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Once Upon a Time
S1.E9
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IMDbPro

True North

  • Episode aired Jan 15, 2012
  • TV-PGTV-PG
  • 45m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
Quinn Lord and Karley Scott Collins in Once Upon a Time (2011)
  • Adventure
  • Fantasy
  • Romance
Emma tries to save two children from foster care by trying to find their birth father, as flashbacks show the Evil Queen coercing Hansel and Gretel into stealing an important artifact from a... Read allEmma tries to save two children from foster care by trying to find their birth father, as flashbacks show the Evil Queen coercing Hansel and Gretel into stealing an important artifact from a blind witch.Emma tries to save two children from foster care by trying to find their birth father, as flashbacks show the Evil Queen coercing Hansel and Gretel into stealing an important artifact from a blind witch.
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Dean White
  • Writers
    • Edward Kitsis
    • Adam Horowitz
    • David H. Goodman
  • Stars
    • Ginnifer Goodwin
    • Jennifer Morrison
    • Lana Parrilla
Top credits
  • Director
    • Dean White
  • Writers
    • Edward Kitsis
    • Adam Horowitz
    • David H. Goodman
  • Stars
    • Ginnifer Goodwin
    • Jennifer Morrison
    • Lana Parrilla
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 2User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos19

    Jennifer Morrison, Quinn Lord, and Karley Scott Collins in Once Upon a Time (2011)
    Quinn Lord and Karley Scott Collins in Once Upon a Time (2011)
    Emma Caulfield Ford in Once Upon a Time (2011)
    Lana Parrilla in Once Upon a Time (2011)
    Quinn Lord in Once Upon a Time (2011)
    Emma Caulfield Ford in Once Upon a Time (2011)
    Quinn Lord and Karley Scott Collins in Once Upon a Time (2011)
    Lana Parrilla, Quinn Lord, and Karley Scott Collins in Once Upon a Time (2011)
    Quinn Lord and Karley Scott Collins in Once Upon a Time (2011)
    Emma Caulfield Ford in Once Upon a Time (2011)
    Lana Parrilla in Once Upon a Time (2011)
    Emma Caulfield Ford in Once Upon a Time (2011)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ginnifer Goodwin
    Ginnifer Goodwin
    • Mary Margaret Blanchardas Mary Margaret Blanchard…
    Jennifer Morrison
    Jennifer Morrison
    • Emma Swanas Emma Swan
    Lana Parrilla
    Lana Parrilla
    • Evil Queenas Evil Queen…
    Josh Dallas
    Josh Dallas
    • David Nolanas David Nolan
    • (credit only)
    Jared Gilmore
    Jared Gilmore
    • Henry Millsas Henry Mills
    • (as Jared S. Gilmore)
    Raphael Sbarge
    Raphael Sbarge
    • Dr. Archie Hopperas Dr. Archie Hopper
    • (credit only)
    Robert Carlyle
    Robert Carlyle
    • Mr. Goldas Mr. Gold
    Lee Arenberg
    Lee Arenberg
    • Grumpyas Grumpy
    Eion Bailey
    Eion Bailey
    • The Strangeras The Stranger
    Emma Caulfield Ford
    Emma Caulfield Ford
    • Blind Witchas Blind Witch
    • (as Emma Caulfield)
    Karley Scott Collins
    Karley Scott Collins
    • Ava Zimmeras Ava Zimmer…
    Nicholas Lea
    Nicholas Lea
    • The Woodcutteras The Woodcutter…
    Quinn Lord
    Quinn Lord
    • Nicholas Zimmeras Nicholas Zimmer…
    David Bloom
    David Bloom
    • Mr. 'K' Krzyszkowskias Mr. 'K' Krzyszkowski
    Osmond L. Bramble
    • Queen's Guardas Queen's Guard
    • (as Osmond Lloyd Bramble)
    Michael Coleman
    Michael Coleman
    • Happyas Happy
    Faustino Di Bauda
    • Sleepyas Sleepy
    David Avalon
    David Avalon
    • Docas Doc
    • (as David Paul Grove)
    • Director
      • Dean White
    • Writers
      • Edward Kitsis
      • Adam Horowitz
      • David H. Goodman
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Quinn Lord and Karley Scott Collins, who play Hansel and Gretel respectively, played a young Peter and Olivia respectively on different episodes of Fringe (2008).
    • Goofs
      When Hansel and Gretel Wake up in the forest, there are zippers on the sides of Gretel's shoes.
    • Quotes

      Mary Margaret Blanchard: The truth can be painful, Emma, but it can also be cathartic.

      Emma Swan: I agree on the painful part.

    • Crazy credits
      The opening title sequence shows a cottage in the woods, foreshadowing that the episode is about Hansel and Gretel.

    User reviews2

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    'Once Upon a Time' takes on 'Hansel and Gretel'
    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.

    "True North" to me is one of the lesser episodes of the first season and something of a disappointment after the show started off so well. The season was going from strength to strength, but this felt like a couple of steps backwards. The previous eight episodes were very good to outstanding, "True North" was only quite good. There are a lot of good things certainly but there are a few aspects that were done much better before and since.

    Usually the special effects, with some exceptions, are good. Here in "True North" they are pretty poor and like they came out of the 90s back when video game technology was in its infancy. There are times where neither Hansel and Gretel are particularly well written or acted (too cheesy and saccharine), and Emma's actions regarding the children seemed out of sorts for her.

    However, "True North" is a very handsomely mounted episode, settings and costumes that are both colourful and atmospheric, not too dark or garish and never cookie-cutter. The standout is the colourful and inviting set for the gingerbread house. 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.

    Despite underwhelming with Hansel and Gretel at times, the writing humorous and engaging with emotional impact too. The story is absorbing, with the parallel between Hansel and Gretel and Emma and Snow White's ongoing story being charmingly and cleverly executed, and standout scenes being the motherhood conversation and the arrival of the stranger. Emma Caulfield's scenes are also superb.

    Excepting Hansel and Gretel, the acting is fine. Especially from a wonderfully creepy Caulfield. Lana Parrilla, Jennifer Morrison and Ginnifer Goodwin similarly excel.

    Overall, quite good but disappointing. 7/10 Bethany Cox
    helpful•1
    0
    • TheLittleSongbird
    • Nov 30, 2017

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 15, 2012 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • John H. McDonald House, New Westminster, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Kitsis/Horowitz
      • ABC Signature
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      45 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 16:9 HD

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