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.
Season 5 had a lot to live up to after Season 4 being as impressive as it was. As far as Season 4's episodes go, they were all decent to brilliant with the only small dip being "Family Business" (though "Heart of Gold" was uneven) and the best being the "Smash the Mirror" two parter, "Best Laid Plans", "Mother" and the first part of "Operation Mongoose". So was expecting a good deal from Season 5 and "The Dark Swan" didn't disappoint at all. All the episodes between that and this ranged to me from decent to brilliant.
"Labour of Love" is very good still while not quite being great. There are a lot of great things that make the episode a very good one but there were a couple of flaws.
Its only major problem is the Cruella and Henry subplot, Cruella served no real point to the story and the subplot felt too unrelated to the rest of the story and didn't add very much.
Also thought that although quite scary and formidable enough with a good purpose to the story, Cerberus looks a little ropy, there have been a fair few instances where the effects in 'Once Upon a Time' have looked under-budgeted and less special, while not one of the worst Cerberus is not an exception.
However, there is lots of character development advancing and the set up for what's to come with the Underworld showing a lot of potential. The story has enough moments where it is absorbing and balanced with assurance and coherence on the whole."Labour of Love" is most notable for introducing the characters of Hercules and Meg and their character arc, it doesn't feel completely settled naturally but the potential is big, with Meg and particularly Hercules (who has more to do) being nice enough characters and their appearances are far from wasted.
It's the character interaction that shines just as much, Hercules and Meg are such a relatable couple with an already charming chemistry, even if there is more growth in score. Particularly good too is Snow White and Hercules, which was heartfelt, and chills with Hades and Hook with Hades more dangerous than in "Souls of the Departed". Regina and Robin's sassy chemistry shines too. David and Mary Margaret's chemistry is the strongest it's been all season and it's here up to this point of the season where it makes sense the most. The character arcs are solid (on top of with Hercules there is young Snow White as well), the drama full of intensity and heart and a couple of nice twists (like the Meg reveal)
All the acting is strong, Greg Germann still strikes me as a great fit for Hades, imposing threat, menace and surprising humour and it makes it easy to see what characters see in him and are easily manipulated. His treatment of Hook is indeed extreme somewhat, but it does show what he is capable of.
Lana Parrilla, Sean Maguire and Colin O'Donoghue are typically excellent and Bailee Maddison is adorable and affecting as young Snow White. Emma Caulfield's Blind Witch interests, Ginnifer Goodwin and Josh Dallas are charming and Jonathan Whitesell and Kacey Rohl are likeable in their introductory appearances.
Furthermore, "Labour of Love" is a very handsomely mounted episode visually, the settings and costumes are both colourful and atmospheric, not too dark or garish and never cookie cutter. It is photographed beautifully too. The music is haunting, ethereal and cleverly used with a memorable theme tune.
Writing has the right balance of humour, pathos, mystery and intrigue mostly. This aspect has come on such a long way since when 'Once Upon a Time' first started, much more complexity and nuance, or at least at this point (with a few exceptions of course) before it took a nosedive in the last season.
Overall, very good. 8/10 Bethany Cox
Season 5 had a lot to live up to after Season 4 being as impressive as it was. As far as Season 4's episodes go, they were all decent to brilliant with the only small dip being "Family Business" (though "Heart of Gold" was uneven) and the best being the "Smash the Mirror" two parter, "Best Laid Plans", "Mother" and the first part of "Operation Mongoose". So was expecting a good deal from Season 5 and "The Dark Swan" didn't disappoint at all. All the episodes between that and this ranged to me from decent to brilliant.
"Labour of Love" is very good still while not quite being great. There are a lot of great things that make the episode a very good one but there were a couple of flaws.
Its only major problem is the Cruella and Henry subplot, Cruella served no real point to the story and the subplot felt too unrelated to the rest of the story and didn't add very much.
Also thought that although quite scary and formidable enough with a good purpose to the story, Cerberus looks a little ropy, there have been a fair few instances where the effects in 'Once Upon a Time' have looked under-budgeted and less special, while not one of the worst Cerberus is not an exception.
However, there is lots of character development advancing and the set up for what's to come with the Underworld showing a lot of potential. The story has enough moments where it is absorbing and balanced with assurance and coherence on the whole."Labour of Love" is most notable for introducing the characters of Hercules and Meg and their character arc, it doesn't feel completely settled naturally but the potential is big, with Meg and particularly Hercules (who has more to do) being nice enough characters and their appearances are far from wasted.
It's the character interaction that shines just as much, Hercules and Meg are such a relatable couple with an already charming chemistry, even if there is more growth in score. Particularly good too is Snow White and Hercules, which was heartfelt, and chills with Hades and Hook with Hades more dangerous than in "Souls of the Departed". Regina and Robin's sassy chemistry shines too. David and Mary Margaret's chemistry is the strongest it's been all season and it's here up to this point of the season where it makes sense the most. The character arcs are solid (on top of with Hercules there is young Snow White as well), the drama full of intensity and heart and a couple of nice twists (like the Meg reveal)
All the acting is strong, Greg Germann still strikes me as a great fit for Hades, imposing threat, menace and surprising humour and it makes it easy to see what characters see in him and are easily manipulated. His treatment of Hook is indeed extreme somewhat, but it does show what he is capable of.
Lana Parrilla, Sean Maguire and Colin O'Donoghue are typically excellent and Bailee Maddison is adorable and affecting as young Snow White. Emma Caulfield's Blind Witch interests, Ginnifer Goodwin and Josh Dallas are charming and Jonathan Whitesell and Kacey Rohl are likeable in their introductory appearances.
Furthermore, "Labour of Love" is a very handsomely mounted episode visually, the settings and costumes are both colourful and atmospheric, not too dark or garish and never cookie cutter. It is photographed beautifully too. The music is haunting, ethereal and cleverly used with a memorable theme tune.
Writing has the right balance of humour, pathos, mystery and intrigue mostly. This aspect has come on such a long way since when 'Once Upon a Time' first started, much more complexity and nuance, or at least at this point (with a few exceptions of course) before it took a nosedive in the last season.
Overall, very good. 8/10 Bethany Cox