Once Upon a Time (TV Series) The Price of Gold (2011) User Reviews

Nice Rumpelstiltskin episode in the show and a vast improvement over the previous episodes

[gavin-thelordofthefu-48-460297 · 8/10 · 1 March 2015]

While The Price of Gold isn't exactly solid, it does a fantastic job continuing to explore the origins of Rumpelstiltskin about how his deal made from Cinderella became regrettable and goes back to develop Emma, Mary Margaret, Regina, and Sheriff Graham. The storyline, while having it's stilted moments, is good; the dialog is certainly much fresher than the previous episodes; the visuals are still very beautiful and as usual, the characters are still likable and the acting is still good.

Sorry I have to rush this, but I've got lots of episodes to review. Not that I'm complaining or anything. It's just a long road for me to review all three seasons to catch up to the fourth season.

Golden episode

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 17 November 2017]

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.

"The Price of Gold" follows on after the very promising, if imperfect (understandably) start set by the previous two episodes and it is showing that the show is getting better and stronger with each episode at this point. It replaces "Snow Falls" as the best episode up to this very early point in Season 1. There is the odd cheesy moment still in the writing, which considering that the first season is always the one where everything usually takes time to settle. "The Price of Gold" is most notable for the development of Rumplestiltskin (always a high point of the show before but even more so now that he is the main focus) and does splendidly in that regard as well as continuing to develop the likes of Emma and Regina.

As to be expected, "The Price of Gold" 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.

Much of the writing is humorous and engaging and the story establishes the concept and intertwines and mirrors the real and fantasy worlds very well. Love the story development of Rumplestiltskin and what was done with him and Cinderella. The characters still maintain interest.

The acting continues to improve all the time. Ginnifer Goodwin is charming and Jennifer Morrison is coming into her own as Emma, while Lana Parilla has lost none of what makes her one of the show's better performers in the first place. Acting honours though go to Robert Carlyle clearly having a whale of a time as Rumplestiltskin.

Overall, great golden episode. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Be careful what you ask for..

[cual80 · 13 November 2011]

Everything has a price, nothing comes for free. That's the theme, where Cinderella makes a deal with Rumplestilskin, to become a princess without asking what he wants in return, she ends up having to give up her firstborn child. When her husband finds out he makes a deal to save the child but at the cost of himself. Now in the present where Emma makes a deal for Cinderella to keep the child without asking the price, turns out (but never said) she now can't leave the town of Storybrooke. We also find out nobody else can leave Storybrooke other than Henry, all that is said something bad happens to them. It turns out to be a theme for the ages, how many people today ask for things before counting the cost?

The One With Cinderella...

[taylorkingston · 10/10 · 21 September 2015]

I really love this episode. This is one of my all-time favorite episodes from this season. It is just so good. I love the portrayal of Cinderella in this episode, and I love all of the inside jokes.

In the real world: Emma tries to help a young girl, who is pregnant. The girl promised her baby to Gold, and Emma tries to get her out of the deal.

In the fairytale world: Cinderella makes a deal with Rumplestiltskin, so that she can go to ball, and then when he comes to collect her baby, as payment, she, and her Prince must stop him.

Overall, I give this episode a 10 out of 10, which in my ratings book is: Freaking Ridonkulous.

All magic comes with price

[sini-200 · 9/10 · 15 March 2023]

I absolutely love Rumplestiltskin character, and this episode is great way to see a little bit more about his character. There is something fascinating about him and why he does what he does. 'all magic comes with a price' is great way describing him and the show. Robert does excellent job portraying Rumplestiltskin as this twisted evil monster. No one else could play him like he does.

I also love the modern twist of Cinderella in Storybrooke and Mr. Gold is trying to get her baby. And to see what happened after the 'happily ever after'. It's funny too to think Rumple is Cinderella's fairygodmother lmao.