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.
"Desperate Souls" continues the very good to wonderful standard of the first season up to this point. As said quite a few times already it is demonstrative of 'Once Upon a Time's' first season growing all the time, even at this very early stage, with the dialogue and acting in particular having come on quite a long way.
There is not much wrong here, the occasional bit of corn in the writing here and there and occasionally Lana Parrilla overdoes it with the pouting lips and intense staring.
However, "Desperate Souls" is a very handsomely mounted episode, settings and costumes that are both colourful and atmospheric, not too dark or garish and never cookie-cutter. It is photographed beautifully and there were some make-up that suited the characters perfectly. The music is haunting, ethereal and cleverly used with a memorable main theme.
As said, the writing has come on a lot since 'Once Upon a Time' first started and it's humorous and engaging with emotional impact too. Really love Rumpelstiltskin's ever growing back-story, which has a lot of soul and entertainment value and nothing becomes desperate. The episode again establishes the concept and intertwines and mirrors the real and fantasy worlds very well, with standout scenes being the final fairy tale scenes and David and Mary Margaret's touching poster scene.
Robert Carlyle shows why he is one of the show's consistent high-points, he looks like he is having so much fun with the role and he does it without going over-the-top. Brad Dourif is inspired casting too and ever charming Ginnifer Goodwin and Josh Dallas are electric together. Parrilla is not at her best here but she will always be one of my favourite 'Once Upon a Time' cast members overall.
Overall, excellent. 9/10 Bethany Cox
