Once Upon a Time (ABC TV Series)

[Disney's Divinity]

Agreed on both points, Sotiris. And if we are considering books like Alice in Wonderland and the Oz series "fairy tales," then we might as well throw Harry Potter into that group.

[ajmrowland]

Anyway, I liked the twist at the end with what you'd normally think was a flashback but is actually a flash-forward. True, it's quite a "Lost" thing and not done so intricately, but it works.

I think it's similar to Lost in more ways than one. Lost's second season also featured a second group of 'survivors' that were previously unknown to other characters (and the viewers).

Of course there are a lot of fundamental similarities to Lost. I've been making such comparisons since I first started watching.

Anyway... who do you guys think Dr. Whale could actually be? Big Bad Wolf? Or (going on a limb here just because of a pun) Monstro?

One theory is that he might be Dr. Frankenstein, and that's supported by that "commercial" for the online dating site, where one of his personality traits is "loves 'making' friends", but it doesnt really tie in with his surname the way others have. His first name I think I heard somewhere in the show is "Victor"

Agreed on both points, Sotiris. And if we are considering books like Alice in Wonderland and the Oz series "fairy tales," then we might as well throw Harry Potter into that group.

I still argue that cuz the "real world" in harry potter still plays an important role, whereas with Alice and Oz, it's simply a starting point.

[Atlantica]

Apparently the seasons ratings were up there with the season première last year, which is excellent news!

I am facing inner turmoil over whether to watch it online, or wait until March next year ....

What do you guys think ?!

[Mooky]

I think Mulan is fair game because she's not a historical person but a legend similar to, let's say, the Arthurian legend. Both legends seem to have some vague historical origins but historical existence is debated and disputed by historians.

I'd have more of a problem if they'd feature Pocahontas who undisputedly is a real person rather than Mulan or other characters of myth, legend and folklore. In case you didn't know, Lancelot will also be making an appearance, so I suppose characters from legends will be included. I just hope they stop at that though and don't include any historical figures.

I get that. Trouble is, the line between history and legend is often blurred and grows thinner by the day, especially with the tendency to romanticize and revise everything from the Crusades to World War II. Pocahontas and Anastasia are just two recent examples of that. And regardless of the origin and historical authenticity, I actually take issue with all Mulan, Pocahontas, Arthurian legends, and mythological characters being featured on the show. I really see no point to that, other than -- like I said -- giving Disney fans something to look forward to. I can accept stories like Pinocchio and Alice in Wonderland featured on the show, but even that is pushing it and it shows that the creators have no basic understanding of the fairytale concept and haven't really given much thought to the premise of the show other than trying to shoehorn every popular children's literature character in it.

It reminds me of what happened to Charmed. It started off as a relatively dark show that featured white and dark magic conventions such as witches, warlocks, ghosts and demons. Around season two or three it had already started to venture into lighter territory with the introduction of fairies, goblins, and genies. By the end, the show became a joke of its former self: it was virtually unrecognizable (and unwatchable) from back when it started and often featured nymphs, leprechauns, mermaids, muses, dwarfs, vampires, and it all culminated with another Harry Potter rip-off, the Magic School, because hey, it's all magic.

One theory is that he might be Dr. Frankenstein, and that's supported by that "commercial" for the online dating site, where one of his personality traits is "loves 'making' friends", but it doesnt really tie in with his surname the way others have. His first name I think I heard somewhere in the show is "Victor"

Hmmm… Him being named Victor would definitely tie him to the Frankenstein theory, but I don't like it at all.

I am facing inner turmoil over whether to watch it online, or wait until March next year ....

What do you guys think ?!

March is too long a wait; watch it online.

[Disney's Divinity]

@Mooky: The town is called "Storybrooke," not Fairy Tale Town, so your aspersions that the creators don't know the concept of their own show is a little off here.

One theory is that he might be Dr. Frankenstein, and that's supported by that "commercial" for the online dating site, where one of his personality traits is "loves 'making' friends", but it doesnt really tie in with his surname the way others have. His first name I think I heard somewhere in the show is "Victor".

I didn't know his name was Victor--which would fit. But some people on another forum that "Whale" was the name of the guy who made the first Frankenstein film. Don't know if that's true or not.

[Mooky]

@Mooky: The town is called "Storybrooke," not Fairy Tale Town, so your aspersions that the creators don't know the concept of their own show is a little off here.

That means nothing, really. The name of the town is meant to invoke sense of familiarity and idyllic community, sort of like Pleasantville, while also serving as a pun and a 'wink-wink, nudge-nudge' to the viewers. It also has an added bonus of sounding like a name of a real place. If it was named something like "Fairy Tale Town" it would be a great disservice to characters' (and viewers') intelligence, and maybe it wouldn't take an entire season for the lead character to figure some obvious things out. Either way, the show itself is named after the standard, traditional introductory phrase to a fairytale and it clearly signals the foundation the creators planned to build the show on... but they apparently have a hard time differentiating between fairytales, fantasy novels, legends, and morality tales.

[Disney's Divinity]

Somehow I think they know the difference between a legend and a fairy tale… They just don’t care. If Dr. Whale’s any indication, they obviously planned to include these different sources from the very beginning, and I for one don’t mind.

[Mooky]

Somehow I think they know the difference between a legend and a fairy tale… They just don’t care. If Dr. Whale’s any indication, they obviously planned to include these different sources from the very beginning, and I for one don’t mind.

Well, I guess that's probably true too. I'd still like if it had a more clear focus.

On a related note:

[Atlantica]

Now THAT is awesome!

.........and since when did Captain Hook get so sexy ?!

[ajmrowland]

@Mooky: The town is called "Storybrooke," not Fairy Tale Town, so your aspersions that the creators don't know the concept of their own show is a little off here.

One theory is that he might be Dr. Frankenstein, and that's supported by that "commercial" for the online dating site, where one of his personality traits is "loves 'making' friends", but it doesnt really tie in with his surname the way others have. His first name I think I heard somewhere in the show is "Victor".

I didn't know his name was Victor--which would fit. But some people on another forum that "Whale" was the name of the guy who made the first Frankenstein film. Don't know if that's true or not.

I might`ve been wrong about the name; maybe me or somebody else was thinking of Frankenweenie, but I stand by what it said in the `dating` video`


On the subject of Fairytales vs. legends, including Fantasy Novels that themselves can be Fairytales, when you boil them down to the basics, there`s slim-no difference between the two genres. Both are romantized fantastic stories that feature good and evil. Fairytales are moral stories, and legends have taken the image of `stories of epic deeds`but the line in such stories between myth and reality is forever blurred, and we are far enough removed to tolerate something like Mulan in a series like this, imho.

[tsom]

Ooohh, nice! But they left out Prince Thomas/Prince Charming

Btw, the premiere was just okay. The real world scenes were better than the fairy tale scenes. Glad to see the guy who played Prince Phillip getting work. I know him from Pretty Little Liars. Did anyone else laugh when Henry called David "grandpa"?

[ajmrowland]

Alright, so now that we're a couple more episodes in, what're the thoughts of Qhorra reappearing?


The third episode was rather nice.

[Kraken Guard]

Alright, so now that we're a couple more episodes in, what're the thoughts of Qhorra reappearing?

Kraken Guard Reactions: "Oh no!!"

[Disney's Divinity]

I’m quite excited about Cora’s return, and surprised that Lancelot was a façade (although I guessed something was wrong when he showed up at the end). I’m sure she’ll return to the real world, and it’ll be fun to see everyone having to deal with Regina’s mother. Possible sympathy for Regina incoming? (I personally don’t find Regina to be redeemable, but I do think she deserves some sympathy)

This episode was so-so, but I’m glad they brought up Charming’s mother again. I thought they were just going to leave that hanging thread out there, even though the King had threatened to kill her early in the 1st season (I finished re-watching the first season last week.)

Possible spoilers: I believe Cora is the miller‘s daughter from the Rumpelstiltskin tale, and that Charming‘s (adoptive) father was the King from that story who she married. It also seems likely that she’s the Queen of Hearts. I think most of you probably thought that already, but I didn't want to spoil it for anyone who isn't able to watch season 2 right now.

[xxhplinkxx]

since when did Captain Hook get so sexy ?!

He can hook the shit out of me any day.

[AladdinFan]

If you pre-order the 2nd season Blu-ray on Amazon.com you get a $15.00 off coupon. When it gets release next year it's going to be less than $30.00

[disneyboy20022]

If you saw the promo for next week, it reveals I think who Dr. Whale really is.

[DC Fan]

since when did Captain Hook get so sexy ?!

He can hook the shit out of me any day.

My guess is that they want to give the female audience a male Regina counterpart.

I thought this take on the character was very nice and creative.

I´m a man...and after seeing him I started to believe we should wear makeup.

...if you look at the actor without it, you wouldn´t think the same way.

[xxhplinkxx]

He can hook the shit out of me any day.

My guess is that they want to give the female audience a male Regina counterpart.

Who said anything about females? I'm a man, too

[DC Fan]

Ok... both genres.



Reminded me of a joke from Two and Half Men when Charlie goes to the pyschiatrist and mentions a story about the Malibu Firefighters and she says that she has patients that masturbate chronically to their calendars...both sexes.