This show has gotten its hooks into me. Deep. It's walking the perfect line between procedural and serial; a line most shows can't seem to find their balance on. And for a show about fairytale characters, there is a lot of darkness. Each week, the lessons the characters learn tend to be crazy depressing; a theme I can only imagine the show will continue with until it nears a series finale.
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Josh Dallas as David Nolan and Ginnifer Goodwin as Mary Margaret Blanchard on Once Upon A Time OUAT |
These tragic consequences are especially poignant in the storyline involving Snow White and Prince Charming (or Mary Margaret and David.) I
really love them. Romances that are so saccharine aren't usually my bag, but the sweetness of their story has managed to put a damper on my cynicism.
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Josh Dallas as David Nolan and Ginnifer Goodwin as Mary Margaret Blanchard on Once Upon A Time OUAT |
This week, the lovebirds have oodles of issues. Basically, in both fairyland and reality, them choosing to be together is the selfish choice. They try soooo hard to be good. But they just can't resist the crushing pull of love.
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Josh Dallas as Prince Charming cries on Once Upon A Time OUAT |
Snow White told Prince Charming she didn't love him in order to spare his life. Oldest trick in the angsty-relationship book. Although, typically, it's the dude trying to convince the lady he doesn't love her. Way to go, OUAT. Putting the power with our heroine. And then because her heart was a mangled mess, she took a magic potion to forget him entirely. I have to say, that made me pretty sad.
Eternal Sunshine sad.
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Josh Dallas as Prince Charming cries He's Eternal Sunshine sad too :'( on ABC Once Upon A Time OUAT |
But happily, in Storybrook, David decided to be an adulterer and Mary Margaret decided to be the other woman. And we (just I?) forgive them because they're cute as pie.
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Josh Dallas David and Ginnifer Goodwin Mary Margaret kiss on ABC's Once Upon A Time OUAT Prince Charming |
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Josh Dallas David and Ginnifer Goodwin Mary Margaret kiss Once Upon A Time OUAT Prince Charming Snow White |
In
Once Upon A Time, I buy the destiny of love. It's a show that supports "meant to be" and "happily ever after" unlike, say, Adam and Cassie on
The Secret Circle. No matter what obstacles pop up, no matter how tortuous the journey, Snow White and Prince Charming will find their way to one another. The catharsis will come. I'm confident.
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Josh Dallas as David Nolan on Once Upon A Time OUAT Prince Charming ABC |
I guess that's part of what speaks to us about fables in the first place. Eventually, the things that should happen, do. People are rewarded for good choices and punished for bad ones. In the short term, I have a feeling they'll rue their rash decisions. But eventually - and maybe not until the series ends - but
eventually it'll all be sunshine and rainbows. Because that's the promise of a fairytale show.