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.
Loved Season 2's opening episode "Broken", a more settled season opener than the first season's and made one excited for the promising new direction 'Once Upon a Time' was starting to take. Love "We are Both" just as much, an episode that is just as enchanting and exciting, with the new characters showing a lot of promise and plot points introduced before being expanded upon and advanced.
Not quite a perfect episode. Considering the huge potential it had, it was a real shame that the relationship between Emma and Snow White wasn't focused on more and their brief appearance here is somewhat of a waste.
However, the parallel of the two worlds is as ever seamlessly done. A lot is covered and not in a way that feels rushed, while also having time to build upon these different ideas without including extraneous padding scenes. The big Rumplestiltskin and Regina revelation is an unnerving shock and handled beautifully.
The character interplay is truly great, especially between David and Regina.
As to be expected, "We are Both" is a very handsomely mounted episode, with 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 and pretty good effects work. The music is haunting, ethereal and cleverly used with a memorable main theme.
Humour, mysterious intrigue, charm and pathos are beautifully balanced, any signs of corniness that crept in here and there in the previous season are nowhere in sight here.
Good acting is also present, Robert Carlyle and Lana Parrilla are the scene stealers but just as impressive is seeing David/Charming showing some leadership qualities that Josh Dallas does a great job with.
In conclusion, great episode. 9/10 Bethany Cox
Loved Season 2's opening episode "Broken", a more settled season opener than the first season's and made one excited for the promising new direction 'Once Upon a Time' was starting to take. Love "We are Both" just as much, an episode that is just as enchanting and exciting, with the new characters showing a lot of promise and plot points introduced before being expanded upon and advanced.
Not quite a perfect episode. Considering the huge potential it had, it was a real shame that the relationship between Emma and Snow White wasn't focused on more and their brief appearance here is somewhat of a waste.
However, the parallel of the two worlds is as ever seamlessly done. A lot is covered and not in a way that feels rushed, while also having time to build upon these different ideas without including extraneous padding scenes. The big Rumplestiltskin and Regina revelation is an unnerving shock and handled beautifully.
The character interplay is truly great, especially between David and Regina.
As to be expected, "We are Both" is a very handsomely mounted episode, with 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 and pretty good effects work. The music is haunting, ethereal and cleverly used with a memorable main theme.
Humour, mysterious intrigue, charm and pathos are beautifully balanced, any signs of corniness that crept in here and there in the previous season are nowhere in sight here.
Good acting is also present, Robert Carlyle and Lana Parrilla are the scene stealers but just as impressive is seeing David/Charming showing some leadership qualities that Josh Dallas does a great job with.
In conclusion, great episode. 9/10 Bethany Cox
