Fractured Fairy Tale: The Appeal and the Danger of 'Once Upon a Time'
ABC's big surprise hit this year doesn't feature lawyers, police officers, doctors, or any other primetime staples. It features princesses, imps, talking crickets, magic mirrors, and an evil queen.
Once Upon a Time has consistently scored high in the ratings this season with its unique mix of classic fairy tales and modern mores. The story begins with Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison), a no-nonsense bounty hunter, being found by the son she had given up for adoption. Young Henry (Jared Gilmore) tells Emma that the town of Storybrooke, Maine, where he lives, is full of fairy tale characters who are under a dark spell that only she can break.
Naturally, Emma is disinclined to believe his theory. But meeting Henry's adoptive mother, Regina (Lana Parrilla), convinces her that something is wrong with his situation, and that she needs to figure out what it is. Meanwhile, flashbacks reveal to us that Henry has, in fact, stumbled upon the truth: The residents of Storybrooke are indeed enchanted fairy tale characters, most of whom have no memory of whom they really are. Regina is actually the evil queen from Snow White who, out of spite and hatred, cursed these people to a life disconnected from their true identities.
It's an intriguing premise, cleverly executed. But is that enough to account for its success? I think there may be something deeper at work here.
Many of the people of Storybrooke are unhappy with their lives for reasons they don't fully understand. The curse placed on them has ripped apart relationships and left individuals stranded without each other. Though the writers probably didn't intend it that way, it's reminiscent of another curse that Christians are familiar with—one that disrupted the life that we were meant to live, and infects our lives and relationships to this day. In this respect, Storybrooke, filled with lonely, restless, searching people, is a microcosm of our own world.
At the heart of the story are Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Prince Charming (Josh Dallas), who were married with a newborn daughter—Emma—when the destructive curse took effect. In Storybrooke, Snow is now Mary Margaret Blanchard, a single elementary-school teacher, and Charming is David Nolan, seemingly married to another woman—though when it comes right down to it, he can't actually remember marrying her. When Emma Swan shows up in town, neither of them realizes that she's their child. Neither of them can even remember that they have a child.
Yet Mary Margaret and David are powerfully drawn to each other. They make a lovely couple, but the moral calculus required to root for them would give Archimedes a migraine. David's married to someone else—only he really isn't—but he thinks he is—but technically, by thinking he is, he's cheating on his real wife, Snow/Mary—but he doesn't know that, so he's essentially cheating on his supposed wife … you get the picture. In the fairy tale world that we see in flashback, these two had a wonderful marriage; in the modern world, the only relationship they can have is a guilt-ridden and secretive one.
The Seminary Gender Gap
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Rose Dunkerley
Great analogy of this show. I have enjoyed it from the beginning. It is a unique concept for a TV show and gets down to the good vs evil lesson...in every episode. It is amazing the parallel to our lives today...always not quite happy with earthly things...but only happiness is found in the one "true love" of our Creator. Thanks for sharing your great analogy and insight regarding this series!
Lizzie
I really enjoy this show but I have thought about a lot of the things you wrote about - I saw some of the things you point out and this is a thoughtful article on the show. Beyond the analogy of the Storybrooke curse and the curse of sin in our world, I like that there is a book that reveals the intended identity of people and that there must be a savior who comes into the cursed world in order to save it.
Olympiias
I don't know if you nice church goers know this but....No one likes Charming and Snow, In Storybrooke they are wimps and jerks. The popular character is Regina and Rumplestiltskin---With out them this show would have ended weeks ago.
John
Kristen, you nailed it. It's a TV show for goodness sakes. Yes, art (even TV shows) can speak to deeper ideas. I'll be the first to say I still love Braveheart, but this show is more about cool idea, great actors (I mean, watch Robert Carlyle -- won't see that much talent on many other shows), and inventive re-tellings of classic tales. This is from the same team that created LOST. There are going to be questions, there will be hidden meanings, some things will be left unanswered. Like Kristen wrote, "just relax and enjoy".
connie tinnin
pleeze...don't you think you are over analyzing and reading way to much in a FICTION show based on children's stories? This show is much better than most of the bloody, senseless killing and rude language of most of the shows available to watch on prime time. Just relax and enjoy the fine acting, great costumes, sets and tongue in cheek story lines.
Doreen Ashley
Wow - what a great article! Current, relevant, insightful and thoughta provoking. Gently reminding us to stay engaged at a spiritual level, without lecturing or judging. Best of all giving me something new that I will continue to reflect on every time I watch the show - or anything similar. Thank-you Gina! I also related to Jane's comment about loving a story told in black and white without the gray shades to complicate and confuse things. I think these themes are why fantasy and sci-fi appeal so strongly to some of us. Christianity is the ultimate good vs evil story. Also, I was thinking that it may take someone's sacrifice to restore the Storybrooke characters to their true identities. Hopefully a sacrifice with a redemptive ending so that all can live happily ever after!
Glenna Ganster
I agree with Mark E.'s comments -- hopefully the show has a long way to go and we don't know yet how the Mary/David relationship is going to turn out, so way too soon to judge. Anyway, if there's nothing sinful going on, none of us will really be able to relate to the characters .... We are tempted and we do sin -- there was only one who didn't, and we shouldn't expect meaningful TV shows to portray a perfection we don't know or live in. And even if the final choices are not ones we would personally make, or want our friends and children to make, it's still excellent material for life lessons, especially when executed as tastefully, imaginatively, and beautifully as this show is.
Jennifer Dawn McLucas
Excellent article. I have had similar thoughts about the show and you've given me much more to think about. I appreciate how well thought out and articulated your thoughts are. I've bookmarked this, I think I'll want to read it a few more times as I process through the themes, not of the show, but of my own life in Christ.
Jennifer Dawn McLucas
Excellent article. I have had similar thoughts about the show and you've given me much more to think about. I appreciate how well thought out and articulated your thoughts are. I've bookmarked this, I think I'll want to read it a few more times as I process through the themes, not of the show, but of my own life in Christ.
jen
Excellent analysis and review. One thing that has troubled me about the show is the way in which the evil characters seem to sometimes 'demolish' good characters who attempt to confront or come up against them, how they seem to 'one-up' them. On further thought, I know that without the only one who is truly Good (Jesus Christ) we are without protection. I am curious about how the show will deal with a 'good' that will be completely victorious over the curse. Thank you for your insightful article.
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