If last night was any indication, Once Upon A Time is going to be a show that might stick around for awhile, at least if ratings are concerned. And, as far as storytelling, I personally won’t be disappointed to have the show stay around awhile; its by far the most entertaining American show this fall. We’ve even turned it into a family affair at my house.
I mentioned last week that Once Upon A Time seemed more suited for flashing back and forth between two stories, and it turns out I was right. The added depth to the character of the evil queen made her all the more menacing in the real world, and Rumpelstiltskin/Mr. Gold only increases in creepiness. And the show hasn’t lost its Disney roots: Maleficent makes an appearance from Sleeping Beauty fame. Emma shines in this episode and Henry is probably the cutest kid on television I’ve ever seen. I might also try cinnamon on my hot chocolate just to feel like I’m part of the family.
While I do want the show to continue for another season, more and more I’ve come to realize how important it is that this show actually ends. For all the talk of a happy ending, I hope that the writers have a plan and stick to it, especially if ratings continue to be good (there’s always a temptation to let things go on a bit too long). There’s probably an endless amount of television stories that could be written, but fairy tales need the “and they all lived happily ever after.”