'Once Upon a Time in Wonderland' was an uneven spin off of its generally superior parent show 'Once Upon a Time' (though that show did decline later on). To me, 'Once Upon a Time in Wonderland' started off with a lot wrong with it but with enough potential to make me keep watching. Being somebody that loved the premise so much. The show did get much better though later and would have gotten even stronger if given a proper chance, as it did get discontinued when it had just started to grow.
"Down the Rabbit Hole" is the show's first episode and to me it was above average and showed potential but had a fair number of things that were easy to criticise. It was one of the biggest representations of having what 'Once Upon a Time in Wonderland' did well, but also what it didn't do very well. Of which there are a lot of both extremes here. Still, the potential was there and it set things up for what was to become decently enough.
There is a good deal that "Down the Rabbit Hole" does quite well with. It is shot beautifully and atmospherically and did like the vibrant look of the Wonderland settings and the more austere Victorian period one. The music also has atmosphere in a foreboding and infectious way, while the main theme sparkles in a way that fits with the premise. The opening sequence is well designed and draws one right in. Also did like the witty writing between Alice and Knave, especially Knave's sass and sarcasm, they have some fun exchanges and Knave has all "Down the Rabbit Hole's" best lines. Cheshire Cat has the line, the one quoted in the summary here, that sums up the basic scenario very well though. It was also thought-provoking with Alice and Lydegate.
Enough of the story has compelling moments, especially the chemistry between Alice and Knave which provides the episode's heart. There are also some promising performances and absolutely loved the more mature, more assertive, more involved in the action and wittier Alice that fitted with the grown up Alice like a glove. Sophie Lowe is very appealing and Michael Socha is a joy as Knave. Peter Gadiot's screen time is not huge and his character is underwritten but he makes the most of what he has and is charming. John Lithgow is a wonderfully twitchy White Rabbit, those ears are a master touch. Generally Cheshire Cat was a disappointment, but that doesn't lie with Keith David's booming voice.
Unfortunately, "Down the Rabbit Hole" has a fair share of debits. Naveen Andrews is rather bland as Jafar, who doesn't gel yet within the setting, and doesn't have the charisma that he had in 'Lost'. Emma Rigby is not sinister at all and overacts embarrassingly, lets not get started with the pouting. Cheshire Cat looks very fake and like he was done as an afterthought in terms of both budget and time.
While the dialogue between Alice and Knave was fun, other parts of the dialogue came over as stilted and cookie-cutter. Especially Jafar's and Red Queen's, young Alice's writing was on the cloying side too. The storytelling mostly was over-stuffed and it's all a bit of a muddle at the moment with a jumpy structure, Jafar doesn't fit and the Mallow Marsh stuff was time wasting.
In summary, above average start but didn't blow me away. 6/10
"Down the Rabbit Hole" is the show's first episode and to me it was above average and showed potential but had a fair number of things that were easy to criticise. It was one of the biggest representations of having what 'Once Upon a Time in Wonderland' did well, but also what it didn't do very well. Of which there are a lot of both extremes here. Still, the potential was there and it set things up for what was to become decently enough.
There is a good deal that "Down the Rabbit Hole" does quite well with. It is shot beautifully and atmospherically and did like the vibrant look of the Wonderland settings and the more austere Victorian period one. The music also has atmosphere in a foreboding and infectious way, while the main theme sparkles in a way that fits with the premise. The opening sequence is well designed and draws one right in. Also did like the witty writing between Alice and Knave, especially Knave's sass and sarcasm, they have some fun exchanges and Knave has all "Down the Rabbit Hole's" best lines. Cheshire Cat has the line, the one quoted in the summary here, that sums up the basic scenario very well though. It was also thought-provoking with Alice and Lydegate.
Enough of the story has compelling moments, especially the chemistry between Alice and Knave which provides the episode's heart. There are also some promising performances and absolutely loved the more mature, more assertive, more involved in the action and wittier Alice that fitted with the grown up Alice like a glove. Sophie Lowe is very appealing and Michael Socha is a joy as Knave. Peter Gadiot's screen time is not huge and his character is underwritten but he makes the most of what he has and is charming. John Lithgow is a wonderfully twitchy White Rabbit, those ears are a master touch. Generally Cheshire Cat was a disappointment, but that doesn't lie with Keith David's booming voice.
Unfortunately, "Down the Rabbit Hole" has a fair share of debits. Naveen Andrews is rather bland as Jafar, who doesn't gel yet within the setting, and doesn't have the charisma that he had in 'Lost'. Emma Rigby is not sinister at all and overacts embarrassingly, lets not get started with the pouting. Cheshire Cat looks very fake and like he was done as an afterthought in terms of both budget and time.
While the dialogue between Alice and Knave was fun, other parts of the dialogue came over as stilted and cookie-cutter. Especially Jafar's and Red Queen's, young Alice's writing was on the cloying side too. The storytelling mostly was over-stuffed and it's all a bit of a muddle at the moment with a jumpy structure, Jafar doesn't fit and the Mallow Marsh stuff was time wasting.
In summary, above average start but didn't blow me away. 6/10
