OUAT in Wonderland S1 E1

Once Upon a Time in Wonderland

Season 1, Episode 1

Title: Down the Rabbit Hole

Cast:

Sophie Lowe: Alice

Peter Gadiot: Cyrus

Michael Socha: The Knave of Hearts

Emma Rigby: The Red Queen

Naveen Andrews: Jafar

John Lithgow (voice): The White Rabbit

            So this isn’t your typical Alice in Wonderland telling. This time they think Alice is crazy and are ready to perform a lobotomy on her until the Knave of Hearts shows up. Alice thinks that her fiancée, a genie named Cyrus, was killed by the Red Queen. So Alice gives up all hope and returns home to England and is sent to a sanitarium by her father. There she is worn down until she tells the doctors what they want to hear.

            The White Rabbit hunts down the Knave of Hearts in present day Storybrooke (connecting the two shows as the Knave appears in front of Granny’s restaurant with Ashely (Cinderella) and Leroy (Grumpy) telling him that there was storm coming and to find shelter) and badgering the Knave until he agrees to help him free Alice.

            The Knave shows up just as Alice is about ready to go for her lobotomy. What gets her attention is that he says Cyrus is alive!

            This was different than Once Upon a Time, more fanciful, but I’ll wait a few more episodes before I pass judgment. I have to say that the addition to Jafar from Aladdin was unexpected and interesting at the same time.

            I can’t wait to see what the next episode brings.

OUAT S3 E1

Once Upon a Time

Season 3, Episode 1

Title: Heart of the Truest Believer

CAST:

Ginnfer Goodwin: Snow White/Mary Margaret Blanchard

Jennifer Morrison: Emma Swan

Lana Parilla: The Evil Queen/Regina Mills

Josh Dallas: Prince Charming/David Nolan

Colin O'Donoghue: Killian Jones aka Captain Hook

Sarah Bolger: Aurora aka Sleeping Beauty

Jaime Chung: Mulan

Jared Gilmore: Henry Mills

Robert Carlise: Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold

Julian Morris: Prince Phillip

Michael Raymond-James: Baelfire/Neal Cassidy

            What can I say about the first episode of the new season of OUAT? It was amazing! You get see them attacked by mermaids and the Lost Boys. You get to see Peter Pan and Neverland.

            There was a ton of action and just simply pain from the characters. Especially Emma who still feels hurt by what her parents did to her; sending her through the wardrobe to protect her from the curse.

            You also see Neal aka Baelfire very much ALIVE and back in the Enchanted Forest with Aurora, Prince Phillip, and Mulan. Neal trying to explain what movies are to Mulan was kind of funny but not as funny as the trio’s reaction to Neal being the Dark One’s son.

            We find out that Pan is a not very nice boy and lies to Henry upon first meeting, something that Henry doesn’t like. He knows that his family is coming for him, but I have a feeling that Pan will try to make Henry not believe that.

            Mr. Gold aka Rumplestilskin leaves Hook, Emma, Snow White, Charming, and The Evil Queen on the Jolly Roger to find Henry. He feels that he can find Henry faster. Apparently he’s been to Neverland and knows how Pan can be. It seems that even the Dark One is a little afraid of Peter Pan.

            You may be wondering what happens to Greg and Tamara? Pan kills Greg (as far as we know) by ripping his shadow away. Tamara is shot by one of the Lost Boys’ arrows, but is healed by Gold. She begs forgiveness, but he rips her heart out and crushes it in true dramatic fashion.

            I’ve been so excited all summer about this premiere and it didn’t disappoint. From the Jolly Roger arriving in Neverland to Henry flying using pixie dust was great. The green screen isn’t any better, but what can you do? It’s not about the cinematics of a show, in my opinion, but about how well it captivates you.

            Heart of the Truest Believer had me on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t wait to see if Emma and the rest made it through on the Jolly Roger. I admit I knew what was coming, there would be no show without these core characters; however, there’s always that chance that something can go wrong. It’s a TV show and the creators are the same people behind LOST. You never can tell.

            I was on pins and needles waiting to see who was going to play Peter Pan and find out why he wanted Henry. For his heart, naturally, it all seems to come down to the heart of the matter. I will be tuning in for the rest of the season, no matter what. If this first episode is any indicator, we’re in for a great ride!