ONCE UPON A TIME Improves But Remains "Unforgiven"

Article originally published as ONCE UPON A TIME Review Season 4 Episode 14 Unforgiven on Seat42F.

ABC’s ONCE UPON A TIME shows us who is “Unforgiven” in this week’s episode. Mary Margaret (Ginnifer Goodwin) and David (Josh Dallas) try to prevent the resurrection of Maleficent (Kristin Bauer van Straten), knowing she has legitimate beef against them. The problem is, they want to keep the reasons for the feud a secret, and so have to resort to sneaking around to do so, making them vulnerable for manipulation and prone to failure, which is what happens.

I credit Once Upon A Time for seemingly crafting a story that is at least a little meaty for Mary Margaret and David. They are heroes, and as such, rarely do anything bad, minimizing the drama in their lives. “Unforgiven” talks a lot about the bad thing they supposedly did, which doesn’t seem all that believable, until we learn they did it to protect Emma (Jennifer Morrison). Emma is their precious daughter, a person that could have been a force for great good or great darkness. It’s understandable they may be willing to sacrifice of themselves for her, as many a parent does, taken to the extreme.

The problem is, I still don’t see why they can’t tell Emma their story. She has come to expect nothing less than the truth from them, and that’s what she deserves. If she is going to be a hero, she needs good examples set for her from other heroes, including tales where they screwed up and how they got past it. Besides, if Mary Margaret and David did something bad to save her soul, wouldn’t it stay saved no matter what they tell her now? Is the secret they keep so precarious?

Once Upon A Time refrains from giving viewers everything, still not showing what the couple did, only mentioning that whatever it was caused Maleficent to lose her own baby. This is why Maleficent is mad at them and wants to cause them immense pain, not kill them. I’m intrigued by the mystery, one that seems to stretch the definition of hero and villain, and wonder where the season will go.

“Unforgiven” reveals that Maleficent could perhaps have been a hero once. She tries to team up with Mary Margaret to save the realm and protect her child. This is a noble, selfless act, and she certainly seems ready to bond with her foe in order to do so. Regina (Lana Parrilla) isn’t an anomaly then, the villain who might turn good, and it makes the world even less black and white. What’s more, Maleficent makes this decision in the Enchanted Forest, not our world, where things were more clear cut.

So how will Maleficent make the Charmings pay? I have no idea. She obviously is the leader of the three female witches this season, and so is likely a force to be reckoned with. Whatever she has in mind will not be easy to stop.

And what of Rumple (Robert Carlyle)? His plan still has not come to fruition, and if it was just to get back to Belle (Emilie de Ravin) to talk her into taking him back, that hope is dashed when he sees her with Will Scarlet (Michael Socha). That’s a story that needs more explanation, given we don’t know what’s happened to Will’s love, but I assume that will be dealt with. So what will Rumple be asking the evil ladies to help him with?

At the end of “Unforgiven,” Mary Margaret asks Regina to go undercover with the witches. This makes sense, given Regina is the only one they might accept into her club, assuming they don’t believe she can truly go good. But it risks Regina’s soul, which is still in a precarious position. She is working very hard towards her happy ending and is mostly succeeding, but she snaps at Pinocchio (Jakob Davies). Even as she apologizes to Marco (Tony Amendola) later, who offers her a hint in her quest for The Author in forgiveness, the snap shows just how close to the surface Regina’s dark side continues to be. Yet, should she be able to pull this off, it would definitely go far in solidifying her redemption.

“Unforgiven” is a pretty good episode, with some satisfying relationship moments between Emma and Hook (Colin O’Donoghue), a number of intriguing plot points in the main arcs, and none of the obvious holes that sometimes plague the series. I’m still not sold on ONCE UPON A TIME’s Queens of Darkness half season, but at least they’re not blowing things right out of the gate.

ONCE UPON A TIME airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

CONTINUUM Leaves Us Hanging "Second Time"

Article first published as CONTINUUM Leaves Us Hanging "Second Time" on TheTVKing.

The Canadian import Continuum, which U.S. viewers get to watch on SyFy, recently brought its second season to a close with "Second Time." It's an episode of big reveals, major developments, heartbreak, and cliffhangers. Thankfully, the show has been picked up for a third year, or it would be a really bad place to stop.

Right off the bat, we learn something new in the future scene at the beginning: Kiera's husband Greg (John Reardon) is involved in old Alec's (William B. Davis) plot to send Liber8 back in time. This is huge! It means Kiera's family isn't just wondering what happened to her. Why did Greg go along with this, and what has he done since to get Kiera back? This is now a plot I want to see.

I understand why Kiera (Rachel Nichols) doesn't suspect Greg is involved in sending her back, though, even though the panic in his face is what tips her off about the time travel device. She turns and sees Kagame (Tony Amendola) pull something from his pocket, and may think Greg has only witnessed the same thing. As such, this new reveal adds to the story, but does still fit in the continuity.

In the past, we recently see Kiera go selfish, abandoning Emily (Magda Apanowicz), who dies, while chasing her chance to get home. Up til now, Kiera is the hero of Continuum, and she makes sacrifices to save others. In a moment of weakness, and it really is just a moment, Kiera puts herself first and tragedy strikes. It's depressing because one cannot really blame Kiera for her actions, and yet we are shown there is a cost of not acting the hero.

Actually, one person may blame Kiera, and that's Alec (Erik Knudsen). It's hard to pinpoint Alec's shifting loyalties in "Second Time," as he seems to be manipulating multiple players in the game. In the end, though, he gets what he ultimately wants, which is the chance to go back in time and save his love, Emily, even though that leaves Kiera abandoned in the present. Alec is not an unselfish hero.

Many stories take their protagonists to a dark place during the journey, a time when they will make the wrong choice and do the wrong thing. Kiera and Alec both go through this at the end of season two, which is OK, because there will be a third season in which they can redeem themselves. Ultimately, they must live up to the unrealistically high standards fans of this type of drama expect them to be, but they can stumble along the way. Which is why "Second Time" doesn't feel like an ending.

That being said, I do hope Alec saves Emily. I absolutely adore Apanowicz in everything I've seen her in, and her passing is predictable and sad. If Alec can reverse this, Continuum will have a chance to bring her back and do something special with the actress, using her as she deserves to be used, rather than wasted in a small arc.

The thing that may end up saving Alec and put him back on the right path, besides Emily, is his family. We now know that Jason (Ian Tracey) is Alec's son, sent back by old Alec, though present-day Alec doesn't know this, believing Jason to be his father. Jason kind of hangs back, observing, but should step in when the time arises to fix things.

I am undecided about Escher (Hugh Dillon), who claims to be Alec's father. We have seen no proof of this, and it's not clear whether Alec believes Escher or just uses Escher to get back in time. As such, Escher remains a wild card, one that cannot be figured out yet.

Kiera's family may be in the future, but she has somebody in this time that cares about her, too, and that's Carlos (Victor Webster). Carlos gives up his life and his career to help Kiera, and then has to go on the run. This exposes a depth to Carlos's feelings about Kiera that was not obvious before. Might Carlos be a real love interest if Kiera decides she is never getting home? Or if she learns of Greg's hand in what befell her?

Carlos is on the run now, and instead of going to Kiera, whom he thinks is going home, he hides out at Julian's (Richard Harmon) house. This is brilliant, with no one ever suspecting Carlos would reach out to the person who has caused him so much trouble professionally. And Julian gets the chance to prove he isn't evil and stands by his peaceful posture by turning the other cheek. This is a really interesting twist, one that should have cool ramifications for both roles.

When season three begins, the most immediate issue will be for Kiera, Jason, and the other time travelers to escape. They are captured and locked up by the freelancers, taken to a secret prison. No one knows where they are, and unless Alec returns, no one may even know they are missing.

This gives all of the people from the future a commonality, which could be beneficial. Kiera has battled with Travis (Roger Cross), who has no love for Kellog (Stephen Lobo). Now, all three (if Travis is alive), along with the other members of Liber8 and Jason, may have to work together, or may just find time to bond in captivity. This could absolutely change the dynamics of the show.

And what of Dillon (Brian Markinson)? He appears to be one of the good guys for so long, but "Second Time" shows him using a new play book. Is he connected to some sinister people? Is he being manipulated? I don't know, but he's on the wrong side of the conflict for now, and looks to be in a position to cause some serious trouble.

Continuum is exactly the type of science fiction show I love. It has an intriguing premise, wonderful characters, fantastic actors, and plot developments that are hard to see coming. It isn't afraid to switch up the rules, or completely change a character's trajectory. There are also multiple time lines and time periods, which makes the story more complex, and thus more rich. Plus, it takes time for awesome fight scenes, such as the one between Kiera and Travis. It has become a must-watch program.

"Second Time" is a pivotal, exciting installment. I look forward to Continuum's return in 2014.

CONTINUUM Doesn't Need "Second Chances"

Article first published as CONTINUUM Season 2 Premiere Review on Seat42F.

Grade: 92%

SyFy’s Candian import CONTINUUM returns tonight for a second season. The premiere, “Second Chances,” picks up a little bit after the first season ended, with several of the primary characters still dealing with what the finale revealed. But a new assassination quickly forces the good guys to pull together, and a new mission is found.

The character development in CONTINUUM is top notch. Each of these people have their own defined motivations, and sometimes that means they work together, and others times they are at odds. Even when one of them cares about someone else, such as Kiera (Rachel Nichols) feeling a kinship with Carlos (Victor Webster), Kiera may still do something Carlos wouldn’t want when the situation arises.

Now that might seem like a “duh!” move for a story to go in, but it’s found far less than one might expect on television today. The best shows know who their personalities are, and construct situations that test these people in interesting ways, putting them in context where they have to choose between realistic, imperfect options. CONTINUUM does this, raising it above many of its peers, leaving a seed of doubt that a person, in the correct situation, might not do right by another at the end of the day.

In “Second Chances,” Kiera is wrapped up in her grief about not going home, and thinking that being a vigilante is the right way to help the world, unfettered by regulation. Alec (Erik Knudsen) also splits off, isolating himself as he tries to deal with the message his future self (William B. Davis) sends him in Kiera’s programming. But both are pushed back into the team when Carlos and Dillon (Brian Markinson) need them, although their actions are not completely altruistic.

I really like the dynamic between Kiera and Kellog (Stephen Lobo). While Kellog certainly has less-than-noble tendencies, he does work more for Kiera than against her. Her falling into bed with him is as much about her loneliness and the connection she feels to him, since they’re both trapped in the past, as it is about Kellog himself. Their relationship is complicated, and while they might eventually make a go at serious romance, once Kiera accepts that she won’t see her husband, Greg (John Reardon), again, that won’t be happening anytime soon.

Of course, you just know that the episode Kiera actually commits to Kellog will be the same installment in which she is reunited with Greg.

At first, I thought CONTINUUM would be a typical crime procedural, with a few science fiction trappings. But season one proved that the series can do much better, weaving a complex tale of terrorists and police, fantastical science, and complicated story, with plots stretching from 2077 back to today. What appears to be a run-of-the-mill law breaker could actually be something much more, and he or she usually is, since this show doesn’t waste its time with stories that don’t have larger implications.

“Second Chances” picks up this sort of thread and runs with it when the Mayor is killed during a press conference. Who is behind it? Liber8? Mobsters? Jim Martin (Tahmoh Penikett), the mayor’s political rival? By the end of the hour, we know, but there is also very clearly more to it than just learning the shooter’s identity.

Liber8 is reeling after the loss of its leader. Sonya (Lexa Doig) thinks she should be in charge, but that’s not readily accepted by the others, as one might predict. If Kagame (Tony Amendola) really did name her his successor, why didn’t he tell the others and smooth the transition? Is Sonya lying? What are her plans for the group?

And there’s still Travis (Roger Cross), who cannot be counted out. I will not reveal exactly what happens with him because it would be too spoilery, but Travis has some major twists in this first hour back.

The biggest unknown factor currently in CONTINUUM remains Agent Gardner (Nicholas Lea). When last we see him, he gets a little of Kiera’s secret, though does not have the ability to understand what he is seeing yet. In this episode, he brilliantly maneuvers a couple of characters together, then just sits back and watches. Someone this cunning and intelligent could prove a real thorn in Kiera’s side, and there’s no telling what he will do when he eventually realizes what he dealing with, which he surely will.

What is most interesting in “Second Chances,” though, is Alec’s message to himself. We know he orchestrates the terrorists and Kiera’s trip to 2012, and we know he is involved in Liber8′s activities. What we don’t know is why, or how to reconcile this man who is Kiera’s friend in both time periods doing something to her that seems so cruel. This premiere doesn’t clear up those things exactly, but it does start down a path of explanation, one that will eventually lay out the entire premise of CONTINUUM.

In all, “Second Chances” is a fantastic return for CONTINUUM, deepening the mythology, and letting the actors really dig into some emotional heft in their characters. It should be a very satisfying sophomore season.

CONTINUUM airs Fridays at 10 p.m. ET on SyFy.

Once Upon a Time Elicits Heroic Traits

Article first published as ONCE UPON A TIME Recap Season 2 Episode 18 Selfless, Brave and True on Seat42F.

Grade: 92%

ABC’s ONCE UPON A TIME tells a story of redemption, as we learn that August (Eion Bailey) has what it takes to be “Selfless, Brave, and True.” He didn’t always, by the way. We see in flashback how he behaves in Asia, which leads to his return to wood form. But, in the end, he finds the hero inside of himself, and is rewarded for it.

While ONCE UPON A TIME has not tackled the Pinocchio story directly in its fairy tale world sequences, “Selfless, Brave, and True” is very much the same plot. We have a flawed man who seeks comfort and pleasure and the easy way out. He is willing to steal to help himself, even if others are hurt in the process. But when it really counts, when lives are on the line, he manages to sum up the courage to do the right thing.

Pinocchio learns this lesson once, when he was a boy. Now, as an adult, he must learn it all over again. When we first meet August in season one, he is already turning back into wood, thankfully a slow process. “Selfless, Brave, and True” shows us why, taking us to the fall of 2011 in the real world. And now, August must learn the same thing all over again.

This time, the stakes are much higher. Tamara (Sonequa Martin-Green) is on the hunt for magic. She is obviously willing to murder innocents to get it, as she does with The Dragon (Tzi Ma, 24, Rush Hour). She is now manipulating Neal (Michael Raymond-James) to gain access to Storybrooke, the place where magic exists. Since August is the only one that knows this, he decides to give up the chance at becoming a real person again with a potion she has in order to stay and warn the town. For his trouble, Tamara kills him.

It’s upsetting to see August die, even after the Blue Fairy (Keegan Connor Tracy) restores him to the little boy he once was (Jakob Davies). Yes, the adult August has been corrupted, and becoming the boy Pinocchio again gives him a second chance. But he also loses who he is, the good with the bad, and his memories, which means he doesn’t get to tell anyone about Tamara. It’s a moving scene, seeing Marco (Tony Amendola) hold his boy in his arms. But it’s as much about loss as it is about rebirth.

We don’t know much about Tamara yet, other than that she is evil. But the existence of her character opens up a whole world of possibilities that haven’t been explored on the show before. Greg knows about magic because of his Storybrooke experience. Tamara somehow learns of it another way. And The Dragon either came from the fairy tale realm or also found out about it at some point. So magic has been connected to the real world long before Regina’s (Lana Parrilla) curse.

I do wonder if Greg will turn out to be a bad guy. He has legitimate beef against Regina, to be sure, even if she claims she let his father go a few days after young Owen left the town. This is probably a lie, but we don’t know for sure. However, thus far we haven’t seen anything to indicate that Greg knows of Tamara’s intentions. Did he make a deal with her, and is willing to be bad and help her steal magic in order to find his dad? Or is he so concentrated on his mission that he didn’t check the terms or the source of his help, and his values aren’t aligned with Tamara’s? After all, Greg has been in town for awhile, and surely has seen that not everyone there deserves punishment.

Mary Margaret (Ginnifer Goodwin) punishes herself enough, and doesn’t need it from any outside sources. She finally does get out of bed in “Selfless, Brave, and True,” and encounters August in the forest. August believes he has done unforgiveable things, and Mary Margaret does her best to convince him that that is not so, and he should return to his father.

Seeing August is just what Mary Margaret needs. She is too close to the situation involving herself to be objective, but she has no problem letting August off the hook for his own sins. In the process, she realizes that she is in a similar situation, and can also seek redemption for what she has done. August helps Mary Margaret out of her funk, and she will now begin to put her life back together.

These parallel plots are well designed, especially because they are the culmination of a lot of story. Mary Margaret and August’s similar circumstances don’t come about all of the sudden in this single episode, but have long been built to, and now intertwine beautifully. The ONCE UPON A TIME writers are brilliant masterminds at making connections and having arcs fit together. This episode is a wonderful example of some of their best work in that arena.

I am still baffled by the chemistry among the Charming family. Henry (Jared Gilmore) seems to have adjusted to seeing Emma (Jennifer Morrison) as his mother and Mary Margaret and David (Josh Dallas) as his grandparents. But Emma is clearly uncomfortable around her own parents, and hasn’t figured out how to treat them yet, likely hindered by the fact that they appear to be roughly her own age. The way that Emma treats Mary Margaret in this episode, annoyed at her being in bed, in stark contrast to David’s nurturing approach, shows she hasn’t accepted them as family yet, at least not in the way they view family. I wonder if this will ever sort itself out, or if it will always feel awkward.

Lastly, it’s a little sad that August won’t have a chance with Emma. I feel like there is some real chemistry between the characters, and given their back story, coming over to the real world together, it’s sweet. But this does clear an obstacle towards getting Emma and Neal back together, which could happen next season, after he gets over the betrayal of Tamara.

ONCE UPON A TIME will be taking a few weeks off of fresh installments, but will air “enhanced” versions of recent episodes instead. It continues Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Continuum - "A Stitch in Time"

Grade: 84%

The first episode of the Canadian series CONTINUUM, titled “A Stitch in Time,” airs this Monday at 8 p.m. ET on the SyFy series. Beginning in the year 2077, CONTINUUM presents a bleak view of the future. Everything might seem glossy and technologically advanced, but democracy has given way to corporate control. A terrorist group known as Liber8 decide that they must do something about the lack of individual freedom, and so blow up government buildings, killing tens of thousands of civilians in the process.

As “A Stitch in Time” begins from a terrorist’s perspective, in the form of Edouard Kagame (Tony Amendola, Once Upon a Time, The Mask of Zorro), it immediately sets us wondering if we should be sympathizing with the cause. After all, in the modern world we celebrate democracy, and many hate big business, especially after the economic recession of the past few years. Maybe Liber8 has a point.

But then again, after seeing the destruction Liber8 causes, it’s hard to feel anything for them. Anyone who would callously murder so many innocents cannot be a hero; it goes against the grain of what a hero stands for. Unless they think these deaths don’t matter, since they are working to prevent this time from ever happening, but thinking that way will just give one a headache. So, instead, we root for the cop who represents the government, Kiera Cameron (Rachel Nichols, Star Trek, Alias).

The beginning of CONTINUUM is amazing. Besides the situation itself, which is not only intriguing, but also something we can relate to, exaggerating a battle that has already begun in our time, the visuals are outstanding. Everything about 2077 is cool, from the buildings, to Kiera’s built-in technology. It’s an impressive look at a futuristic world.

Then, on the day the Liber8 terrorists are to be executed, they manage to set off a bomb that takes the eight of them, plus Kiera, to the year 2012. Why does the show do this? Sure, it’s probably much cheaper to set a television program in the current era, and yet, after such a stupendous opening, the rest of the hour feels like a let down, wishing fervently we could go back to the future.

Kiera also has that wish, because she has a young son. She is not well adjusted to 2012, her mannerisms stiff, and her behavior awkward. Her instincts remain intact, as does the equipment in her body and clothing, so she is still able to do some of her duties. Thus, the protagonists mission becomes two fold: stop the bad guys from destroying her world, and to get home to her family.

Quickly, “A Stitch in Time” moves into police drama territory. Kiera takes up with the local cops, in particular, a man named Carlos (Victor Webset, Castle, Mutant X). It seems a bit reckless, knowing that these police officers aren’t prepared to take on the criminals of the future, but Kiera has to turn for help somewhere. And so, the set up seems to be that Kiera and Carlos will try to track down the terrorists from 2077 and stop them, a pedestrian premise, not nearly as interesting as what is happening in the beginning.

The wild card in CONTINUUM is Alec Sadler (Erik Knudsen, Jericho, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World). Played by William B. Davis (The X Files) in the future, Sadler is a young kid in 2012 who is just developing the technology that Kiera uses in her everyday work. The frequency in her suit connects the two of them, and he provides a thru line, with “A Stitch in Time” showing viewers how he ends up in the future.

What role will Sadler play? He provides Kiera with some time travel theory, which explains his lack of surprise when Kiera and the others leave 2077. But that doesn’t tell us whether they ever get home or not. It merely sets up that he remembers meeting her in the past, and knows something about what is going on. Is that why Kiera isn’t all that happy to talk to him, or act odd in discussing how he ends up? She is upset that Alec didn’t warn her, or save her from this fate?

How much does the future Sadler know, and because he does seem to have knowledge is these past events, does that mean the terrorists will fail in their plots, leading to the same world introduced in the opening? As viewers, we know that Sadler becomes a corporate giant, another clue that the series writers may be pro-capitalism and anti-democracy. We also know Sadler won’t be killed, but other than that, his role remains a mystery.

Overall, I am intrigued by the mystery and the set up, but really, really wish that at least some of the show’s action would be set in 2077. With that brilliant tease, nothing in 2012 will seem nearly as enticing by comparison. If the show will return to that time, or maybe even jump to a mid-point, giving us some of the setup, but also moving towards that better tech, it could be much better than what it appears to be on its face.

Want to read some of my fiction? It's on my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Also, for the latest updates and article links, as well as commentary on episodes I don't fully review, please follow me on Twitter!

Article first posted on Seat42F

Once Upon a Time there was a "Pilot"

     ABC's Once Upon a Time is a fairytale come to life. As "Pilot" begins, Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin, Big Love, Ed) and Prince Charming's (Josh Dallas, Thor) wedding is interrupted by the Evil Queen (Lana Parrilla, Swingtown, Miami Medical), who promises to curse the land and ruin everyone's happy endings. Rumplestiltskin (Robert Carlyle, SGU Stargate Universe) tells the couple that their unborn daughter will be the savior, on her twenty-eighth birthday. Months later, Snow White gives birth to the girl, Emma, who is spirited away in Geppetto's (Tony Amendola, Stargate SG-1) wardrobe, just before the Evil Queen's curse sweeps through the land.

     In the real world, bail bondsman Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison, House, How I Met Your Mother) is turning twenty-eight when she is approached by a ten year old boy named Henry Mills (Jared Gilmore, Mad Men). Henry tells her that she is his biological mother. And also that fairy tales are real and trapped in Storybrooke, Maine, and only Emma can save them. She reluctantly accompanies him home, much to the displeasure of his mother (also Parilla). Still, while Emma doesn't believe Henry's tales, there is enough of a draw for her to rent a room at Granny's (Beverly Elliott, Harper's Island, 2012) and commit to staying for a week.

     How much of Once Upon a Time is real, and how much is imagined? Obviously, the fairytale premise must be believed in order to enjoy and understand the series. The fact that half of the "Pilot" is set in the fairytale land indicates that, at least in the show's universe, this actually happens. They are not just crazy delusions, which is what Emma thinks when Henry tells her about everything. She especially thinks Henry is delusional after meeting Henry's shrink, Archie Hopper (Raphael Sbarge, Dexter, Prison Break), whom Henry claims is really Jiminy Cricket (also Sbarge). It's easy to see why Emma might think Henry is crazy, but it's only a matter of time before she begins to come around.

     The concept of Storybrooke being frozen in time, the fairy tale characters not aging, is pretty cool. Except... what about the kids? Henry has lived in Storybrooke for the last ten years, as Regina's son. He looks like a ten year old, not an infant, so he has aged. So do, presumably, Ms. Blanchard's (also Goodwin) other students. Even if only the fairy tale characters are frozen, surely the kids and their parents notice that Ms. Blanchard looks the same as she did twenty-eight years ago? This is the sole stumbling block obvious in the "Pilot" of Once Upon a Time. Hopefully, it will be addressed.

     Well, that, and the incredible weirdness that will ensue when Emma realizes she is Blanchard / Snow White's daughter, even though they look about the same age.

     At the end of the episode, Storybooke's clock, frozen at 8:15, moves to 8:16. What does this signify? How late does the clock have to go before order can be restored, and magic can return to its own realm? Midnight would make the most sense, but this will be a delicate balancing act, depending on how many years the series might go on. After all, Emma should not be the savior until the battle is won. Can this concept be stretched for six seasons without a victory, and without fans growing tired of it?

     The show looks wonderful. The special effects are realistic enough, and there are a million tiny touches to lend authenticity. Details, such as Regina offering Emma a cup of apple cider, the bowl of apples in her home, or Ms. Blanchard getting a pear instead of an apple from a pupil. remind the audience of the characters' alter egos. The town of Storybrooke itself, partly from building design and costumes, exudes an otherworldliness that could pass in our reality, but is slightly off, making for an uneasy balance bound to be upset.

     The actors are all fantastic. Morrison gets to bring her cynical performance to a character that must undergo major change, giving her the actress's dream of showcasing a broad range over several seasons, should Once Upon a Time be favored by television viewers. Goodwin is also good, despite the unfortunate haircut she sports in the "real" world. Her chemistry with Dallas looks and feels like a fairy tale in both versions, aided by the great looking setting and production value. Gilmore is that rare child actor that has personality, and can handle a challenge. Thus, he should not drag down the series, but rather improve it with his presence.

     The performers tasked with the evil side of the coin are even better, especially because at least one of them surely knows the truth about what is happening. Parrilla plays the perfect bad guy, able to smile sweetly, while her gaze drips with poison. Jamie Dornan's (Marie Antoinette) Sheriff Graham is more guarded, with viewers left to wonder about his motivations and origin. He has not yet been shown in the fairy tale world. But Carlyle gets the plumb position, running the town in a greedy manner as Mr. Gold, but once offered help to Snow and the Prince in the fantasy realm. What are his goals? What does he want? His character may have offered aide to save his own skin as his world crashes around him, but he's doing well enough in this new life. Will he have a change of heart?

     If the "Pilot" is any indication, Once Upon a Time should be a rich adventure, full of dreams come to life and delightful fancy. Watch it Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

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Article first published as TV Review: Once Upon a Time - "Pilot" on Blogcritics.