Once Upon A Time

EXACTLY.

show don't tell.

This isn't exactly high literature we're watching, though.

pffft.

Why shouldn't we hold our shows up to higher standards than they've previously attained?

I take it you mean this series has already shown itself capable of better continuity?

I yell at it.

WHY CAN'T THEY HEAR ME

Look, Dane Cook. You could mean measuring OUAT up to other tv shows, you could mean your own preferences, you could mean anything.

Lost has (shown itself to have better continuity). If this show doesn't want to invite comparisons, it probably shouldn't include the exact same style, hype, all those shout-outs and the exact same credits style. Or all those references to storytelling if it can't pull off good storytelling.

If something going to get meta and depend on intertextuality, then it's got to know it's going to breed comparisons to at the very least its source texts.

Pluuus, two of its writers cast are Jane Espenson and Andrew Chambliss, writers who both cut their teeth on Buffy, Dollhouse and other genre shows that have shown clever writing and attention to continuity. Espenson in particular is considered a genre heavyweight, having worked on Buffy, Angel, Dollhouse, Firefly, Tru Calling's decent episodes, Caprica, BSG, Warehouse 13 and Game Of Thrones.

edited 8th Jan '12 5:01:21 PM by Nicknacks

Just saw the latest episode. Actually surprised me, it was a really decent episode. Out of all the characters in the show Rumples always intrigued me the most and it was really interesting to see his backstory unfold. I particularly liked how he wasn't always a conniving trickster rather a desperate father, which adds a new layer of depth to his character. The Batman Gambit was a bit annoying in the episode too, but I think it payed off in the end.

Overall: A

edited 11th Jan '12 12:41:15 AM by Mattonymy

Add's a whole new meaning to his Catchphrase, right?

So. I watched it.

It's...not...bad?

I like the feminist undertones, and they don't try too hard to make it so, so that's nice.

But other than that it's...boring...ish.

I can enjoy it when I pretend it's really expensive fanfiction, but most of the characters are a bit bland, this is not lost, all the little boys look like they're played by the same actor, and they are constantly forgetting to utilize what makes this show interesting to watch, the connection of fairy tale creatures to real life. The Gepetto thing is what I'm talking about. I want more of that!

As much as I love the show, am I the only one who notices the pilot has some elements of Early-Installment Weirdness? I don't know, it and the episode about Snow White and Prince Charming's backstory seemed to imply the fairytale world was more...idyllic, as long as you weren't a villain. But every episode since has given me the impression that it was one big Crapsack World constantly ravaged by wars and reckless use of magic that makes the curse seem like a genuine improvement.

I noticed that as well.

Watched the recent episode (I had it recorded and just got around to it) it was really good this week! Man, the actress that plays Regina is so good, I'm in awe of how much of a bitch her character is. And Rumpelstiltskin/Mr. Gold's actor is also amazing. I found his backstory really interesting. Agreed the Batman Gambit was a bit much, though. I think Mr. Golds also knows about what's going on with the Fairytale world thing, not just Regina.

The fact that the recruiters were Equal Opportunity Evil made me happy.

I have to disagree with this... We're seeing the fairytale world from the view of the focus character in each of their flashbacks... Only three characters show "bad" versions of the fairytale world, in my eyes... And those characters were either working for villains(Jiminy*

And yes, the world looked really bad during Rumpelstiltskin's flashback(What with the Troll wars, and the like)... And though we don't know how much time has passed between that point and Jiminy meeting him... I would guess that's it's a fair amount of time. Even so, it seems to me that the fairytale world has gotten better since that point(likely because Rumpelstiltskin kept his word to his son in that he'd use the power to make the world a better place)...

edited 11th Jan '12 5:07:21 PM by Swish

Cinderella's as well, since the magic her story revolves around is Faustian in this version. Heck, assuming Rumpelstiltskin isn't lying (which, if I recall, he hasn't actually done thus far), then she was potentially screwed either way.

Then there's Prince Charming himself, who was forced to abandon his old life otherwise the king would have his farm burned down and his mother executed. Frankly, none of Fairyland's rulers seemed to be all that benevolent until Snow White and Prince Charming came into power.

I think that they might not have realized how dark they were intending on making the story come pilot time, even if the general idea was there, so I think it's a mixture of both.

I mean, you can't have lost style flashbacks without tragic pasts.

edited 11th Jan '12 5:26:54 PM by MrAHR

Someone made a good point on the WMG page. After the latest episode, it makes a lot more sense that Rumple was so subdued with "Shepherd" and his mother (and IMO was comparably less of a Jackass Genie toward him). Rumple could sympathize given his past relationship with his son.

I believe the stuff about the fairy tale world not being as idyllic as it initially appeared is very intentional; the idea being to first show it as perfect, and then peel back the layer, showing what it's really like underneath the disney-sheen.

Whereas the real world is the opposite; things start out looking all cynical and bleak and then we start seeing the sappy core underneath it all. (Though not too much sap, mind you. The curse is still stopping their true fairy tale nature from winning out, after all.)

Plus you know, the original fairytales actually were pretty dark.

edited 12th Jan '12 1:56:22 AM by ZheToralf

The only thing I'm worried about in this show is it getting Lost. If You Know What I Mean.

edited 12th Jan '12 11:51:49 AM by NoirGrimoir

Meh. It's trying to be Lost, but the characters are not as engaging, since they don't have to stand by themselves.

So far it doesn't seem as convoluted as Lost and it's steadily giving us all the information bit by bit so I have hope that it won't fall apart.

I love all the characters in this show, actually, especially their RL counterparts. I think the actress for Snow White is an adorable lady, maybe that's weird. The only character I'm not sure about is the kid, he's kind of annoying. I think it's the actor.

edited 12th Jan '12 11:57:16 AM by NoirGrimoir

The kid confuses me. How did he get there? Why does he know? Who is the father?

Stop asking relevant questions!