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 4 had a lot to live up after Season 3 being as impressive as it was. At this early stage of the season, one can see a lot of promise, some may argue that it is capitalising on 'Frozen's' success but there is much more to the season than that. This promise was apparent from the get go, with a great season opener in "A Tale of Two Sisters". The good to great quality continued, until dipping a little with "Family Business" and then returning to form with "The Snow Queen".
'Once Upon a Time' continues to be back on form with "Smash the Mirror: Part 1", a Season 4 highlight. Like what was said for "The Snow Queen", it's like the Snow Queen herself, underneath the icy exterior and demeanour is a very emotional and surprisingly complex heart. So far Season 4 has shown that the show is doing far more than capitalising on 'Frozen's' success or being a marketing ploy like it could have been.
There is so much to like about "Smash the Mirror: Part 1" and nothing to fault. It has a good deal of forward momentum, the characters are still interesting and true to character (the Snow Queen is just fascinating), not behaving idiotically, it doesn't feel like filler, it has entertainment value, nice character moments that mean a lot and a lot of heart. There are even much needed questions answered.
Especially good in "Smash the Mirror: Part 1", like "The Snow Queen", are the characterisation of The Snow Queen and her back-story. Already she is proving herself to be a complex character and much more than a standard villain that she easily could have been, and her back-story is heart-wrenching, makes sense, is crystal clear without being simplistic and makes her a character to sympathise with as well as getting chills by.
Gold has always been one of 'Once Upon a Time's' most interesting characters. "Smash the Mirror: Part 1" does nothing to change that, his role in the episode has great mysterious intrigue.
All the performances are delightful, most notably a remarkably nuanced Elizabeth Mitchell and from Robert Carlyle. A lot happens but it doesn't feel over-stuffed or underdone.
Furthermore, "Smash the Mirror: Part 1" 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 theme tune.
Writing has the right balance of humour, pathos, mystery and intrigue, no corn or cheesiness here. This aspect has come on such a long way since when 'Once Upon a Time' first started, much more complexity and nuance.
In summation, a Season 4 high point. 10/10 Bethany Cox
Season 4 had a lot to live up after Season 3 being as impressive as it was. At this early stage of the season, one can see a lot of promise, some may argue that it is capitalising on 'Frozen's' success but there is much more to the season than that. This promise was apparent from the get go, with a great season opener in "A Tale of Two Sisters". The good to great quality continued, until dipping a little with "Family Business" and then returning to form with "The Snow Queen".
'Once Upon a Time' continues to be back on form with "Smash the Mirror: Part 1", a Season 4 highlight. Like what was said for "The Snow Queen", it's like the Snow Queen herself, underneath the icy exterior and demeanour is a very emotional and surprisingly complex heart. So far Season 4 has shown that the show is doing far more than capitalising on 'Frozen's' success or being a marketing ploy like it could have been.
There is so much to like about "Smash the Mirror: Part 1" and nothing to fault. It has a good deal of forward momentum, the characters are still interesting and true to character (the Snow Queen is just fascinating), not behaving idiotically, it doesn't feel like filler, it has entertainment value, nice character moments that mean a lot and a lot of heart. There are even much needed questions answered.
Especially good in "Smash the Mirror: Part 1", like "The Snow Queen", are the characterisation of The Snow Queen and her back-story. Already she is proving herself to be a complex character and much more than a standard villain that she easily could have been, and her back-story is heart-wrenching, makes sense, is crystal clear without being simplistic and makes her a character to sympathise with as well as getting chills by.
Gold has always been one of 'Once Upon a Time's' most interesting characters. "Smash the Mirror: Part 1" does nothing to change that, his role in the episode has great mysterious intrigue.
All the performances are delightful, most notably a remarkably nuanced Elizabeth Mitchell and from Robert Carlyle. A lot happens but it doesn't feel over-stuffed or underdone.
Furthermore, "Smash the Mirror: Part 1" 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 theme tune.
Writing has the right balance of humour, pathos, mystery and intrigue, no corn or cheesiness here. This aspect has come on such a long way since when 'Once Upon a Time' first started, much more complexity and nuance.
In summation, a Season 4 high point. 10/10 Bethany Cox
