Once Upon a Time (TV Series) The Shepherd (2011) User Reviews

Charming's back-story made this episode worth it!

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

Although it doesn't reach the compelling story in the previous episode and some of the dialog isn't as fresh this time around, The Shepard is a nice episode and it does explore Charming's back-story really well and goes back to develop David, Charming's modern counterpart.

The story is good, the dialog is decent, and the script is solid. The acting is also great, especially from Charming/David you feel the situation that he's been going through. His interactions with the other characters is spot on, too. And that's about it.

Overall, not excellent, but a really good episode with a nice back- story for the prince. Review for next episode, coming soon!

As charming an episode as the prince himself

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 23 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.

Up to this point (six episodes in), even for such an early point of the show, all the episodes have ranged from very good to wonderful. "The Shepherd" is no exception, quality may have dipped a little from the wonderful previous episode "That Still Small Voice" but this is still a very charming episode and demonstrative of 'Once Upon a Time' continuing to grow all the time.

Maybe "The Shepherd" doesn't have the freshest of dialogue in a 'Once Upon a Time' episode and Charming may not be among the most interesting of characters at this very early point in the show, but neither of these are faults actually. My only complaint with "The Shepherd" is the less than special visual effects, in particular the green screen which is obvious and looked cheap for my tastes.

Otherwise, everything else is great. Snow and Charming and their modern counterparts are interesting and likable, and Charming's back-story is told compellingly with a lot of charm and emotion. Particularly standing out here are Charming's very well done fight with the dragon, the portrayal of Mary Margaret's moral dilemma that she faces which had a great deal of heart to heart-wrenching effect and the remarkably complex female characterisation (particularly Mary Margaret).

Visual effects apart, "The Shepherd" 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. The music is haunting, ethereal and cleverly used with a memorable main theme.

In "The Shepherd", the writing is the best and most consistent it's been up to this point, it's humorous and engaging and doesn't have any cheesy or as many clichéd moments. The story establishes the concept and intertwines and mirrors the real and fantasy worlds very well and does a great job making one care for Snow and Charming and really feeling their chemistry together, already strong but brought up a notch.

Josh Dallas gives some of his best acting of the series and Ginnifer Goodwin is immensely appealing. Robert Carlyle continues to steal scenes.

To conclude, charming. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Do you believe in fairy tales? You will.

[lmtur51 · 10/10 · 4 December 2011]

Who doesn't love a good fairy tale, with the potential for a "happily ever after" ending? I say 'with the potential for' because (like all good fairy tales) this one is fraught with villains and dangers, twists and turns in every episode. That's part of what makes it so appealing. It begins in the realm of fantasy (in fairy tale land) ...with Snow White (nicknamed "Snow") about to marry her Prince Charming after being awakened with a lover's kiss from the same. The Evil Queen crashes Snow's wedding to Prince Charming and declares her intention to destroy their "happily ever after," which of course she succeeds in doing... for the time being anyway. What happens proceeding and leading up to their wedding, the birth of their child and the evil queen's wicked "curse" upon the entire kingdom we get glimpses of in flash-back form. In the "curse," they are all ushered (unbeknownst to them) into present day reality land... to a town called Storybrook. Here, they live different lives and are totally oblivious to their own "reality" ...that is, until a young boy is given a book by his teacher. That book somehow 'awakens' his imagination and courage to believe what others refuse to... that "reality" and "truth" are only a possibility away. He enlists the help of a young woman, named Emma, who he claims to be his birth mother. She gave him up for adoption to give him the best possible chance at a good life, which at the time she was not able to give him. The truth is, Emma is also the child that was born to Snow White and Prince Charming. To her advantage, she was sent ahead to the present in an effort to spare her from the "curse." Though she considers it to have been an abandonment on her folks part, the fact that she was spared from the "curse" gives her a particular advantage. Soon Emma meets her nemesis, who just so happens to be her 'son's' mother. A battle ensues, ...a battle of the mind, emotions and wills. But behind this battle stands a young boy, who just so happens to "believe" in fairy tales and "happy endings." He'll have you believing too.

The One With David's Past...

[taylorkingston · 6/10 · 29 April 2016]

I liked this episode. I'm not the biggest fan of David, or Mary Margaret, so this episode centering around them makes it not as enjoyable as it could've been. But it is still worth a watch.

In this real world: David (AKA John Doe) has fallen in love with Mary Margaret, and he must choose between leaving with her, and staying with his wife, Kathryn.

In the real fairytale world: Prince Charming encounters a life-changing event that will alter his destiny forever.

Title card: Features a dragon in this episode.

Fun fact: The mobile that David looked at in the pawn shop, is the same mobile that hung above Emma's crib in the first episode.

Best part of the episode: Nothing in particular.

Worst part of the episode: Nothing in particular.

Overall, I give this episode a 6 out of 10, which in my ratings book is: Good.