Thursday, February 14, 2013

Once Upon a Time (Critique #16)

  Since the beginning of the series Once Upon a Time on ABC, my mother, friends, and Tumblr has just been begging me to start watching it. It did seem interesting and whenever my mom would go through the DVR and watch Once Upon a Time, I was always into the episode, even if I had zero clue what was going on. The thing that kept me from it is thinking "I think I watch way too much television as is." Which is 100% true. So, what one more series, really?

  So, after all this time, what finally got me into it into it? Well, I was home for a three day weekend recently and episode 12 of the second season played. I don't want to sound shallow, but I mean, it's kind of hard not to. Captain Hook got me hooked. Like for real. He came on the screen and my hormones got dusted off from puberty. I mean, let's be real. He is one attractive beast. Okay, I have to move on. So, as the episode went on, I realized they really have quite a little something going on here. And the guy from the movie The Full Monty is in it! So, obviously, there is something to be liked here, but I couldn't begin to appreciate it before starting from the beginning.

  Now, unlike Supernatural or Doctor Who, both of which I started watching well into the series (like 8 seasons to catch up on), this series was only a season and a half into it. So, 4 days of Once Upon a Time (or OUAT) mania, live tweeting sessions, and neglected schoolwork later and I was all caught up! I have to say, with the complexity (yet simplicity) of the whole thing, it is so obviously written by the same peeps from LOST. I was trying to get my roommate into it and help her understand it, but it was so hard to explain. When watching the show, it's so obvious and like easy to watch, but explaining any situation to anyone outside of those who watch it, good luck.

  When you read a synopsis, it seems unrealistic and stupid. But I'm here to tell you, it is somehow believable. It's because they're stories that we all can relate to. You have very, very, very popular stories being torn from what you always knew them to be and rebuilt as something that humanizes what were characters that are nothing like humans, seemingly. You even feel bad for the evil queen sooner or later! Everyone has a story and I love how the writers really search for that and really ask the question "why?" and attempts to answer it. Something else I love about the show: there are tons of grey areas. When it comes to who you're rooting for, there isn't just a black or white answer. It's like fifty shades of grey.

See what I did there?
 
   Normally, in TV shows, I don't get too connected with characters. I watch it for entertainment. I'm a Tumblr person, and I see all of these "fangirls" talk about all of these "feels" and all of the "ships" and stuff and I just never got into it. I'm not saying I'm totally there with all of the Tumblr people, but I really connect with these characters. I find myself talking to the television a lot more than I normally do. So much so, I remind myself of my mom. She really gets into television shows. Whenever we talk now, I have to talk about Once Upon a Time. The writers did a great job at bringing life to the characters and making the audience care. Good job, guys.

  Speaking of, WARNING: THERE ARE TONS OF ATTRACTIVE PEOPLE IN THIS SERIES! I'm not saying looks are everything or anything, but they definitely don't hurt. To go along with that, though, there are some people that don't meet the "social standards" for "pretty" or whatever the weirdos who decided that. Personally, I think everyone in the cast is amazingly amazing and all are beautiful. Anton, or "Tiny," for instance, a heavier man, is the cutest little guy to like ever come on the show. He's just adorable! Like, get me a piece of that, please. Look, it's just that they obviously cast for talent. Not just looks. And that's sometimes hard to find. So, I appreciate it a lot. Also, you've got women helping men, men being damsels in distress, switching genders on some famous characters. All great stuff for feminists.This show just does a lot of good for a lot of people.

  If you can't sit through something with sometimes questionable effects, I'd say maybe not the show for you. There are a few times when the real world and green screen world aren't totally seamless. But then again, this is a television show that has this whole other world relying on green screen and special effects, not a full-budget feature length film. So, if you can appreciate that and not take too much stalk in it, then you should be fine.

  One thing I learned while catching up on the series, there are like no filler episodes. None. I mean, to a point, you can sort of guess what happened, but to a point. There's a lot of substance in every episode and that is something I love. Further, the makeup and costumes are to die for amazing.

  So, in short, definitely something worth watching. It is a show for the whole family to enjoy (duh, I mean. ABC, AKA: Disney for basic cable). It breaks the rules of fairy tales and teaches some great lessons. Like, honestly, there is at least one quotable line (for like life and philosophy and stuff) each episode. Questionable effects, but it makes up for it in story. Pretty unpredictable and almost filler-free! It airs every Sunday night at 8:00 on ABC. Go forth and watch, lovelies!




Love always,
MT

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