'Once Upon A Time' premiere episode review

Once Upon A Time, ABC’s latest show recycling tales told to children since time began, made its debut on Sunday October 23. The show premiered with a splashy opening chock full of computer generated effects, a mix of seasoned veteran performers and new faces, a flashback/forward format intended to transport an audience into parallel worlds of imagination and the by now standard sharp editing meant to keep one’s attention span from drifting for even a nano second.

Once Upon A Time’s opening introduced audiences to actress Jennifer Morrison, known for her appearances on House and How I Met Your Mother, as Emma Swan, a “friendless orphan” who earns a wage as a bonds-woman. In the premiere episode, Emma Swan is introduced with flair when she shows up for an Internet arranged date, visually attractive, a relief to her date, who then discovers that Emma knows more about him than is comfortable. That he is indeed a swindler, a married man, who is trying to skip bail. His efforts fail, foiled by Emma Swan. Work finished, Emma Swan returns to an empty apartment to celebrate her 28th birthday alone, and yes the lone cupcake with a single candle is a bit much.

A much too cute boy named Henry Mills, played by veteran child actor Jared Gilmore breaks into her building, rings her doorbell, and then begins speaking in enigmatic riddles, leading Emma Swan off on an adventure that will run as long as the series runs. Once Upon A Time is set in the modern World of a fictitious Storybrook, Maine and Fairy Tale World. Too obviously filmed in and around Vancouver, British Columbia further enhanced by computer generated effects, Once Upon A Time has the glossy feel of a modern film with very little atmosphere transporting audiences to a magical place. Horror & Fantasy fans well versed with Stephen King’s Maine, will find Once Upon A Time’s Storybrook, Maine lacking in many ways.

There is no lack of talent among the cast, though, as viewers were treated to a truly evil ‘Queen’ played by Lana Parilla who has the duel role of Storybrook’s Mayor Regina. In truth, Lana Parilla has a triple role, she is also Henry Mill’s ‘nasty’ stepmother but where she truly shines is in the Fairy Tale World segments where she struts with gusto and chews scenery with chill precision. One hopes that the actress and the writers refrain from softening her steel spine and abrasive mannerisms.

Central to the tale is the role of Snow White and teacher Mary Margaret Blanchard, portrayed with alluring mystery by Ginnifer Goodwin, perhaps best known from her role as Margene Heffmen on Big Love. Once Upon A Time gives Goodwin a chance to truly shine and in the opening episode shine she did.

A variety of lesser characters were on display, a dashing Prince Charming, Josh Dallas, a snarling Rumpelstiltskin, Robert Carlyle, who also embodies the mysterious Mr Gold, and the always delightful Beverley Elliott as Granny.

Once Upon A Time owes its creation to two writers with the show LOST on their resume, Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis. Its opening episode was certainly intriguing, well made, certainly captivating, but it will take several episodes before it truly hooks an audience.