Once Upon a Time - Episode 1.01 - Pilot - Review
Oct 22, 2011
Once Upon A Time Reviews
SpoilerTV's own Kyle wrote a very eloquent and favorable review of Once Upon a Time earlier today, so I apologize that I'm posting another — but my review is not exactly favorable. And it pins Grimm versus Once Upon a Time, in a sense. Unfortunately for me I'm not as eloquent, but if you're interested in my thoughts about the Once Upon a Time pilot, please read my review here!
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ABC and NBC both, this fall, premiered 1960s-set series about (supposedly) female empowerment that road on the coattails of iconic American brands. One, NBC's The Playboy Club, has already been cancelled and the other, ABC's Pan Am, is close. Unfortunately, both shows forgot to just have fun and have suffered, from my point of view, quite too dramatic storylines. And both networks have done it again with fairy tale-themed Grimm (NBC) and Once Upon a Time (ABC). Both even have delayed premiere dates, getting their start in the same week (actually, it was supposed to even be the same weekend before NBC pushed the date back further).
But don't be fooled: Grimm and Once Upon a Time are not the same show nor are they somewhat similar in tone or style (at least not as much as The Playboy Club and Pan Am are). For one, Grimm focuses its story much more on fable folklore, something I was going to note in my review of the show since NBC was really pushing the fairy tale aspect, while Once Upon a Time aims for the traditional fairy tale feel.[*] And where Grimm was absolutely exposition-less, Once Upon a Time's pilot is nothing but exposition. A lot of stuff happens, but you'll realize once the credits rolled that: wait, nope, nothing happened. …
Read the rest of my review here!
A lot of stuff happens, but you’ll realize once the credits rolled that: wait, nope, nothing happened.
ReplyDeleteLOL!
I'll try those two tv show only cause i can catch them on ctv.ca when ever so i dont have to watch live, otherwise it looks like a waist of time (cause im at school..)
Why no Giancarlo Esposito in that picture?
ReplyDeleteAgreed on all counts, but I would go one step further on one point...
ReplyDeleteDespite Once Upon a Time taking itself seriously, at times it just doesn't take itself seriously enough. Well, not seriously enough to make the "real world" very realistic. While that can be forgiven for Storybrooke (which is frozen in time and kind of the alternate reality to Fairy Tale Land), but before they even get to Storybrooke it is a test of my suspension of disbelief.
I quite liked the acting honestly... other than the Evil Queen/ Regina Mills being over the top (in a bad way) in both worlds. The production values were pretty good, better than I expected and the VFX were decent. I only had one small nit to pick with them.
That small nit being the Evil Queen walking through the crowd. They did a fairly cool effect where she moved past the crowd faster than she was walking... almost like she was sliding along. My issue was that they only showed that effect from the side perspective and when they showed her walking from above she was walking as usual. If she was moving faster than it appeared it should look the same from every angle.
One thing you did not mention (or maybe catch?) was the town clock being stuck at 8:15... the same flight number of the LOST castaways and of course this is from 2 LOST writers. A nice little Easter Egg for LOSTies.
If I recall correctly he is a late cast addition so maybe this was taken (or Photoshopped) before he was added to the cast?
ReplyDeleteThough in a sense "he" is in the photo.... Esposito will be playing the Magic Mirror in the fantasy world! XD
Believe me I noticed that fast-paced walking thing, but I saw it as a terrible glitch more than a cool effect. I didn't mention the effects because they were good but I didn't think they were too much on either side of the spectrum to mention. Like Ringer's terrible graphics! xD
ReplyDeleteAll i can say is that NBC and ABC better wake up before they can't smell the roses! Of course everyone will have to make up their own mind,but you wrote a good review!!
ReplyDeleteHa!
ReplyDeleteYeah they were good, but not great.... Agreed.
Acceptable to me for a TV series at least. Always a good thing.
There is another nod to LOST - the evil queen lives in the house numbered 108 !
ReplyDeleteAh Yer right!
ReplyDeleteI saw that yesterday when I watched the first half, but forgot about it today as I was writing this....
I love the little Bad Robot/Lost creative team's little nods to the fans on all the various series.
Thanks for the review! I have seen the pilot and quite enjoyed it once I got used to some of the more farfetched kitchy things
ReplyDeleteNot sure what to think about it after watching the pilot. There were some scenes that simply ade me laugh because they were just ridiculous (like Geppetto and his "boy" being able to make this cabinet). Many of the reasons provided for the characters' actions weren't comprehensible at all and some of the conversations were quite stupid.
ReplyDeleteNevertheless I found myself to be quite entertained. I don't know if I'll keep watching (although I'll try another 2 or 3 episodes for sure), but it has potential. Especially for people who are into this kind of stuff.
Exactly how I felt.
ReplyDeleteIt was cute and charming much of the time and completely nonsensical at others. Have to see who that balance plays out in the next couple episodes.
That's what I mean. I'm fine at laughing at the show but I feel like it doesn't want me to and that makes me find it even more farfetched for whatever reason. I think it needs to be a bit more… I don't know, something, but I'm not holding my breath. It will stay quite serious, methinks.
ReplyDelete