma begins to wonder why no one is returning to the Other World since the curse is broken. Rumplestiltskin reunites with his true love Belle and takes her to a Wishing Well deep in the heart of the forest, a well with the power to restore that which one had lost. He takes the potion and drops it into the well, causing a purple cloud to emerge and consume Storybrooke as the Clock Tower strikes 8:15.

Season 2 (Source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Once_Upon_a_Time_(season_2)

Following the curse being broken by Emma Swan, the purple smoke that brought magic to Storybrooke by Mr. Gold clears and the residents reunite as their fairytale selves. Emma, Snow White/Mary Margaret and Prince Charming/David try to stop the wraith from taking Regina's soul. However, Emma and Mary Margaret are sent through the Mad Hatter's hat and are transported to part of the fairytale land whose inhabitants were spared from the curse. The two later form a bond with Aurora and Mulan, who agree to assist them in finding a way back to Storybrooke. On their journey, they meet Cora, the mother of The Evil Queen/Regina. She forms an alliance with Captain Hook to also find a way to travel to Storybrooke...

With the aid of Hook, Regina attempts to put a plan in motion that will help transport herself and Henry back to the Enchanted Forest. Her plan revolves around a fail-safe that was planted within the curse, which if triggered could wipe Storybrooke off the map and kill all of its inhabitants. Regina tricks Hook, though it is revealed that Hook was double-crossing her in collaboration with Greg and Tamara, the latter two kidnap her. Against Neal's protests, Emma believes that Tamara had something to do with Regina's disappearance. She is later proven to be correct when Mary Margaret and David find Regina being tortured by the pair. Tamara then shoots Neal, sending him through a portal to the remaining part of the Enchanted Forest, after revealing to Emma that he still loves her. Greg and Tamara begin the trigger to destroy the town, though it is stopped by Regina and Emma. However, Greg and Tamara then kidnap Henry and take him to Neverland. Emma, Mary Margaret, David, Regina and Mr. Gold join Hook on his ship with his magic bean to follow them to Neverland and save Henry.

My Thoughts on Seasons 1 and 2

So what do I think of Once Upon a Time from the beginning? The show first caught my attention from the trailer. It looked action packed and who doesn't like fairy tales with a twist? I started watching season 1 after I found out they could be watched online on ABC's site! The season was close to the end, but I managed to watch over 5 episodes one after the other to catch up. Plus it was interesting! OUaT has a lot to learn about family life/ relationships so it is definitely modern with all its problems. There are some parts in the show that are inappropriate, so it might not be suited for a young audience. Between seasons 1 and 2, I think I liked the first better because the idea was new of course and had a lot of suspenseful parts. I really liked the backstories to different characters, especially Rumple's and Regina's/ the Evil Queen. If you missed either seasons or any episodes, you can watch them on Netflix.com or try borrowing the season collections for free at your local library!

Season 3!!!

I know this post is getting long, but the story doesn't end there. I was excited to hear that there would be a season 3! It wouldn't make sense to end the way it did in season 2. After all, fairy tales are known for there happy endings ;)

From the 4 episodes so far in OUaT season 3, I liked episode 3 the most. The addition of Tinkerbell was nice and included more of Regina's past, which was interesting. But, the ending was a bit weird with the revelation of Mulan having feelings for her friend Princess Aurora (Spiderwick Chronicles anyone?!) when previously Prince Philip seemed to have caught Mulan's attention...

I feel like Peter Pan is lying to Henry that Henry is destined to save magic. Didn't Pan want to destroy it by using Owen and Tamara from season 2? And although it is nice to have Hook on the good side so far in the season, I feel like he is a mystery. He doesn't seem to share much info. on his past, yet is risking his life to help Emma, her parents, and Regina. It will be nice to see a backstory of Hook to learn more about him! I think that is about it for this review/ impression post on OUaT. I might continue to do this once in a while, so check back for more. Also, leave your thoughts on the show for me to read in the comments below! Watch season 3 episodes here