Once Upon a Time—My questions about the new season

After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, the moment arrived last Sunday…magic came to Storybrooke.

I scrutinized for plot and character developments, but true to the nature of creators Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, I came away with more questions than anything else. I’m accustomed to this sweet torture from being an avid Lost fan, written by these same individuals.

As the days of this week passed, I’ve been turning over more and more questions in my mind. ~Spoiler Alert for those who haven’t yet watched the first episode of season two~

Here’s my list so far:

Will Emma accept her new parents, Prince Charming and Snow White? She seemed unable to even deal with the idea, but that was kind of understandable. I wanted to see a time where she allowed herself to reflect on the news, but I must be looking too far ahead.

Why didn’t Belle seem angry with the Evil Queen for keeping her imprisoned in a psychiatric cell for twenty-eight years? True to her pure nature, as per the fairytale, she didn’t want Rumplestiltskin to kill the Evil Queen, but shouldn’t Belle seem a tiny bit upset about being locked up for almost three decades?

Why did a corner of the original magic world remain, safe but sealed off in a suspended state, after the Evil Queen set the dark curse?

What kept the people alive who were in that suspension for 28 years? The castle where the princess lay seemed to have fallen to ruin through years of weathering, but she remained unaffected.

How did Rumplestiltskin acquire the branding pendant of the rafe monster? Very curious, since it appeared stored away as though he possessed it for a while.

How many of those pendants exist since there were two shown, one in each of the parallel worlds? This makes me wonder if there are more that might show up in evil hands. 

How is magic different now that it has been introduced to Storybrooke?

How did Rumplestiltskin seem to automatically know how to use the new, different magic? That made me wonder if he was responsible for or at least guided the changes.

How was Regina able to adapt to the new style of magic so quickly when operating the magic hat portal into the fantasy world?

Why couldn’t the blue fairy use her magic again? I was struck by the incongruities of how these three characters were affected, and I’m waiting to unravel the hierarchy of new magical control.

Any thoughts on my questions? Any other interesting questions about the start of the new season that are on your mind?

~ ~ ~ Marsha A. Moore is a writer of fantasy romance. The magic of art and nature spark life into her writing. Read her ENCHANTED BOOKSTORE LEGENDS for adventurous epic fantasy romance: Book One, SEEKING A SCRIBE, and Book Two, HERITAGE AVENGED. She has also authored the Ciel's Legacy series, with fast action mermaid/pirate storylines: TEARS ON A TRANQUIL LAKE and TORTUGA TREASURE.  For a FREE ebook download, read her historic fantasy, LE CIRQUE DE MAGIE, available at Amazon and Smashwords.

Once, Season Two—Magic as We Know Always Comes With a Price

Many fantasy fans are on the edges of their seats, waiting for the start of season two of the TV series Once Upon A Time. I sure am! So much so, that I poked around for a few hints about what to expect in the coming season. I found tidbits, but even those are enough to make me even more eager for episode one, which premieres on September 30^th.

There are plenty of new cast members slated for episodes.

Julian Morris, a British actor known for his role on Pretty Little Liars, will guest-star as Prince Phillip.

Irish actor, Colin O'Donoghue will play Captain Hook, the Peter Pan villain. Best known to American audiences for a role in Showtime's The Tudors, O'Donoghue will show up for at least one season two episode. Captain Hook that will be a part of Once is said to be a character who is a violent and arrogant pirate when working but a stylish and polite gentleman the rest of the time. Sounds intriguing to me!

Last month, it was reported that True Blood’s Michael Raymond-James had joined the season's recurring cast in an unknown role, described only as "mysterious.” Fans have speculated he may portray Baelfire, Rumpelstiltskin’s long-lost son who fell into a portal from the fairytale world (and presumably to our reality).

As a Lost fan, I’m super excited with the news that former Lost star Jorge Garcia will rumble into Storybrooke as The Giant, of Jack and the Beanstalk fame. I loved his acting on Lost. Not much is known about Garcia’s role or who he’ll end up allying himself with, but it’s rumored he’ll most likely appear in a multi-episode story arc. Garcia will reunite with fellow Lost actress Emilie de Ravin (Belle) – who has been promoted to a series regular this season. It’s no surprise Garcia has been hired, since the creators of Once, Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, wrote all the Hurley-centric episodes of Lost.

 Other newcomers:

Sarah Bolger as Aurora

Jamie Chung as Mulan

Sinqua Walls as Sir Lancelot

Sebastian Stan as The Mad Hatter/Jefferson

And what will the plot be like in season two?  According to the creators, regret and redemption will be a theme for the season.

Things are going to change in the little town where time stood still due to the Evil Queen Regina’s wicked curse. In a Lost-esque nod to the black smoke monster, a wave of thick purple smoke surged through Storybrooke in the season one finale when Emma Swan finally fulfilled her destiny by shattering Regina’s evil curse. Emma’s action restored the resident’s former fairytale identities and started the ball rolling for magic to enter the town.

The first focus will be on the relationship between Emma and Snow White in an episode titled, “Broken,” and will pick up right where the season 1 finale left off—minutes after magic has been released into Storybrooke.

Co-creators Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis commented about the consequences of the first season finale’s events, stating, "Magic as we know always comes with a price and we are introducing it to a world where it has never been before and I think that’s going to have unpredictable results. It’s going to affect everybody this season because that’s what’s more fun." said Kitsis. Concerning what happens when everyone in Storybrooke suddenly regains their memories of the past, Horowitz said, "One of the things that’s interesting to us to explore is this notion that just because the memories have returned does not mean that the past 28 years did not happen. Those memories, the Davids, the Mary Margaret, the Mr. Golds, all those people, who they were existed and what they did actually happened and those are the things that will have to be dealt with." This sounds wonderfully complex to me!

Okay, I’m pumped! And if this doesn’t get you thoroughly amped for the upcoming season of Once Upon a Time, then you may be suffering the effects of a curse and should avoid questionable looking fruit. Are you ready?

~ ~ ~ Marsha A. Moore is a writer of fantasy romance. The magic of art and nature spark life into her writing. Read her ENCHANTED BOOKSTORE LEGENDS for adventurous epic fantasy romance: Book One, SEEKING A SCRIBE, and Book Two, HERITAGE AVENGED. She has also authored the Ciel's Legacy series, with fast action mermaid/pirate storylines: TEARS ON A TRANQUIL LAKE and TORTUGA TREASURE.  For a FREE ebook download, read her historic fantasy, LE CIRQUE DE MAGIE, available at Amazon and Smashwords.

Rumplestiltskin: The Antihero

With the season finale of “Once Upon a Time,” I was stuck by the action of the character Mr. Gold (the pawnshop owner in the real world setting of Storybrook)/ Rumplestiltskin (from the fairytale world). Throughout the series, an evil curse blocked the townspeople’s memories of their previous lives in the fairytale world. Just as Emma Swan, the “Savior,” lifted the curse as was prophesized, Mr. Gold performed an act of magic that caused a new enchantment to spread over Storybrook—the environ now supported magic. Certainly, that alters the battlefield between good and evil, putting new weapons into their hands for future shows. Besides how his act alters the plot, I’m curious about the complexities of his character. 

Mr. Gold/Rumplestiltskin is my favorite character in the series and certainly an antihero. That type is generally considered to be a protagonist whose character is contrary to that of the archetypal hero, but retains many heroic qualities. 

Emma is clearly the heroine. She is attractive, brave, and determined. She is a good person and we are compelled to root for her. Unlike a hero or heroine, an antihero is generally selfish, corrupt, and oppressive. Mr. Gold is not a true villain like Regina, the Evil Queen, but he isn’t a hero either. Antiheroes usually fight or thwart the villains, but not for any reason of justice unless by happenstance to actualize their own desires. An antihero may steal, vandalize, and perform other "bad" acts, but may do so for a cause that is ultimately good. Mr. Gold has certainly fooled Regina several times to bring a result that benefits the side of the good. This was the case when Regina attempted to frame Mary Margaret/Snow White as a murderess. At the last moment, Mr. Gold makes the murder victim appear, alive and unharmed, ending Regina’s case. The same pattern held true when Emma ran for sheriff, her campaign almost undermined by Regina, until Mr. Gold enabled a situation that made the townspeople have tremendous respect for Emma and give her their votes.

Other examples of well known antiheroes in recent works include Severus Snape (one of my all-time favorite characters) and Captain Jack Sparrow.

I love the complex role of the antihero so much, I have included one my Enchanted Bookstore Legends. Tarom the Icewalker plays the part of the Dark Realm’s alchemist, but he often aligns with my heroine for reasons that are his own and not hers. He is very much an individual and values his independence, apart from both good and evil factions. This puts him at odds with his job, working for the Dark Realm. But even that has a selfish motive which will ultimately be exposed.

Antiheroes are extraordinary individuals with layers of complexity governing their actions. 

What antiheroes are your favorites? What character in “Once Upon a Time” intrigues you the most?

~ ~ ~ Marsha A. Moore is a writer of fantasy romance. The magic of art and nature spark life into her writing. The first of her epic fantasy romance series, ENCHANTED BOOKSTORE LEGENDS, is now available--SEEKING A SCRIBE. She has also authored the Ciel's Legacy series, fantasy romance with fast action mermaid/pirate storylines: TEARS ON A TRANQUIL LAKE and TORTUGA TREASURE.  For a FREE ebook download, read her historic fantasy, LE CIRQUE DE MAGIE, available at Amazon and Smashwords.