"
Pilot" is the first-season and series premiere of the American
Fairy TaleA fairy tale is a type of short story that typically features such folkloric characters, such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants or gnomes, and usually magic or enchantments. However, only a small number of the stories refer to fairies...
/
DramaDrama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
television seriesA television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
Once Upon a TimeOnce Upon a Time is an American fairy tale drama television series that premiered on Sunday October 23, 2011, on ABC. New episodes air Sunday nights at 8:00 pm ET/7:00 pm CT....
. It premiered in the United States on
ABCThe American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
on October 23, 2011. The episode was written by series co-creators
Edward KitsisEdward Lawrence Kitsis, also sometimes credited as Eddy Kitsis, is an American screenwriter and producer, best known for his work on the popular American television series, Lost and Once Upon a Time.-Life and career:...
& Adam Horowitz and was directed by
Mark MylodMark Mylod is a British film and television director. Mylod has directed several shows both in the United States and in the United Kingdom, many of them being for the BBC...
.
Before it made its debut, ABC allowed viewers in the United States to see the pilot on the
Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
's website on October 21, 2011, two days before its on-air network debut. In Canada,
CTVCTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
debuted the series a hour ahead of ABC's debut, airing it at 7PM in all regions except in
SaskatchewanSaskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
and
WinnipegWinnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, where it debuted at 10 PM.
"Pilot" introduces each of the main characters, as well as establishes the basic premises of the series, which details the beginnings of a curse placed upon the
Enchanted ForestAn enchanted forest is a forest under or containing magical enchantments.Enchanted Forest may refer to:*Enchanted Forest , defunct theme park in Chesterton*Enchanted Forest , defunct theme park in Ellicott City...
and the start of a destiny for its only survivor, a present-day woman who can break the curse. The episode received mostly positive reviews and was watched by 12.93 million viewers, scoring a 4.0 rating/11% share in the 18-49 demographic, ranking first in its timeslot.
Plot
The series' opening begins with a introduction...
Once Upon A Time
There was an enchanted forest filled with all the classic characters we know. Or think we know.
One day they found themselves trapped in a place where all their happy endings were stolen.
Our World.
This is how it happened...
Which begins just before the end of the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"Snow White" is a fairy tale known from many countries in Europe, the best known version being the German one collected by the Brothers Grimm...
. We see Prince CharmingPrince Charming is a stock character who appears in a number of fairy tales. He is the prince who comes to rescue of the damsel in distress, and stereotypically, must engage in a quest to liberate her from an evil spell...
(Joshua DallasJoshua Dallas is an American actor who played Fandral in Thor, a film adaptation based on the Marvel Comics character. He is currently starring in the ABC television series Once Upon a Time.-Early life:...
), riding to the rescue of Snow White"Snow White" is a fairy tale known from many countries in Europe, the best known version being the German one collected by the Brothers Grimm...
(Ginnifer Goodwin), who is comatose after eating a poisoned apple that was given to her by the Evil Queen (Lana ParrillaLana Parrilla is a Puerto Rican-American actress, best known for her roles on Spin City, 24, Boomtown and Miami Medical...
). The dwarfs are gathered around the glass coffin. Upon arriving, Doc (David Paul Grove), informs Charming "it's too late" but after insisting Charming kisses Snow which causes a release of magic. The area that was dying returnes to life and breaking the curse. On the wedding day of Snow White and Prince Charming, the Evil Queen arrives and delivers an ominous threat about a powerful curse she intends to release upon them. Some time later, a pregnant Snow White is worried about the curse and visits Rumplestiltskin (Robert CarlyleRobert Carlyle, OBE is a Scottish film and television actor. He is known for a variety of roles including those in Trainspotting, Hamish Macbeth, The Full Monty, The World Is Not Enough, Angela's Ashes, The 51st State, and 28 Weeks Later...
) who issues a prophecy that the Queen's curse will take them all someplace terrible where there will be no happy endings, except for her. He also reveals that Snow White's unborn daughter, Emma (Jennifer MorrisonJennifer Marie Morrison is an American actress, model and film producer. She is best known for her role as Dr. Allison Cameron in House, whom she played for five-and-a-half years, and also as Zoey Pierson in the sixth season of How I Met Your Mother...
), will return when she is 28 years old to rescue them, thus beginning a crucial battle with the Queen. On advice from the Blue FairyThe Fairy With Turquoise Hair is a fictional character in Carlo Collodi's book The Adventures of Pinocchio. She repeatedly appears at critical moments in Pinocchio's wanderings to admonish the little wooden puppet to avoid bad or risky behavior...
(Keegan Connor TracyKeegan Connor Tracy is a Canadian actress known for her roles as the ill-fated Kat Jennings in Final Destination 2 and Dawn/Molly in Blackwoods .She was born in Sarnia, Ontario...
), GeppettoMister Geppetto is a fictional character in the novel The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. Geppetto is an elderly, impoverished woodcarver and the creator of Pinocchio...
(Tony AmendolaTony Amendola is an American actor who is best known for his recurring role as the Jaffa master Bra'tac in Stargate SG-1.-Career:Major movie roles include Blow, The Mask of Zorro and its sequel, The Legend of Zorro...
) and PinocchioThe Adventures of Pinocchio is a novel for children by Italian author Carlo Collodi, written in Florence. The first half was originally a serial between 1881 and 1883, and then later completed as a book for children in February 1883. It is about the mischievous adventures of Pinocchio , an...
(Jakob Davies) fashion a cupboard from a magical tree which will allow one person to escape the Queen's curse. On the day Snow White gives birth to her daughter, the Queen's curse strikes. Prince Charming places their daughter in the magic cupboard, but is mortally wounded battling the Queen's henchmen. The Queen stands triumphantly over Snow White and Prince Charming as the curse takes them to "someplace horrible".
In present day BostonBoston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Emma Swan (Morrison) lives a lonely existence working as a bail bondsmanA bail bond agent, or bondsman, is any person or corporation that will act as a surety and pledge money or property as bail for the appearance of persons accused in court...
and bounty hunterA bounty hunter captures fugitives for a monetary reward . Other names, mainly used in the United States, include bail enforcement agent and fugitive recovery agent.-Laws in the U.S.:...
. She is approached by a ten year old boy, Henry (Jared S. Gilmore), who identifies himself as her son, whom she had given up for adoption as a teenager. Not wanting a relationship with him, Emma agrees to drive him back to his home in not-so-quaint Storybrooke, MaineMaine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. Along the way, Henry shows her a large book of fairy tales he has, insisting that all of the stories in it are real. When they arrive in Storybrooke, Henry informs her that everyone in town is in reality a fairy tale character, exiled by the curse and with no memory of their real identities. This includes his therapist Archie Hopper (Raphael SbargeRaphael Sbarge is an American actor and voice actor.-Early life:Sbarge was born into a theatre-oriented family in New York City. His mother, Jeanne Button, was a costume designer, and his father, Stephen A. Sbarge, was an artist, writer and stage director who named his son after the Renaissance...
), who is really Jiminy CricketJiminy Cricket is the Walt Disney version of "The Talking Cricket" , a fictional character created by Carlo Collodi for his children's book Pinocchio, which was adapted into an animated film by Disney in 1940...
, and his teacher Mary Margaret Blanchard, who is really Snow White. Henry claims that time is frozen in Storybrooke and the people are unable to leave, but that the curse will be broken by Emma. A skeptical Emma returns Henry to his adopted mother, the town Mayor, Regina, who is really the Evil Queen. Emma attempts to leave but after having drunk apple cider given to her by the Mayor and nearly hitting a wolf she has a car accident where she is knocked out she is arrested and taken to Storybrooke Jail. When Henry runs away again, Emma makes a deal with the Mayor and Sheriff (Jamie Dornan), if they release her she will find him. After exhausting all possibilites she speaks with Mary who tells Emma to "Check his Castle". After finding Henry at a wooden jungle gym (that bares a resemblance to Prince Charming's Castle) they talk and Emma decides to stay in Storybrooke temporarily, especially after Regina warned her to leave town, leading to Emma (who has a uncanny ability to know who is not telling the truth) to become suspicious of the mayor's motives and becomes concerned for Henry.
Shortly after her conversation with Emma, Mary Margaret Blanchard (who along with being a teacher) volunteers at Storybrooke Hospital placing flowers at the bed side of patients stops into the ICU where a John Doe, Prince Charming, is sleeping in a coma. Mary is unaware of who he is. Meanwhile at the Mayor's home, Regina takes the book from Henry's room and goes downstairs to look at her mirror, with an expression that seems to acknowledge she is aware of her fairy tale existence.
As Emma arrives to "Granny's Bed & Breakfast," she is given a key to her room by the elderly proprietor (Beverley Elliot), who is actually Granny from Little Red Riding HoodLittle Red Riding Hood, also known as Little Red Cap, is a French fairy tale about a young girl and a Big Bad Wolf. The story has been changed considerably in its history and subject to numerous modern adaptations and readings....
and coming downstairs after yelling at Ruby (Meghan Ory-Life and career:Ory was born in Victoria, British Columbia and attended Royal Oak Middle School and then Claremont Secondary School. After receiving the Fine Arts Award for Acting from Royal Oak in 1996, she began pursuing a career in acting...
), her granddaughter, (actually the aforementioned character), followed by a fellow who came to collect money from the woman, Mr. Gold, Rumplestiltskin, who also helped build and owns the entire town. When Emma mentions her name, Mr. Gold pauses as if he knew something about her. Emma's decision to stay in Storybrooke causes the hands of the town clock, previously frozen at 8:15, to begin moving again.
Production
The episode was written by series creators
Edward KitsisEdward Lawrence Kitsis, also sometimes credited as Eddy Kitsis, is an American screenwriter and producer, best known for his work on the popular American television series, Lost and Once Upon a Time.-Life and career:...
and Adam Horowitz and was directed by
Mark MylodMark Mylod is a British film and television director. Mylod has directed several shows both in the United States and in the United Kingdom, many of them being for the BBC...
.
Allusions
The series' pilot made references to another series that Kitsis and Horowitz served as co-writers on,
Lost. There were five such references in this episode, which will serve as the theme throughout the series:
the smoke monsterThe entity referred to most frequently as the Man in Black is a fictional character on the American ABC television series Lost, and is the main antagonist of the...
engulfing the Enchanted Forest, Emma's eye-opening after she wakes up, Regina's address number of her home (108), a Geranimo Jackson bumper sticker and the town clock being stuck at 8:15 (the same number as
the doomed airline flightOceanic Airlines and less frequently Oceanic Airways are fictional airlines used in several films and television programs.The most famous use of this brand is in the TV show Lost, where Oceanic Airlines is featured branded with a highly-stylized logo depicting an Aboriginal dot painting that...
in the aforementioned series).
Another connection showed up in a scene when Emma hears Leroy (who is actually Grumpy) whistling
Whistle While You WorkWhistle While You Work is a song with music written by Frank Churchill and lyrics written by Larry Morey for the 1937 animated Disney movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It was performed in the movie, at least unofficially, by voice actress Adriana Caselotti...
(the song used in
the 1937 film version of Snow White and the Seven DwarfsSnow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a 1937 American animated film based on Snow White, a German fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. It was the first full-length cel-animated feature in motion picture history, as well as the first animated feature film produced in America, the first produced in full...
), indicating its acknowledged ties to Disney, whose subsididary ABC Studios also happens to be the production company behind
Once Upon a Time, since Disney has allowed them access to their fairy tale characters and properties for use in the series. "They've given us license," Kitsis said. "I could be wrong, but I think this is the first time anyone's shown Snow White with a sword, or pregnant."
Ratings
Premiering out of its timeslot at 8:00 pm timeslot after
America's Funniest Videos, the "Pilot" was viewed by an estimated 12.93 million viewers and received a 4.0 rating/11% share among adults between the ages of 18 and 49. As a result, It was the seasons #1 rated drama debut among Adults 18-49 and ABC's biggest debut in five years.
In Canada, the pilot was watched by 1.764 million viewers, placing 14th for the week.
Reviews
"Pilot" received mostly positive reviews. The series holds a rating of 67/100 on Metacritic from 25 reviews.
In a review from Zap2it, Rick Porter gave the pilot praise for bringing together the central theme, saying "No other new show this fall is attempting to tell a bigger story, and we're hoping the rough patches smooth out and it fulfills the potential that's there in its very strong cast and premise." It also cited Jennifer Morrison and Jared Gilmore's performances when they appear in scenes together: "As such it falls to Morrison to move the story along in this world, and fortunately for the audience she's able to pull it off. She gives a confident, grounded performance that helps keep the show from feeling too fantastical, and her rapport with Gilmore is a big plus too." He also notes the writers and producers have put together a great premise and expects they'll have more as the series progresses: Given the cast and the people involved behind the scenes -- the writing staff also includes "Buffy"/"Battlestar Galactica"/"Torchwood" veteran Jane Espenson and "Life Unexpected" creator Liz Tigelaar -- we're more optimistic than not that "Once Upon a Time" will find its way. But if it doesn't, at least it will go down swinging.
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