open/close all folders
General
The Bible
- Snow White’s cursed identity bears the name ‘Mary Margaret,’ “Mary” being a common Biblical name for woman, two of the more famous figures being the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene. Also, Our Lady of the Snows, who's named Mary.
- Prince Charming’s name is David, referring to the shepherd turned king, much like the character here was a shepherd but is now royalty.
- Since Disney owns ABC, certain shout outs to Disney films appear such as names of the seven dwarfs here share the same names of their animated movie counterparts.
- Fictional game ‘Space Paranoids’ created by Kevin Flynn is shown.
- Numbers ‘4,’ ‘8,’ ‘15,’ ‘16,’ ‘23’ and ‘42’ that frequently appear in the show are recurring numbers in LOST that corresponds with one of the final candidates to replace Jacob as protector of the Island as well as forming the coefficients in an equation that predicted mankind’s extinction.
- Like how fictional Apollo Candy Bars made numerous appearances throughout LOST, these bars appear through this show as well.
- Fictional band Geronimo Jackson occasionally appears in the background (such as on a sticker on Emma's car).
Other
- Characters from certain fairytales appear.
- The name Mary Margaret is similar to the two German noblewomen who are said to be the possible basis for the "Snow White" tale: Margaretha von Waldeck and Maria Sophia Margaretha Catharina von Erthal.
Season 1
Pilot
The Bible- The priest at Snow White and Prince Charming’s wedding is dressed in robes similar to the robes worn by Christian Deacons.
- Mary Margaret Blanchard, who originally was supposed to be a nun, appears wearing a cross in a necklace.
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- When Emma wakes up in the jail cell, the song Grumpy’s Storybrooke counterpart Leroy whistles is “Whistle While You Work” when he sees her.
- Much like her counterpart, Snow White is placed in a glass coffin mourned by the dwarfs and is awakened by Prince Charming’s kiss.
- Snow White attracts a blue bird that flies into her hands. Mary Margaret sets free a blue bird from her hands into its nest house.
- Sheriff Graham’s full name is ‘Graham Humbert,’ the surname being the Huntsman’s name in the animated canon.
- Pinocchio
- Pinocchio plays with a wooden whale, a nod to Monstro.
- Archie is heard whistling the song “Give a Little Whistle” as he walks away from Emma and Henry.
- The candle that Emma puts on her birthday cupcake is star shaped. She then makes a wish before blowing it out, referring to the “When You Wish upon a Star” song.
- Peter Pan
- As Emma’s car passes into town, a lawn pinwheel of Tinker Bell spins in the wind.
- 8:15 is also the time that Peter Pan and the Darling children change the time to after landing on the minute hand of one face of the Clock Tower.
- 101 Dalmatians
- The name of Archie’s Dalmatian is ‘Pongo.’
- There’s a Minnie Mouse plush in Emma’s baby room at the castle.
- There’s a Geronimo Jackson sticker on Emma’s car.
- Henry gets off the bus at Gate 4.
- Emma checks into Room 4 at the inn.
- Regina and Henry live at house number 108.
- When Emma arrives, town clock is stuck at 8:15, referencing Oceanic Flight 815.
- There’s a close-up of Emma’s eye after she wakes up from the car crash.
Other
- A Red Riding Hood plushie doll sits on the nursery shelf.
- Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz were inspired by the song “The Song Remains the Same” to create this episode’s opening.
- During the chase between Emma and Ryan, “Howlin’ For You” plays in the background.
- Some of the books on the top left shelf of Regina’s study are Mother Teresa, Spy by Ted Bell, A Game of Secrets by Thomas Wiseman, A Rule of Proxy by Bruce Ducker and Freedom by Jonathan Franzen.
- Snow White and Prince Charming use a powerful magical wardrobe to transport their baby from their magical world into the real world.
- A long lost child a parent had suddenly rings their doorbell, and introduces themselves as their son/daughter? Sounds like a gender flipped version of The Game Plan.
The Thing You Love Most
Disney- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- The poisoned apples and the fact Henry refused to let Emma eat one out of fear.
- The Black Cauldron
- The gnome the Evil Queen turned into stone has similar characteristics and behavior to the Horned King’s lackey, Creeper.
Other
- Cat Stevens’ song “Don’t Be Shy” is playing at the beginning of this episode.
Snow Falls
Other- A group of trolls inhabiting a bridge comes from Three Billy Goats Gruff.
- The song playing during Mary Margaret’s date is “Red River Valley” by Lloyd Green.
- In order to meet up with Emma at the diner, Henry's cover excuse to his mother is playing Whac-A-Mole at the arcade.
- Dr. Frankenstein's name, Dr. Whale, is a reference to James Whale, the director of Frankenstein (1931).
The Price of Gold
Disney Lost- Emma is stated to have lived in Tallahassee, as in ‘The Man From Tallahassee’ episode.
Other
- The wolf hanging in Ruby's car is an allusion to Little Red Riding Hood and the fact that Ruby is a werewolf.
- Just like Cinderella, Henry loses his shoe on the stairs toward the end of the episode.
- Henry is seen reading The Incredible Hulk.
That Still Small Voice
Disney- Pinocchio
- Martin and Myrna have costumes resembling Honest John and Gideon.
- The candy bar Archie takes from Henry’s backpack is the Apollo brand.
The Shephard
The Bible- To King David:
1) Prince James duels a man known as the ‘Behemoth,’ a creature from the Bible.
2) Like King David, Prince Charming was a former shepherd.
3) Prince Charming’s mother shares the same name of King David’s grandmother: “Ruth.”
4) Prince Charming’s betrothed to Princess Abigail, the name of King David’s third wife.
5) His cursed Storybrooke identity is named ‘David Nolan.’
- When zoomed up close, the back of the dish Mary Margaret is washing has a Disney logo.
- When Emma offers Mary Margaret a drink, she grabs a bottle of MacCutheeon.
- The Nolan’s address is 444, one of the LOST numbers repeated thrice.
Other
- Prince James and his twin brother Prince Charming are based on characters Prince Edward VI and Tom Canty respectively.
- King George, who makes his debut here, is even based on King Henry VIII from the novel.
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
Lost- The Evil Queen's vault where she keeps the Huntsman's heart has nine columns and twelve rows, which, by adding the LOST numbers (4, 8, 15, 16, 23 and 42) equals 108 total boxes.
- Sheriff Graham wakes up in the middle of the night because of a dream, which is actually a memory. He says to Regina, "It didn't feel like a dream. It felt like a memory," similar wording to what Desmond tells Penny, "It wasn't a dream, Pen. It was a memory."
Other
- The episode's title references the 1940 novel of the same name by Carson McCullers.
Desperate Souls
Disney- During Emma’s confrontation with Mr. Gold in his shop, a large Mickey Mouse figurine rests in a case on the bottom left of the screen and a small Minnie Mouse figurine is also on the table, to the right of Mr. Gold.
Other
- The names that the duke’s knight Hordor called Rumplestiltskin in the forest are some of the names the miller's daughter guesses in Rumpelstiltskin.
- Morraine, Baelfire and the Dark One are inspirations from Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time series.
- The Dark One’s name being ‘Zoso’ refers to a nickname for Led Zeppelin guitarist and songwriter Jimmy Page, who was represented on their fourth unnamed album by a symbol resembling letters ‘ZoSo.’note
- Song “Kool Thing” plays while Mary Margaret walks in on Emma '“fixing” a toaster.
True North
Lost- Ava and Nicholas Zimmer hide a stolen Apollo candy bar in Henry’s bag, to which he is accused of theft.
- August Booth’s license plate features 23.
Other
- A rack full of Marvel Comics, such as Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk, are shown in the opening scene.
- Other comic books seen on the convenience store rack include various issues of Dazzler, Ka-Zar, Power Pack and West Coast Avengers.
7:15 A.M.
Disney- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- When Snow White meets Grumpy in the prison cell, Grumpy hums “Heigh Ho.”
- Mary Margaret grabs an Apollo bar off the store shelf when she bumps into Kathryn buying the pregnancy test.
- One of LOST creators Damon Lendilof provides the voice of the Storybrooke meteorologist.
Other
- David’s comment “The apes haven’t taken over. Yet” refers to Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
- At the Pharmacy, Regina is holding the Fantastic Four #263 - R and R comic issue.
- Mary Margaret is seen reading Jules Verne’s The Mysterious Island.
- Doc says the line, "Now we are seven" as a possible reference to Seven Samurai and The Magnificent Seven, but he says it in a different context to either Heihachi or Chris; In Seven Samurai Heihachi says the line mockingly as Kikuchiyo calls out the farmers for not responding to the samurai fast enough; in The Magnificent Seven, Chris says the line in the same situation, only he genuinely welcomes Chico into their group. Doc says the line because they were once eight before Stealthy is killed in the rescue mission, after not taking Snow White's helpful advice.
Fruit of the Poisonous Tree
Lost- Emma crashes her police cruiser into a street sign where the roads are numbered 4 and 23.
Other
- Genie’s line "In my time I have granted a thousand and one wishes and I have seen them end poorly a thousand and one times..." refers to One Thousand and One Nights.
Skin Deep
Disney- Beauty and the Beast
- When Belle drops the teacup and picks it ups, she says there’s a chip in it, referencing Chip, the boy transformed into a teacup.
- There’s a candelabra with three candlesticks and a clock in Rumplestiltskin's castle resembling Lumière and Cogsworth.
- Fantasia
- In the castle, there’s a hat resembling that of what Master Yen Sid wears in The Sorcerer’s Apprentice scene.
Other
- When the Evil Queen tells Rumpelstiltskin about Belle, in the background is a golden scythe just like the one used in season seven of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
- When Regina enters the mental ward, she meets a Nurse Ratched look-a-like.note
- At the end of the episode, the mopping janitor bears a striking resemblance to Chief Bromden.
- The book David is reading in the diner is Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy.
- The song playing while Mary Margaret, Ashley and Ruby hang out at the bar is "1989" by Tape the Radio.
- On the pharmacy's counter is an ad for the Canadian lottery Classic Black with their common advertising phrase "300,000 prizes of $50 or more."
- On the side of Moe French's van reads "Game of Thorns" likely referencing HBO series Game of Thrones which Once Upon a Time writer/producer Jane Espenson also has a writing credit on.
What Happened to Frederick
Disney- TRON
- Henry is seen playing Space Paranoids.
- Emma alludes to Keven Flynn by quoting his advice "It's all in the wrists" to Henry while he’s playing the game.
- Henry also has a TRON lunchbox.
Dreamy
The Bible- The Storybrooke counterparts of fairies are revealed to be nuns, where they seem to be similar to Roman Catholic Religious Sisters, which is evident by them doing community service, being referred to as "Sister" and also having a Mother Superior who is in charge of them.
- Astrid's statement, "Someone once told me, 'You can do anything, as long as you can dream it,'" is a paraphrase of a quote by Walt Disney:"If you can dream it, you can do it."
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- Both Grumpy and Leroy whistle “Heigh-Ho.”
- Sister Astrid gives Leroy a pie to thank him for selling candles to help the convent, similar to how Snow White baked Grumpy a pie.
- Astrid tells Leroy the nuns only sold 42 candles last year.
- Leroy refers to everyone as ‘sister,’ similar to how Desmond calls everyone ‘brother.’
- Storybrooke’s zip code is 04815, a combination of 4, 8 and 15.
Red-Handed
Disney- Make Mine Music
- Peter is a hunter pursuing a wolf in the middle of winter, a reference to the Peter and the Wolf segment.
- "The Three Little Pigs"
- When Peter first visits Red Riding Hood at her cabin at the episode’s beginning, he begins to say “Let me in or I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow the...”
Other
- Snow White's friendship with Red Riding Hood is most likely a reference to the tale Snow-White and Rose-Red.
- Granny's line "For another thing, Liza, you dress like a Drag Queen during Fleet Week" specifically refers to drag queen actress Liza Minnelli.
- Ruby counters back with "And you dress like Norman Bates when he dresses like Norman Bates' mother!"
- Does Red Riding Hood turning out to be the big bad wolf sounds familiar? There’s even a character named "Peter".
- When Ruby walks into the diner to get lunch for Emma, the song "Settling In" by Sharon Jones & The Dap-King is playing.
Heart of Darkness
Disney- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- Snow White hums “With a Smile and a Song” while reaching for the bluebird just before she tries to clobber it with a broom.
- Snow White wears a similar looking red bow hairband as her Disney character adaptation.
- Bambi
- A small Bambi statue is in Mary Margaret’s apartment.
Other
- The episode's title refers to either Joseph Conrad’s novella or a video game of the same name.
Hat Trick
Disney- Alice in Wonderland
- The doll in the marketplace Grace wants is a white rabbit wearing a waistcoat.
- Mary Margaret hits Jefferson over the head with a croquet mallet.
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- The Evil Queen disguises herself as a hag to lure in Jefferson's daughter, Grace.
Other
- At Grace's tea party, the 'Turtle' she talks to, the one that looks more like a bear with a shell than a turtle, is reference to the Mock Turtle from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
- The name ‘Jefferson’ eludes to Jefferson Airplane who recorded a song titled “White Rabbit.”
- Also, Jefferson’s daughter Grace alludes to lead singer Grace Slick.
- When Jefferson and Regina enter Wonderland, the Caterpillar turns to them and slowly asks, "Who... are... you?”. One of The Who's most famous songs is called “Who Are You?”; lead singer Roger Daltrey voices the Caterpillar.
- When Jefferson takes Regina through the hat they end up in a room filled with doors into different worlds. One door, close to the Looking Glass, is emerald green with two golden door handles. The handles are each a golden "O" with a smaller golden "Z" in the center, signifying that this door leads into Oz, from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.note
The Return
Disney- Among the relics in Gold’s pawnshop cabinet is a Mickey Mouse doll.
Other
- The wooden donkey Mr. Gold finds in August’s room refers to the donkeys from The Adventures of Pinocchio.
- The Blue Fairy gives Baelfire a magic bean.
- The song playing during Mary Margaret's homecoming party is "Origins" by Tennis.
The Stranger
Disney- Pinocchio
- Pinocchio escapes the orphanage with a boy who bears a resemblance to Lampwick, the boy who enticed Pinocchio to escape with him in the film.
- Sleeping Beauty
- August as a child meeting infant Emma for the first time parallels seven year old Prince Phillip meeting the infant Princess Aurora.
- After stepping out of a tree in the forest, Pinocchio is startled by an airplane and as he looks at it flying overhead, there’s an Oceanic Airlines logo.
Other
- On Henry’s bed is an edition of Avengers vs. X-Men.
- Speaking to August about his plans, Emma refers to it as a “Magical Mystery Tour,” ghe name of a song by The Beatles.
An Apple Red as Blood
Other- The card Regina leaves on Paige’s bike is contains a picture of the White Rabbit.
A Land Without Magic
Disney- Sleeping Beauty
- Emma throws the sword at the dragon’s heart in the same fashion as Prince Phillip.
- Clock stops at 8:15.
- An Apollo bar is seen when Emma empties Henry’s backpack.
Other
- An edition of Avengers vs. X-Men is in Henry’s backpack.
- Regina calling Mr. Gold a “twisted little imp” refers to the original Rumpelstiltskin.
Season 2
Broken
Lost- As Neal Cassidy holds his iPod while struggling to close the apartment window, the back of the iPod’s case is shown to be a Geronimo Jackson logo.
Other
- The song playing on the iPod is "Charley's Girl."
- When first introducing Ogres to Emma, Emma first confuses their story with giants ("Fee Fi Fo Fum"). Snow then responds with "Ogres are worse".
- The New York City apartment has a framed Aesthetic Apparatus poster containing the image of a red hand, which was created for the Communication Arts Magazine 2008 May/June issue.
- Next to the sign "Cleaners & Hatters" on the wall, an Aesthetic Apparatus Bike Ride poster is hanging.
- Besides the shelf next to the door, there is a black skateboard with the words "NOMEANSNO" from punk rock band Nomeansno's The Day Everything Became Isolated and Destroyed album logo.
- The album photo by the window with the words "13 Songs" peeking from the corner is John Guliak's 7 Stories & 13 Songs.
- Neal enters a building across the street from actual Italian pasta supplier Piedmont Ravoli Co. Inc., located on 162 Mulberry Street, while the frontal retail store is on 190 Grand Street in New York.
We Are Both
Disney- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- Near the episode's end, the dwarfs take their pick axes and walk down to the mines, singing “Heigh-Ho”.
- Leroy even quips lyric “It’s off to work we go” from above mentioned song.
- Near the episode's end, the dwarfs take their pick axes and walk down to the mines, singing “Heigh-Ho”.
- Dopey wears a Geronimo Jackson shirt.
Other
- On the notice board where Marco posts his drawing, several other posters for missing persons are visible:
“PIERRE ABELARD” refers to real life medieval philosopher whose love affair with the scholar Héloïse d'Argenteuil became a legendary story of tragic lovers doomed to be apart.
A sign beginning with “Dearest Cressida,” being a character that appears in many medieval and renaissance retelling of the Trojan War.
"Desperately Looking For Peasblossom" refers to a fairy.
“Pyramis and Thisbe come home” not only refers to a play-within-a-play in A Midsummer Night's Dream but is the inspiration of Romeo and Juliet.
And on the notice board opposite Marco’s drawing is the name “TITANIA,” Peasblossom’s master and the Queen of Fairies.
It’s also the name of former queen of Fairyworld in The Fairly OddParents!: Shadow Showdown. - After Regina takes back her mother’s old spell book from Mr. Gold, he warns her against the potential effects of the book to which she responds with “I don’t care if they turn me green,” a possible reference to Oz the Great and Powerful.
- In his speech, David uses the line "Live in a shoe if you want," a reference to There Was an Old Woman Who Lived In a Shoe nursery rhyme.
- The name of Regina’s horse is “Rocinante.”
Lady of the Lake
The Bible- Sir Lancelot is nicknamed “The Leviathan,” a biblical creature.
- Mulan
- Mulan telling Emma and Mary Margaret “you might survive” is a lyric from “I’ll Make a Man Out of You.”
- The pit Emma, Mary Margaret and Cora are placed in resembles a scene in which the survivors were also caught and sent down to a pit with another person willing to help, only to later find out the person was a traitor.
Other
- Lancelot's epitaph on Charming's mother, "God in His mercy, lend her grace", is a direct quote from Lancelot's words on seeing the dead title character in Alfred, Lord Tennyson's poem The Lady of Shalott.
- When Lancelot presents chimera as a food source, Emma asks if it's like turducken; a dish consisting of de-boned chicken stuffed into de-boned duck and then stuffed into a de-boned turkey.
The Crocodile
Disney- Beauty and the Beast
- Mr. Gold gives Belle access to a library to try to regain her affections, similar to what the Beast does.
- Peter Pan
- As Rumplestiltskin prepares to kill Captain Hook in their first duel, he says, "Tick-tock dearie, Tick-tock!" an allusion to the crocodile that takes Hook's hand.
Other
- When David passes out a flyer to Ruby at the diner, one of the flyers reads as, "MISSING: Please contact Moe at Game of Thorns,” again referring to Game of Thrones.
- Ruby brings snacks to David and the dwarves in a little basket, a reference to her fairytale counterpart.
- In the library scene, Mr. Gold quotes Sir John Lubbock's famous utterance "We may sit in our library and yet be in all quarters of the earth" from his book The Pleasures of Life.
The Doctor
Disney- The Hunchback of Notre Dame
- Rumplestiltskin’s witch-in-training replacement Trish bears a resemblance to Esmeralda.
- When Regina asks Rumplestiltskin to bring Daniel back from the dead, he replies "Dead is dead," not only a line said by Benjamin Linus but also an episode title.
Other
- Several references to Frankenstein (1931) include:
- The use of lightning to bring the monster back to life.
- The Igor character.
- With the exception of selective color for the heart, the scene in the Land Without Color is shot in black-and-white.
- The famous line “It’s Alive!”
- Just like the police inspector in Son of Frankenstein, Dr. Whale’s arm is ripped out of its socket by Daniel.
- Near the episode’s start, when Jefferson gives Rumplestiltskin a crystal ball in lieu of the slippers he was sent to find, Jefferson makes a reference to The Wizard of Oz by saying the slippers had "been sent to another land" to which Rumpelstiltskin replies, "I needed the slippers to 'get' to that other land."
- Mulan makes note of the Ground Poppy Dust, sleeping powder originating from poppy seeds also present in the film mentioned above.
- When Frankenstein first appears, he’s wearing roses tinted spectacles, an allusion to the “Rose Tint My World.”
- While interrogating Hook, Emma says, "So much for fortune favoring the brave" a reference to Latin phrase "AVDENTES FORTVNA IVVAT," found in The Aeneid.
Tallahassee
Disney- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
- A woman with the last name “Swan” chains up a pirate while she escapes... are we talking about Emma or Elizabeth?
- The keychain stolen by Neal and given to Emma has a swan design very similar to the Dharma Initiative logo for The Swan station, more commonly referred to as "The Hatch."
- Character goes from Portland to another location.
- A character stays for a period of time in Phuket.
- Character flees from another character.
- Jorge Garcia plays a kind character who ends up being "in charge" of his "realm" which appears to be isolated from the rest of the "world."
- Emma Swan is shown collaborating in a theft of Apollo Candy Bars at a convenience store.
Other
- Baelfire’s Storybrooke counterpart being named “Neal Cassidy” shares a similar name to Neal Cassaday, a member of the of the 1950s Beat Generation. He was known, like the character sharing his name, to have stolen cars and for his charm along with being thr real-life model for the Dean Moriarty character.
- On the map that Neal Cassidy picks up can be seen a tavern called the "Red Lantern Inn", which could possibly be a reference to the character Red Lantern from the 1940s radio series Land Of The... Lost.
Child of the Moon
Other- According to show creators Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis, the inspiration for this episode came from The Rolling Stones, in particular the title “Child of the Moon,” which came from the B-Side to their single Jumping Jack Flash, and the design for Anita’s den.
Into the Deep
Other- During Mr. Gold and Belle’s date at the diner, “I Want to Tell You” by The Brymers plays in the background.
The Cricket Game
Disney- Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
- The scene of Captain Hook standing at the top of his mast as his ship approaches the bay, and then coming down with a rope (as well as the camera angle) makes it almost a dead ringer for Jack Sparrow’s famous entrance where he stood on top of his mast as his ship approaches the bay, then comes down with a rope.
- The Evil Queen's line "Don't tell me what we can or cannot do!" is a spin on the mantra often repeated by Locke.
Other
- The song featured in one of the episodes promos known as “Timeless Love” is “Timeless” by The Airborne Toxic Event.
The Outsider
Disney- Mulan
- Mulan tells Belle to only fight for what's worth fighting for, which is a reference to the song "A Girl Worth Fighting For.”
Other
- Emma says “You plotting your escape from Shawshank, kid?
In the Name of the Brother
Other- Victor Frankenstein's father is named Alphonse, like in the original Frankenstein novel.
- Leroy mentions E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Splash as examples of how extraordinary things discovered in the real world are likely to be "studied to death."
- Character name Greg Mendell is similar to that of Gregor Mendel, who is known as the father of modern genetics.
- Greg’s cellphone ringtone is the theme from Star Wars.
- Hospital room "R2-42," in the alphabet, four corresponds to the letter "D," as in "R2-D2."
Tiny
The Bible- David fighting against a giant is similar to the story of David and Goliath.
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- Leroy and the other dwarves whistle the “Heigh-Ho” melody when they begin to farm.
- The Little Mermaid (1989)
- Anton's desire to see what the humans look like, and his brother's mannerisms by being concerned and warning him about the humans and what they would do if they discovered their world is akin to Ariel and her experiences in the film. Additionally, all the giants have names beginning with “A.”
- The airline Emma, Henry and Mr. Gold travel on is Ajira Air.
- The total time of their flight is 42 minutes.
- Fictional television series ‘Exposé’ featured on LOST is advertised on the television Belle is watching in the hospital as Ruby comes in to talk to her.
Other
- Ruby delivers food to Belle in the hospital much in the same manner as Red Riding Hood carrying food to her grandmothers’ house.
- Jack mentions she acquired the magic mushroom by slaying a Jabberwock in another land.
- During the giants’ meal, Anton drops a golden harp, one of the item Jack stole.
- In the hospital, Ruby gives Belle The Mysterious Island book.
- One of the giants is named Andre.
Manhattan
Disney- The number on Neal Cassidy's apartment address box (407) reference to the 407 area code, where Disney World is located in Orlando, Florida.
Other
- Apartment number 403 is housed by “P. Lesh,” which is a reference to bass guitarist Phil Lesh.
- Another apartment is housed by ‘T. Munson’ that refers to two-time World Series-champion baseball catcher Thurman Munson of the New York Yankees.
- The poster next to the locker Henry is searching through is an alternately colored Aesthetic Apparatus artwork.
- Behind Mr. Gold is a promotional poster for studio album release party of Canadian garage rock band The Pack A.D..
The Queen Is Dead
Other- Eva's name, her pure, kind-hearted, saintly nature (though somewhat subverted by her past self seen in the next episode), her coughing blood into a handkerchief like a tuberculosis victim, and her Tear Jerker deathbed scene are all highly reminiscent of the character Eva from Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- Snow White makes a nod to Princess Leia’s line by saying “Help us, Mother Superior. You’re our only hope!”
The Miller’s Daughter
Other- When Cora invades Gold's shop, Neal takes up a sword to stand alongside Prince Charming and Emma to defend Rumplestiltskin, the mannerism in which he holds his sword screams Kingdom Hearts where he holds the blade the same way Riku, Vanitas and Master Xehanort hold their Keyblades.
Welcome to Storybrooke
Disney- TRON
- Kurt and Owen’s last name is ‘Flynn.’
- A bus bench features an advertisement for fictional corporation ENCOM.
- TRON: Legacy
- The ending of the episode: The younger Flynn is pushed into the portal going back to the safety of the "real" world, while the elder one is forced into a Heroic Sacrifice and the younger Forced to Watch while his dad is drug off to his death. Really, the whole plot of the episode reads like a TRON: Legacy alternate universe fanfic whipped up by Stephen King.
Other
- The song playing on the radio besides Kurt and Owen’s campsite is “This Must Be the Place (Native Melody.”
- One of the newspaper headlines read “Reagan: Marines Will be Staying in Beirut” referring to the bombing American and French troops in Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War in 1983.
- Not only does Owen have a Return of the Jedi sleeping bag, but he compares the red and green gimp key chain Kurt makes for him to Luke and Vader’s light sabers.
- Kurt mentions he’s from New Jersey, home of the Boss.
Selfless, Brave and True
Disney- Winnie the Pooh
- There’s a honey neon sign for a pub called “Winnie’s”
- The flashback scenes involving August meeting a woman in Phuket then leaving for Hong Kong, his tattoo on his leg, and the Dragon seeing who August really is, are allusions to episode "Stranger in a Strange Land."
Other
- August’s prized possession is a necklace that bears the image of a whale, a reference to The Adventures of Pinocchio.
- During Greg and Regina’s chat in the diner, “Got It” by Gabriela plays in the background.
- Mary Margaret listens to “Bad Reputation” while practicing archery in the woods.
Lacey
Other- As Mr. Gold walks into the Rabbit Hole, “The Day That Never Comes” plays.
- Title of the book Belle was reading is titled ‘The Rise and Fall of Galaga.’
- While Lacy is at the jukebox machine, “Love Is Alive” by Gary Wright plays.
- During Mr. Gold and Lacey's date, "Fill a Heart (Child Hunger Ends Here)" by Tori Kelly plays in the background.
The Evil Queen
Disney- The Little Mermaid
- When changing Regina back into the Queen, Rumplestiltskin says “so sad, so true,” a reference to a lyric from “Poor Unfortunate Souls.”
Second Star to the Right
Disney Lost- The time on Big Ben is 8:15.
Other
- Baelfire’s arrival in London, the appearance of Kensington Gardens and his welcome into the Darling family references Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens.
And Straight On ’Till Morning
Disney- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Hook references the song "Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me).”
Season 3
“The Heart of the Truest Believer”
Disney- Mulan
- This conversation between Mulan and Neal:Mulan: What's it like? The other world?
Neal: Well, for starters, they think that this place is just a fairytale. Like a legend, like we're all just characters in a story.
Mulan: I'm in a story?
Neal: Yeah, they made a movie about you. It's actually pretty good.
Mulan: What's a movie?
- This conversation between Mulan and Neal:
- The time of Henry’s birth is given as 8:15.
Lost Girl
Disney- Peter Pan
- Emma notes Captain Hook's appearance in the animated film as sporting a "waxed mustache and a perm."
Other
- The shot where the heroes get ready for a fight against the Lost Boys is lifted directly out of The Avengers.
- When Hook threatens Felix, he makes mention of what he did to Rufio.
Quiet a Common Fairy
Disney- The Wonderful World of Disney
- As alluded in the opening sequence, Tinker Bell and her likeness flies up and touches the show logo, causing it to erupt into fireworks.
Other
- Peter Pan references folk hero William Tell to Henry.
- Neal mentions ruby slippers creating portals.
- An item that looks suspiciously like Thor's hammer Mjölnir is in Rumple's emergency cache.
- Robin Hood's son is named Roland.
Nasty Habits
Lost- Tinker Bell holds up a watch that stopped at 8:15.
- Rumplestiltskin yelling out for Baelfire, echoing Michael's crying out for his son.
Good Form
Lost- Regina offers Devin an Apollo bar.
Other
- After Hook kisses Emma, she asks him to give her five minutes alone, to which he replies “as you wish,” where Dread Pirate Roberts Westley says the same line to Princess Buttercup, actually meaning “I love you.”
Ariel
Disney- The Little Mermaid
- While masquerading as Ursula, Regina says to Ariel, "My dear sweet child," which are the spoken words at the start of the song "Poor Unfortunate Souls" sung by Ursula.
- Regina’s line “You can be part of Eric’s world” alludes to the song “Part of Your World.”
- Snow White's ball dress has small Mickey Mouse faces on it.
Other
- Regina mentions the munchkins and the Yellow Brick Road.
Dark Hollow
Disney- The Little Mermaid
- Ariel says "Look at this stuff" in Mr. Gold's shop, which is the first sentence in the song 'Part of Your World.'
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- Leroy quips “No time for whistling, boys” elludes to the song “Whistle While You Work.”
Other
- Ariel's entry into the present day for the first time and being intrigued by what she sees while seeking out Belle parallels a similar scene in Splash.
- Mr. Gold asks Belle for her help when the sand dollar beamed a hologram image of himself.
- When Wendy lies to Henry on behalf of Pan claiming that because magic is dying so is she, and thus Pan convincing Henry that it’s up to him to save Wendy is like in The Never Ending Story, where the Empress too is dying because of lack of faith and belief in the human world, and it would take Bastion to save her.
The New Neverland
Other- The way Medusa is portrayed (having a snakelike tail, and living in an old ruin with pillars for the heroes to hide behind) is straight out of Clash of the Titans.
- Charming's joking suggestion of sending Regina the head of Medusa in a box brings to mind Percy Jackson sending the same to the gods in his first adventure.
Going Home
Lost- Emma’s apartment alarm clock rings on 8:15
Other
- The song featured in Emma's New York City apartment is "Charley's Girl.”
New York City Serenade
Other- The episode is named after a Bruce Springsteen song.
Witch Hunt
Other- Dr Whale says "I'm a doctor, not a vet!"
Snow Drifts
The Bible- Hook remarks that he and Emma are lucky they didn't fall through the time portal into the belly of a whale.
- One of the girls at the orphanage in the opening flashback is given a Mickey Mouse plushie.
Other
- Leroy says "Ding Dong!" to confirm Zelena's supposed death.
- Hook and Emma's Enchanted Forest aliases as Prince Charles and Princess Leia, respectively.
- This episode and the following allude to Back to the Future. Marty McFly is mentioned by name, as well as tropes shared by both storylines such as trying to fix an accidental Temporal Paradox.
Season 4
A Tale of Two Sisters
Disney- Frozen
- Emma talks to Regina through a door, just as Anna did to Elsa.
- Fantasia
- Mickey's sorcerer's hat can be seen inside the Sorcerer's Mansion.
White Out
Disney- Frozen
- The episode title shares the same name as the score from the Frozen soundtrack that plays during the climax.
- While Emma is trapped in the ice cavern with Elsa, she asks her how she can stand how cold it is. Elsa's response: "It never bothered me."
- When Anna meets Charming in the Enchanted Forest, the alias she gives is Joan, which references the painting of Joan of Arc in the Arendelle palace she talked to in "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?".
Other
- Leroy would like to remind everyone that Dr. Whale "is a doctor, not an electrician."
Darkness on the Edge of Town
Other- The title is named for a Bruce Springsteen album.
Best Laid Plans
- August's speech about the previous Authors:
- August: The job has gone back eons, from the man who watched shadows dance across cave walls and developed an entire philosophy, to playwrights who tell tales in poetry, to a man named Walt.
Heart of Gold
Other- During a threat to Regina, Rumple asks her "Is that your final answer?" It's scarier than it sounds.
Mother
The Bible- Lily likens Snow and Charming sending her through the portal in her eggshell to "baby Moses in his basket".
Other
- Lily compares Maleficent's dress style to Annie Hall.
Operation Mongoose
Disney- In a flashback set in December 1966, the Sorcerer's Apprentice mentions that the previous Author recently passed away, implying that the previous Author was actually Walt Disney himself.
Season 5
The Dark Swan
Disney- Beauty and the Beast
- The Blue Fairy gives Belle a rose in a jar.
- Young Emma steals an Apollo bar at the movie theater.
Other
- Percival's coat of arms is inspired by The Grateful Dead's album “Steal Your Face”.
- In the loft, Robin Hood is seen holding children's book Goodnight Moon.
- Zelena refers to Oz as "over the rainbow", referencing the famous song from The Wizard of Oz.
- Emma's alias as the Dark Swan can allude to the Swan Lake ballet.
Souls of the Departed
Disney- Hercules
- Hades can turn his hair into blue flames.
Other
- Regina says "I don't think we're in Maine anymore".
- When Henry mentions "Operation Firebird":
- Emma: You referring to the mythological bird or the muscle car
?
- Niccolò Paganini's composition "Violin Concerto No. 2 In B Minor, Op. 7, Ms 48" is playing in Hades' lair. He even mentions Paganini by name.
Devil's Due
Disney- Bambi
- This line from Cruella:Cruella: I see you're admiring my fur. Doe skin, of all things. I'm not saying it's Bambi's iconic dead mother... And I'm not saying it's not!"
- This line from Cruella:
Other
- Young Baelfire is bitten by an Atlantean Rat Snake. Could double as a reference to Atlantis: The Lost Empire.
- The inscription on the gates that Hades takes Hook through reads "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here".
- Hades is reading Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust, which is ironically about a Deal with the Devil.
The Brothers Jones
Disney- Winnie the Pooh
- A stuffed bear and tiger can be seen in Emma's Underworld house.
Our Decay
The Bible- When Hades meets Zelena:
- Zelena: Is the Devil flirting with me?
Hades: I'm not the Devil. People are always conflating us.
Other
- Dorothy's bike which Zelena and Hades ride is a reference to Miss Gulch's bicycle from The Wizard of Oz. Zelena also refers to Dorothy as "my pretty", much like the film's Wicked Witch of the West.
Season 6
A Bitter Draught
Lost- Dr. Hopper states that Bashful is his 4 o’clock appointment.
- The invitation to the party that the Count of Monte Cristo attends refers to the venue as Wilmore Estate. Lord Wilmore is one of the Count's alises in The Count of Monte Cristo.
- Henry lists "the best sequels ever" as The Empire Strikes Back, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and The Godfather Part II.
- Henry wonders if the Count could be The Invisible Man or Dracula.
- Emma jokingly refers to The Count of Monte Cristo as Errol Flynn.
- When Granny hears about the Count of Monte Cristo, the first thing that comes to her mind is the Monte Cristo sandwich.
- David uses a trashcan lid as a shield to block Edmond's attack, similar to Steve Rogers.
Dark Waters
Disney- The Nautilus greatly resembles how it appeared in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
- The Land of Untold Stories is revealed to also be The Mysterious Island.
- When Regina demands to chat to the Serum Queen:
- Serum Queen: Or what? You'll huff and you'll puff and you'll blow the house down?
- Henry once again mentions the Wookie prisoner gag.
The Song in Your Heart
Other- Emma's wedding dress is pretty much an exact replica of Grace Kelly's iconic wedding dress.
Season 7
A Taste of the Heights
Other- Regina quips "who loves Def Leppard lyrics that much?" in reference to her cursed persona Roni having Def Leppard tattoos. Later in the conversation, Zelena says "pour some sugar on me", a reference to the Def Leppard song "Pour Some Sugar On Me".
The Girl in the Tower
Other- Alice summoning a replica of Emma's Yellow Bug to save her and Robin from the hunters surrounding them brings to mind the Flying Ford Anglia that saved Harry, Ron and Fang from acromantulas.
