Once Upon a Time

Image Credit: ABC

Emily Parker, 27th Apr 2018
Tags: Life Review Adventure Fantasy Romance TV

‘Once Upon a Time’ - when I hear this phrase, I think of adventure, mystery, romance, a hero and a heroine. It’s a world where there’s always an important life lesson to learn, and what would a good fairy tale be, if there wasn’t a bad guy in the mix and a few well-loved heroic characters? This is what you’ll find in ‘Once Upon a Time'.

Since 2011 TV channel ABC has told the story of the residents of the very idyllic Storybrooke and the Enchanted Forest. Now we open a chapter of a brand new book as we arrive in metropolitan Hyperion Heights in Seattle, Washington.

Henry Mills (Andrew J. West) is no longer a child saving the day under the name of ‘Operation Cobra’. He is now all grown up and caught under a new curse. Henry has no idea who he is and now his daughter, Lucy, is trying to reunite him with his true self and the love of his life. (Yes, it does feel like déjà vu to series one in parts.) However this time there is a different sense of mystery surrounding the curse, as Henry and a few familiar faces under new personas try to break the curse, as well as find out why it was cast in the first place and by who.

Returning for the final series include the ever creepy and weirdly endearing Rumpelstiltskin (Robert Caryle), the unlikely hero Captain Hook (Colin O’Donoghue), and the formidable Evil Queen, Lana Parrilla, who makes her directing debut. These three hold the series together alongside Henry.

We also get introduced to a bunch of new characters, including a great group of baddies, Dr Facilier, Mother Gothel, and Drizella, who bring up the usual themes of sacrificing for the one you love, trickery, and the age old question of will good conquer evil?

If you are a true fan of the show, (otherwise known as a ‘Oncer’), you won’t feel too disappointed with this series, except with potentially missing characters such as Snow, Emma and Charming.

Get your tissues at the ready as we say goodbye for one last time.

I loved the last six series and felt that when the last episode aired of series six, it could have come to a close at that point, and I still believe that this series didn’t need to be made. There are points when flashbacks to other worlds happen, which makes it feel like they are grasping at storylines to make it work. Without spoiling it, I would say this is especially the case with Hook, and how he is even in this series at all. However, that said, it's still enjoyable, and as we enter the final chapter, there is a quality finale episode which is worth waiting for! Get your tissues at the ready as we say goodbye for one last time.

If you've never stepped into the world of 'Once Upon a Time', then maybe now is the time to discover a new happy ever after.