Once Upon a Time (TV Series) The Savior (2016) User Reviews

ONCE UPON A TIME returns for season six with new heroes, villains, and a look into what it means to be "the Savior".

[jedly · 9/10 · 26 September 2016]

ONCE UPON A TIME (2011-present) is back for another season, and continues to make a splash with audiences. I've really enjoyed the fresh take of these classic mythical, fictional, and fairy tale characters. With heroes presented as villains, villains presented as heroes, and villains redeeming themselves and now siding with heroes this show definitely keeps the audience guessing.

This season we'll also get to see what being a "Savior" really means, and even get to meet at least one other-- Aladdin (Deniz Akdeniz) and his nemesis, Jafar (Oded Fehr).

There have been missteps here and there, but I like the fact that the writers don't generally draw too many story lines out. Sure, Rumpelstiltskin/ The Beast (Robert Carlyle) is still basically evil, but Regina Mills, The Evil Queen (Lana Parrilla) isn't anymore. She's even forged close bonds with both Snow White/ Mary Margaret Blanchard (Ginnifer Goodwin) and her daughter Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison). Regina and Emma are even happily sharing parental duties of their son, Henry (Jared S. Gilmore). Even after five years, the Sunday primetime show has maintained loyal audience.

As both a writer and reader, I really enjoy the creativity of this show. Last night's sixth season premiere, THE SAVIOR was no exception to that rule. In fact, it had some very powerful performances in the form of scenes between Emma Swan and Dr. Hopper/ Jiminy Cricket (Raphael Sbarge), Regina Mills and Mary Margaret, and Mr. Hyde (Sam Witwer) is a true antagonist.

I was first introduced to Witwer when he played Davis Bloome/ Doomsday on Smallville. I didn't really like his performance on that show. The same cannot be said about this episode. He's menacing, villainous, sinister, and a perfect counterpoint for the heroes.

The on/off/on/off/on/off relationship between Belle (Emilie de Ravin) and Rumple does get a bit taxing at times, but the premiere did add a new dynamic to it and even a little more romance, which might give it a fresh perspective. Only time will tell how this story line pans out.

THE SAVIOR was a great start to the show's sixth season, with a strong ensemble cast.. I'm eagerly waiting to see how it pans out, and I still recommend this fun, imaginative, family friendly show.

ONCE UPON A TIME airs on ABC on Sundays at 8PM EST.

Nothing more dangerous than an untold story

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 21 September 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.

The sixth, and penultimate, season opens with a great, and very promising first episode in "the Saviour". An episode which sees new characters in Aladdin and Jafar, the saviour arc introduced, the return of a long neglected character in Dr Hopper/Jiminy Cricket and more of Hyde, having been introduced in the last two episodes of the previous season. It may not be one of the show's best season openers but sets up what is to come, which is basically what it is, very well indeed. It is great to have something new after the unevenness of the Underworld arc that dominated the second half of Season 5.

With all my reviews for the show having recently been targeted/down-voted in a ridiculously short period of time for reasons unknown to me by someone with something against me, will admit to having almost been put off from continuing with my "reviewing all the 'Once Upon a Time' episodes" project, with such a treatment undermining the hard work that has gone into the writing of them. Am glad to have continued though, because it would have been very difficult to not talk about how good "The Saviour" was.

Not really all that much wrong here, although some of the various interactions/subplots are not exactly new territory (especially the Gold and Belle relationship).

However, there is lots of evidence of forward momentum and character development advancing, the characters true to personality and not distorted or going round in circles. One learns a lot and things are made clearer. It doesn't get over-stuffed or jumpy, making it not a difficult episode to follow. A feat for such a lot going on and with so many characters.

Still love the characters, both the existing characters, the new ones and the relatively new ones continuing to grow. Will always love Regina and Gold/Rumplestiltskin especially. As well as the characters, what is particularly good about much of the show and "The Saviour" is the interaction between them. What is familiar territory is thankfully not too tired or repetitive, due to them being approached from different angles.

Particularly true for the Belle and Gold relationship, going-round-in-circles at first but made fresher. It is great to not have Belle bland, like she tends to be apart from when effort is made to develop her. Regina and Zelena's chemistry has spark, in a witty and tense sense. Aladdin and Jafar makes promising first impressions.

All the acting from the solid ensemble cast is without complaint. Lana Parrilla especially is splendid and makes Regina rootable in a way that's very moving. Robert Carlyle is similarly riveting, he has fun with Gold and has the right amount of charisma, gravitas and shadiness that doesn't make him a standard villain or a character softened too much. How wonderful to see Raphael Sbarge again, having been long neglected.

Jennifer Morrison brings intensity and vulnerability, never being overwrought or too passive, while Emilie DeRavin gives one of her better performances in the role of Belle. Sam Witwer's Hyde once again shows potential to be one of 'Once Upon a Time's' better villains of the latter seasons. Love the casting of Jafar here and he did savour his monologue mentioned here in a big scene between him and Aladdin.

Furthermore, "The Saviour" is a very handsomely mounted episode visually, the settings and costumes are both colourful and atmospheric, not too dark or garish and never looking artifical. 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, nothing campy or soap-operatic. Compared to when 'Once Upon a Time' first started, the writing mostly came on a long way (less so in the last season).

Overall, great start to Season 6. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Solid start to an underrated season...not the best though

[sebastiancarson-65740 · 7/10 · 31 July 2017]

Looking back on the first 'canon' of OUAT (seasons 1-6), I would have to say that season 6 was one of my favorites. In fact, I would rank them like this... (from best to worst)

1

6

3

2

4

5

The first episode of the sixth season, however, is definitely not one that stands out. It is a very solid introduction to the 'Emma's fate as savior arch', but as far as the rest of the story, it does not do much (the Evil Queen Doppelganger is not even seen till the end. Also, as a Rumbelle fan, the rift between them (paralleling an abusive relationship) is continued in the first episode, like 5b and is completely stupid as we all can guess that they will be endgame.

Rating: 7/10 (solid, doesn't stand out)

Well I Got Too Admit This Has Got Too Be The Most Amazing Season Premiere!?

[vincentlucia-37700 · 10/10 · 2 January 2018]

Well This was the most amazing Season Premiere Ever Because, we got to learn more about the Secret Of The Savior's and more about Emma's Swan's fate and it's really interesting and scary because it's not really pretty of Emma's Swan's fate vision. And, I really hope that she doesn't really die as well also I feel very really sorry about her battle ok.

Roll back to season 1?

[apd8 · 1/10 · 11 May 2022]

EEmma is the heal of the keep-to-only-herself beach. How many times that she kept things to herself and created a heck of a chaos? Gazillion! And still kept secrets after she almost ruined the plan to catch Hyde. Then she repeated her own foot steps by talking to the bad guy to find "the answer". What the fudge?