Once Upon a Time (TV Series) Snow Drifts (2014) User Reviews

Quality hasn't drifted

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 26 April 2018]

When 'Once Upon a Time' first started it was highly addictive and made the most of a truly great and creative premise. Really loved the idea of turning familiar fairy tales on their heads and putting own interpretations on them and the show early on clearly had clearly had a ball. Watched it without fail every time it came on and it was often a highlight of the week. Which was why it was sad when it ran out of ideas and lost its magic in the later seasons.

Season 3 was a very solid one, for me there wasn't a misfire and even the weakest episodes ("Lost Girl" and "The New Neverland" as far as the previous episodes go) were decent. "Going Home" and "A Curious Thing" were especially special of the numerous great episodes. "Snow Drifts" is for me one of the particularly brilliant episodes.

There is story advancing, lots of momentum and character progression, and everything concerning the past is highly intriguing, entertaining and emotionally impactful. A good deal happens but it doesn't feel too much. Any twists and revelations may not be as huge as other episodes, but "Snow Drifts" isn't devoid of them.

Particularly good here are how Rumplestiltskin is written, always one of my favourite 'Once Upon a Time' characters and "Snow Drifts" does nothing to change that, and Hook and Emma's witty but also beautiful chemistry. Found it easy to root for Emma, and didn't think her too passive or overwrought, she's written pretty poignantly.

Can't fault any of the acting, there is a lot of meat for everyone to sink their teeth into which all do with aplomb. Robert Carlyle and Jennifer Morrison in particular.

Furthermore, "Snow Drifts" is a very handsomely mounted episode visually, the settings and costumes are both colourful and atmospheric, not too dark or garish and never cookie-cutter. It is photographed beautifully too. The music is haunting, ethereal and cleverly used with a memorable main theme.

Writing has the right balance of humour, pathos, mystery and intrigue.

Overall, wonderful. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Rewriting the past.

[Amari-Sali · 18 May 2014]

So, at this point, we have gone back and forth from the present and past (the Enchanted Forest); gone off to Neverland; see the present day Enchanted Forest; had a year wiped of the main cast being there; and seemingly now Hook and Emma are in the past during the time Snow was a bandit and Charming was betrothed to King Midas' daughter Abigail. With this, I must say I do hope season 4 is going to be about Emma trying to find a way back to the present.

Topic 1: The Outsider – Emma

For a good portion of the episode we watch as Emma remembers how much of an outsider she is, and how she essentially, even with finding her parents, still hasn't really found a home, and perhaps any sense of family outside of Henry. Hence why when Hook slips about Emma leaving, everyone is a bit shocked. Her parents are surprised that when their family is back together, she is looking to leave; Henry loves being in this tight nit group and has even found a place for them to stay; and of course, with her heart back, Regina doesn't want Henry ripped away from her.

But, with Emma having an issue connecting with places and people, all their words fall on deaf ears. So, since Snow has the baby, and Charming doesn't feel like leaving his wife, strangely Hook is the one to go seek Emma, with Henry giving his book to help remind her of everything. And while Hook and Emma do talk, and she speaks of how much of an outsider she feels and how she doesn't connect to these fairy tales, it seems her future seeks to correct that.

Topic 2: Welcome to the Enchanted Forest Dearie – Emma and Hook

With Emma, for some god forsaken reason, deciding to check the barn where Zelena casted her spell, with no backup or plan, she gets transported, with Hook, back to before Snow and Prince James Charming met. With this, seemingly the main point is to allow Emma to connect with this world which seems so foreign to her, and the journey doesn't seem like it will be a short one either.

First off, the two have to see Rumple since he is the only one wise, and strong enough, to cast the spell they need. Thing is, on the way to his castle they run into Snow and mess up how she is supposed to meet Charming. To make matters worse, by interrupting that moment they have erased a good part of Henry's storybook to blank pages, though strangely Emma doesn't start to disappear despite her creating a time paradox.

Luckily for them though, Rumple is willing to help with the spell, and even guiding them to fix their mistake. And, I have to admit, between my love for eccentric Rumple trumping any love I have for the rest of the characters combined, I wouldn't mind Emma messing up a few times and having an extended time in the Enchanted Forest. It gives us loads of time for perhaps having full-fledged episodes seeing most of the characters during their glory days, when none were goody two shoes or watered down.

But, back to the whole maybe making herself unborn thing, Emma & Hook find themselves trying to rewrite history to the way it is supposed to be, while exposing themselves to Regina, Charming, and Snow. And, strangely enough, even after Rumple's assistance, they still sort of fail. For one, even though Snow breaks into King Midas' palace, she doesn't get the ring she is supposed to. Then comes the issue that Emma is caught helping Snow escape and now seems to be taken prisoner by Regina. And while Hook is free, he doesn't have the ring to give to Snow, much less is heavily outnumbered.

However, considering how close the two are getting, including Hook giving Emma her first princess moment as they waltz during the celebration of Charming's impending wedding, you can tell he hasn't gone through all this just to give up now. But, again, I do wonder if being stuck in the past is just for the final two episodes, or maybe a prelude to the fourth season? I mean, with Believe canceled, as well as Once Upon a Time in Wonderland also gone, this going back to the enchanted forest thing is a huge opportunity for new characters, and bad ass versions of familiar ones, to come out and show themselves off.