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Once Upon a Time
S1.E16
All episodes
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  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Heart of Darkness

  • Episode aired Mar 18, 2012
  • TV-PGTV-PG
  • 45m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
2K
YOUR RATING
Ginnifer Goodwin in Once Upon a Time (2011)
AdventureFantasyRomance
Mary Margaret hires Gold as her attorney when she is arrested for the suspected murder of Kathryn, while flashbacks show Charming try to find Snow, whose memory is clouded by Rumplestiltskin... Read allMary Margaret hires Gold as her attorney when she is arrested for the suspected murder of Kathryn, while flashbacks show Charming try to find Snow, whose memory is clouded by Rumplestiltskin's potion.Mary Margaret hires Gold as her attorney when she is arrested for the suspected murder of Kathryn, while flashbacks show Charming try to find Snow, whose memory is clouded by Rumplestiltskin's potion.
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
2K
YOUR RATING
    • Dean White
  • Writers
    • Edward Kitsis
    • Adam Horowitz
    • Andrew Chambliss
  • Stars
    • Ginnifer Goodwin
    • Jennifer Morrison
    • Lana Parrilla
    • Dean White
  • Writers
    • Edward Kitsis
    • Adam Horowitz
    • Andrew Chambliss
  • Stars
    • Ginnifer Goodwin
    • Jennifer Morrison
    • Lana Parrilla
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 4User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos32

    Ginnifer Goodwin in Once Upon a Time (2011)
    Ginnifer Goodwin and Jennifer Morrison in Once Upon a Time (2011)
    Robert Carlyle and Ginnifer Goodwin in Once Upon a Time (2011)
    Ginnifer Goodwin and Josh Dallas in Once Upon a Time (2011)
    Ginnifer Goodwin and Jennifer Morrison in Once Upon a Time (2011)
    Josh Dallas in Once Upon a Time (2011)
    Ginnifer Goodwin in Once Upon a Time (2011)
    Josh Dallas in Once Upon a Time (2011)
    Josh Dallas in Once Upon a Time (2011)
    Josh Dallas in Once Upon a Time (2011)
    Josh Dallas in Once Upon a Time (2011)
    Ginnifer Goodwin in Once Upon a Time (2011)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ginnifer Goodwin
    Ginnifer Goodwin
    • Mary Margaret Blanchard…
    Jennifer Morrison
    Jennifer Morrison
    • Emma Swan
    Lana Parrilla
    Lana Parrilla
    • Regina Mills…
    Josh Dallas
    Josh Dallas
    • Prince Charming…
    Eion Bailey
    Eion Bailey
    • August W. Booth
    Jared Gilmore
    Jared Gilmore
    • Henry Mills
    • (as Jared S. Gilmore)
    Raphael Sbarge
    Raphael Sbarge
    • Dr. Archie Hopper
    • (voice)
    • …
    Robert Carlyle
    Robert Carlyle
    • Mr. Gold…
    Lee Arenberg
    Lee Arenberg
    • Grumpy
    Meghan Ory
    Meghan Ory
    • Red Riding Hood…
    Michael Coleman
    Michael Coleman
    • Happy
    Faustino Di Bauda
    • Sleepy
    Edward Foy
    Edward Foy
    • Black Knight
    David Avalon
    David Avalon
    • Doc
    • (as David-Paul Grove)
    Jeffrey Kaiser
    • Dopey
    Gabe Khouth
    Gabe Khouth
    • Sneezy
    Mig Macario
    Mig Macario
    • Bashful
    Jim Shield
    Jim Shield
    • Royal Guard
      • Dean White
    • Writers
      • Edward Kitsis
      • Adam Horowitz
      • Andrew Chambliss
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Regina's keys, which open any lock, have a skull engraved on the heads, making them literally and figuratively "skeleton keys."
    • Goofs
      When Emma goes to see Gold to team up to figure out if Regina was setting Mary Margaret up Gold is wearing a wedding ring. Gold was not married yet but Robert Carlyle who played him is and forgot to take it off.
    • Quotes

      [David is asking Mary Margaret if she had been involved in Kathryn's murder]

      Mary Margaret Blanchard: When your phone records came back, when I found you wandering in the woods, when everyone thought you killed Kathryn, I stood by you. I never once doubted you. And now that everything is pointing to me... you actually think I am capable of that kind of evil? - Get... out.

    • Crazy credits
      The opening sequence shows Jiminy Cricket.

    User reviews4

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    A dark episode with a heart
    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.

    Of a mostly solid first season "Heart of Darkness" is among the best episodes. It has a tense and continually absorbing story, especially in Storybrooke, while the fantasy flashbacks as one would expect are riveting and imaginative. A somewhat dark episode but also one with a lot of charm and heart.

    Would have liked to have seen more of Snow White and Charming's chemistry. Love the two characters together, which very quickly became one of the show's most interesting character interactions, and feel the characters deserve better than only a couple of scenes together. Occasionally there is a little corniness.

    However, visually "Heart of Darkness" 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 effects are also above average, not exceptional but not bad. It is photographed beautifully and there is some make-up that suited the characters perfectly. The music is haunting, ethereal and cleverly used with a memorable main theme.

    Regarding the writing, "Heart of Darkness" shows that it really has come on a long way. There is far less corn and instead the humour, emotional and romantic elements and the balance between them are getting stronger. Mary Margaret's admission is a standout of particularly smart writing.

    The acting is very well done. Ginnifer Goodwin continues to charm and Lana Parrilla and especially Robert Carlyle relish their juicy roles.

    On the whole, great episode and one of Season 1's best. 9/10 Bethany Cox
    helpful•1
    0
    • TheLittleSongbird
    • Dec 29, 2017

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 18, 2012 (United States)
      • United States
      • 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
    • 45 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Digital

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