TV Review: ONCE UPON A TIME 1.2, "The Thing You Love the Most”
After my favourable review of the pilot episode of Once Upon a Time I received feedback suggesting that most people found it dull...
rating: 4
After my favourable review of the pilot episode of Once Upon a Time I received feedback suggesting that most people found it dull. I still disagree with this, but with that in mind I went into Episode 2 with a much more critical eye. If Im going to be honest though, I thought this episode was at least as good, if not better than the pilot. Before I get strung up for heresy however, Id like to point out that I found some flaws as well, but I will get into that a bit later. We start this week where we ended the last; Emma Swans (Jennifer Morrison) arrival in Storybrooke has kicked time back into gear. For the first time since anyone can remember the town clock has started ticking, much to the bemusement of most and certainly to the frustration of some; the Evil Queen/Mayor Regina (Lana Parilla). She forms the centre of this episode as it deals with her attempts to get Emma kicked out of town, as well as revealing how her fairytale alternate set the story in motion in the first place, laying the terrible curse on the fairytale characters and transporting them to our world, with no recollection of their true selves. Writers and Executive Producers Edward Kitsis and Andrew Horowitz are obviously sticking to what they know best their previous ABC production Lost was filled with character based episodes that threw a central character into personal strife whilst slowly revealing relevant past history through flashbacks. Personally I think this strategy can be very hit and miss, and in Lost it got pretty tiring, particularly when it concerned a character that I didnt care for. Hopefully they will eventually move on from this format but I have a feeling the first few episodes will be much like this. Fortunately, it works this time around because the Evil Queen/Regina is clearly the one of the best characters in the show so far (or perhaps a close second behind Robert Carlyles Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold). She is much improved from the pilot, both story-wise and in performance. I spoke last week about Lana Parillas performance as the Evil Queen, which I found jarring and overdramatic. This week, the melodrama is still there and the lines are still pretty cringe-worthy, but she seems much more comfortable in the role, most likely because the scenes are much stronger as they deal with her emotional turmoil and the reasons why she wants to put the curse on fairytale land. Its always gratifying to see an actor flesh out a role when they are given more material to work with.
Concerning her real-world alter ego Regina, Parilla is on form again. It was fun to watch the protagonist and antagonist pitted against each other, particularly so early in the season. Their back-and-forth antics provide a bit of humour in contrast to the darker flashback scenarios. The episode was well written, and the revelations about the Evil Queens past were intriguing enough. Im curious to learn more about her mysterious past lover, whose death ignited her quest for revenge against Snow White. She is traditionally married to Snow Whites father, but Im guessing that was a pretty loveless affair and I cant imagine Snow White being responsible for her own fathers death. The best cameo goes to Kristin Bauer (Pam from True Blood) as Maleficent, the nemesis from the Sleeping Beauty tales and now the Evil Queens only friend. Now to the flaws, which arent really flaws in terms of plot holes or bad concepts, but rather some nit-picky things about certain characters. Firstly, the Town Sheriff: Question Why do we need him? Obvious answer this is a fairytale so Emma Swan will eventually need a love interest. Question Seriously why do we need him? If ABC wants to do something different with this show then why does she need a love interest? Most complaints about this show so far are probably to do with the fact that it isnt exactly stretching the fairytale boundaries. Weve all heard a million of these kinds of stories and we all know how they end, but this is chance for Kitsis and Horowitz to do something different, and much more interesting. Emmas story is about her relationship with her son, not some pansy Sheriff who cant decide if hes Irish or American (actor Jamie Dornan is Irish). I know mixed accents are a real thing (I have one myself) but on TV they are just distracting. I also cant say much for Dornans performance so far.
Second flaw Im still not convinced by Ginnifer Goodwin as Snow White/Mary Blanchard. I dont know why, but it just feels so awkward every time shes on screen. I know Hollywood is obsessed with youth and beauty but I feel like they should have cast someone who looks a little more mature, after all, this is supposed to be set after the actual Snow White story. Also, the whole deal with the Cinnamon on the coffee as a way of Emma realising that Snow White may in fact be her mother as Henry proclaims is almost as lame as when Louise Lane discovers Clark Kents true identity when he trips over and doesnt burn his hand on the fireplace in Superman 2. Lastly, they still havent established any kind of threat to the sleepy residents of Storybrooke. As I said last week, there needs to be a reason for the residents to want to be saved. Being in a prison that youre unaware of is like not being in prison at all. Especially when the prison is a peaceful small town. Even when several characters mention Reginas nature as a fear-monger, they dont seem all that phased. I want to see the characters start to remember flashes of their previous lives and then they can start to act in secret against the Evil Queen. Its clear now that Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold still remembers, and hopefully he will start to do more to enact the salvation that he set in motion. Next week, Emma convinces Mary Blanchard to visit John Doe (Prince Charming) in hospital, while flashbacks will reveal the lovers first meeting.