While the timeline is confusing and I am having a hard time lining it up in my head with the current Once Upon a Time and the story of Jafar, I wanted to point out that the Red Queen (blonde lady) is different than Regina's mom. Regina's mom is the Queen of Hearts. They are different characters in the Wonderland books as well. Timeline aside, I am enjoying this show. I like the different characters and the unique names of places and things within Wonderland. It brings Wonderland to life in a whole new light and it is really interesting to go back and remember Alice in Wonderland and think about this version of Wonderland. It's a fun show and I will continue to watch it.
36 Reviews
Negative Reviews on This WebSite SERIOUSLY Miss the Mark!
fullheadofsteam17 October 2013
Not only is this (admittedly) spin-off series cleverly written, plus a cast that doesn't look Hollywood mannequin-esque, but is wonderful to listen to and look at, and it manages, as few old-school networks do, to make more quality-driven T.V. as is now being delivered on cable channels! Thank goodness that a mainstream, non-cable network has the proverbial balls to air such an engaging new series!!!! The lead, Alice, is refreshingly cast and portrayed by a skilled actress who, physiologically, does NOT (thankfully) look like just another robotic or plastic model, This series has major promise in terms of quality, client writing and performance, which leads me to believe based on extensive experience with decades of mainline 3-network TV. that this series might not survive!
Doesn't shine as its parent's premier did but still promising
zaurjamilov15 October 2013
Of course it is early so far to say in confidence yet but based on this episode premier: this is the first more and less decent Alice in Wonderland adaptation since my all-time favorite version of 90's with Tina Majorino and Martin Short. This is a sequel to the original book, so not a direct adaptation just like recent Tim Burton's version was. It is OUaT's version of Wonderland but I am glad that so far this spin-off is more Alice Wonderland rather than Once Upon a Time.
Wonderland – the main asset of the original book is the world itself. Considering that it is only a TV show and, judging by OUaT, not the richest one in budget terms, I prepared for the worst but hoped for the best. In terms of special effects, the reality turned out to be if not quite the second one but still pretty close. I loved almost everything: from deem and gloomy Asylum where Alice's path in the series began (surprisingly, directors didn't try to save money even there: quite many parts of the Asylum are completely CGI made) to the dreamlike surreal landscapes of Wonderland. CGI is not better than it was in the first season of OUaT but in this context, little graphical details only add dreamlike delusional feel to the world Alice appears in. To my taste, Burton's version of Wonderland was way too detailed, it was way too fleshed out. So fleshed out that it lost its "dream" feel which certainly was in the book and was supposed to be in the adaptation. I hope the readers, especially fans of the original book, follow my logic here. Usually I am against bad CGI but here it actually served the dreamy and surreal context of the world.
All in all, I liked the creativity of graphical design, I liked that the amount of special effects in just this one episode is more than in the first 2 seasons of OUaT all together, I liked the carefulness with which the creators have approached this particular book adaptation: they managed to preserve the adventurous feel of the parent show but also didn't lose the overall book atmosphere which I so hoped to see in this story. Even if you don't care about surrealism and the book, if you were fine with the CGI quality of OUaT season one, you should be fine here also.
Actors- to those who say that the acting was bad: I disagree. Sophie Low shows us the finest Alice performance I have seen in a while- definitely better than Mia Wasikowska's performance. Sorry but where the heck was Sophie when Burton was making his movie? Sophie and Mia both perform a mature version of book Alice but in quite similar ways with an exception that Sophie actually acts and her mimics change. Her talking style and behavior is a bit modern, to my taste (I just don't believe that this girl was raised in Victorian London) but maybe I am bit picky here. Overall, solid performance of the main protagonist. Michael Socha, who plays the Knave of Hearts, didn't open up quite yet (neither in acting nor as the character) but it seems that the script writers do have couple As in their sleeve regarding this character for future episodes – and I will be waiting. Peter Gadiot (Cyrus) plays his part in the show well enough but just to the point. His performance is not superb but neither the script so far demands it. Loved the white rabbit (voiced by fabulous John Lithgow), just want to see him more and more. The new version of Cheshire Cat was odd but I still was glad to see one of my most loved characters right in the first episode. Despite of slightly altered personality, this cat still didn't lose its charm and I do hope we are not done with him yet. More cat and the rabbit!
Emma Rigby as the Red Queen (Red Queen, not Queen of Hearts) is the only one from the cast who slightly disappoints with her wooden acting (in this sense, can't help but compare Rigby to fabulous Helena Bonham Carter and not to the merit of the first one). However, the actress is pretty (so are her dresses) and her character doesn't irritate which is already something. Appearance of Jafar takes by surprise but it was a joy to see Naveen Andrews on a screen one more time. After all, with the wooden Red Queen around, charismatic Jafar is exactly what we needed (well, I needed for sure at least).That it is with the cast. Let's hope together for Hershey and Stan's at least cameo appearances in future episodes. No Alice adaptation is fun without the Hatter and Queen of Hearts!
Story – again, too early to judge yet but so far it seems to be more complicated than the Burton's version. After 2010 Alice in Wonderland, which disappoints terribly with its simplicity, any plot differentiated with at least a bit of creativity will be met with applause by me. And so far the first episode promises to provide us with something special.
Outcome- so far not great but quite decent. Worth attention, worth watching: if you are a fan of the parent show Once Upon a Time, if you are a fan of the original book (adaptation is not perfect but point me the one which is), if you are neither of the first two mentioned but you just like fairy tales. Who knows?- if you didn't like OUaT you still might like this spin-off. It is fun, it is fresh, it is adventurous. It is a new story and more and less meticulous adaptation of the book. For that – thanks to the creators. Seems that it is going to be a fun ride and I, personally, can't wait to see what this roller coaster hides behind the corner.
Wonderland – the main asset of the original book is the world itself. Considering that it is only a TV show and, judging by OUaT, not the richest one in budget terms, I prepared for the worst but hoped for the best. In terms of special effects, the reality turned out to be if not quite the second one but still pretty close. I loved almost everything: from deem and gloomy Asylum where Alice's path in the series began (surprisingly, directors didn't try to save money even there: quite many parts of the Asylum are completely CGI made) to the dreamlike surreal landscapes of Wonderland. CGI is not better than it was in the first season of OUaT but in this context, little graphical details only add dreamlike delusional feel to the world Alice appears in. To my taste, Burton's version of Wonderland was way too detailed, it was way too fleshed out. So fleshed out that it lost its "dream" feel which certainly was in the book and was supposed to be in the adaptation. I hope the readers, especially fans of the original book, follow my logic here. Usually I am against bad CGI but here it actually served the dreamy and surreal context of the world.
All in all, I liked the creativity of graphical design, I liked that the amount of special effects in just this one episode is more than in the first 2 seasons of OUaT all together, I liked the carefulness with which the creators have approached this particular book adaptation: they managed to preserve the adventurous feel of the parent show but also didn't lose the overall book atmosphere which I so hoped to see in this story. Even if you don't care about surrealism and the book, if you were fine with the CGI quality of OUaT season one, you should be fine here also.
Actors- to those who say that the acting was bad: I disagree. Sophie Low shows us the finest Alice performance I have seen in a while- definitely better than Mia Wasikowska's performance. Sorry but where the heck was Sophie when Burton was making his movie? Sophie and Mia both perform a mature version of book Alice but in quite similar ways with an exception that Sophie actually acts and her mimics change. Her talking style and behavior is a bit modern, to my taste (I just don't believe that this girl was raised in Victorian London) but maybe I am bit picky here. Overall, solid performance of the main protagonist. Michael Socha, who plays the Knave of Hearts, didn't open up quite yet (neither in acting nor as the character) but it seems that the script writers do have couple As in their sleeve regarding this character for future episodes – and I will be waiting. Peter Gadiot (Cyrus) plays his part in the show well enough but just to the point. His performance is not superb but neither the script so far demands it. Loved the white rabbit (voiced by fabulous John Lithgow), just want to see him more and more. The new version of Cheshire Cat was odd but I still was glad to see one of my most loved characters right in the first episode. Despite of slightly altered personality, this cat still didn't lose its charm and I do hope we are not done with him yet. More cat and the rabbit!
Emma Rigby as the Red Queen (Red Queen, not Queen of Hearts) is the only one from the cast who slightly disappoints with her wooden acting (in this sense, can't help but compare Rigby to fabulous Helena Bonham Carter and not to the merit of the first one). However, the actress is pretty (so are her dresses) and her character doesn't irritate which is already something. Appearance of Jafar takes by surprise but it was a joy to see Naveen Andrews on a screen one more time. After all, with the wooden Red Queen around, charismatic Jafar is exactly what we needed (well, I needed for sure at least).That it is with the cast. Let's hope together for Hershey and Stan's at least cameo appearances in future episodes. No Alice adaptation is fun without the Hatter and Queen of Hearts!
Story – again, too early to judge yet but so far it seems to be more complicated than the Burton's version. After 2010 Alice in Wonderland, which disappoints terribly with its simplicity, any plot differentiated with at least a bit of creativity will be met with applause by me. And so far the first episode promises to provide us with something special.
Outcome- so far not great but quite decent. Worth attention, worth watching: if you are a fan of the parent show Once Upon a Time, if you are a fan of the original book (adaptation is not perfect but point me the one which is), if you are neither of the first two mentioned but you just like fairy tales. Who knows?- if you didn't like OUaT you still might like this spin-off. It is fun, it is fresh, it is adventurous. It is a new story and more and less meticulous adaptation of the book. For that – thanks to the creators. Seems that it is going to be a fun ride and I, personally, can't wait to see what this roller coaster hides behind the corner.
A Wonderful, Creative Fantasy!
zerogirl4221 November 2013
Once Upon a Time in Wonderland is the story of Alice, but later on in her life. This is nothing like the Tim Burton interpretation. This is the spirited, little girl that we loved as Alice in books but all grown up. She's now a clever, young woman with determination.
Wonderland takes on a life of it's own, incorporating parts of the original story like the mock turtle and chess game, but serving them up in a whole new way.
There are references to Once Upon a Time, there's no need to watch this before Wonderland. Wonderland stands on its own as an interesting tale.
It's VERY creative and the story begins quickly. I suggest watching through to at least the 3rd episode then deciding if you want to stick with it. The 3rd, 4th and 5th episode are all great character studies, while the 1st and 2nd set the stage.
Strong female AND male characters lead characters are a nice touch. It's very balanced.
The story isn't spoon-fed to the watcher either which adds to the unpredictability. Anything that seems out of place (like the phony Queen and the presence of Jafer) are there for a reason is all I have to say.
It's great to see an extremely creative, fantasy show on TV. Being a fan of shows like Pushing Daisies, Wonderfalls, White Dwarf (I wish that made it past the pilot), and others, I really hope this show's given a chance.
A lot of sci-fi or vampire shows seem to make into several seasons, but fantasy seems to have more of a challenge.
This is definitely one of the better ones, but I fear it may suffer a similar fate to Stargate Universe (which starred Robert Carlyle AKA Rumplestilskin), where viewers expect it to be like the previous incarnation.
It's wonderful to see Michael Socha (The Knave of Hearts) play the underdog who struggles to do the right thing. (He was also in the ill- fated fantasy/horror "Being Human" UK version which ended too soon).
Wonderland is focused on just a couple stories, instead of several like Once Upon a Time. It's more of a quest and journey focusing mainly on Alice, but with VERY interesting characters surrounding her.
Wonderland takes on a life of it's own, incorporating parts of the original story like the mock turtle and chess game, but serving them up in a whole new way.
There are references to Once Upon a Time, there's no need to watch this before Wonderland. Wonderland stands on its own as an interesting tale.
It's VERY creative and the story begins quickly. I suggest watching through to at least the 3rd episode then deciding if you want to stick with it. The 3rd, 4th and 5th episode are all great character studies, while the 1st and 2nd set the stage.
Strong female AND male characters lead characters are a nice touch. It's very balanced.
The story isn't spoon-fed to the watcher either which adds to the unpredictability. Anything that seems out of place (like the phony Queen and the presence of Jafer) are there for a reason is all I have to say.
It's great to see an extremely creative, fantasy show on TV. Being a fan of shows like Pushing Daisies, Wonderfalls, White Dwarf (I wish that made it past the pilot), and others, I really hope this show's given a chance.
A lot of sci-fi or vampire shows seem to make into several seasons, but fantasy seems to have more of a challenge.
This is definitely one of the better ones, but I fear it may suffer a similar fate to Stargate Universe (which starred Robert Carlyle AKA Rumplestilskin), where viewers expect it to be like the previous incarnation.
It's wonderful to see Michael Socha (The Knave of Hearts) play the underdog who struggles to do the right thing. (He was also in the ill- fated fantasy/horror "Being Human" UK version which ended too soon).
Wonderland is focused on just a couple stories, instead of several like Once Upon a Time. It's more of a quest and journey focusing mainly on Alice, but with VERY interesting characters surrounding her.
An Alice who actually does things!
rosuav-i16 November 2013
I've only watched half the first episode so far, but this features an Alice who really does things. A lot of the asylum scenes seem reminiscent of American McGee's Alice, and she's just the sort of dish -- erm, girl -- to spice up a story to perfection. Not like the weak Alice of Tim Burton's film, this is a girl who's willing to muck in and fight, to take charge of her own life, to be more than just a damsel in distress (or a damsel in dis dress, although she does wear some pretty ones).
CGI in anything relating to Wonderland is of course going to be critical. I've seen the full gamut - openly cheesy, nice try but the tech's just not there, fairly good but flawed - and this is far from terrible. I wouldn't expect perfection, partly because everyone's idea of perfect is different. It's easily adequate.
CGI in anything relating to Wonderland is of course going to be critical. I've seen the full gamut - openly cheesy, nice try but the tech's just not there, fairly good but flawed - and this is far from terrible. I wouldn't expect perfection, partly because everyone's idea of perfect is different. It's easily adequate.
Not as good as expected, until later in the season, it suddenly improved...
eri_faery4 May 2014
I heard of this show after watching Once Upon A Time (as I assume most people have). There is no comparison - Once Upon A Time has a much more intricate and better-developed storyline, as well as generally much better actors. I have a great respect for actors, but at the same time I feel it is equally important to offer an audience critique, especially for more popular shows.
I watched 8 episodes (over quite a long period of time) because it was a genre I enjoy, even though the story and actors were fairly mediocre. The actor rating is an average - I think Emma Rigby is excellent as the Queen, and Sophie Lowe does wonderfully too. Peter Gadiot is attractive but not quite sincere as Cyrus. There is something missing in his delivery - it feels less like he is delivering his loving speeches towards Alice than an audience.
Surprisingly enough, and unfortunately for the show, Episode 9 is where things really pick up. They introduce a brilliant actress for the Jabberwocky - I'd never heard of her before but seeing her in action, this unique villain had me captivated. She introduces a much more unpredictable aspect to the storyline which improves the show greatly.
Then all of a sudden the story actually starts to tie in with the show Once Upon A Time. This should have happened MUCH earlier in this series for people to keep watching.
As I have expressed before, this show is nowhere near the quality of Once Upon A Time, but it is certainly improving as of the end of Season 1 - worth a look at the very least. With the introduction of an actual tie between the series in late season 1, it may have a future.
I watched 8 episodes (over quite a long period of time) because it was a genre I enjoy, even though the story and actors were fairly mediocre. The actor rating is an average - I think Emma Rigby is excellent as the Queen, and Sophie Lowe does wonderfully too. Peter Gadiot is attractive but not quite sincere as Cyrus. There is something missing in his delivery - it feels less like he is delivering his loving speeches towards Alice than an audience.
Surprisingly enough, and unfortunately for the show, Episode 9 is where things really pick up. They introduce a brilliant actress for the Jabberwocky - I'd never heard of her before but seeing her in action, this unique villain had me captivated. She introduces a much more unpredictable aspect to the storyline which improves the show greatly.
Then all of a sudden the story actually starts to tie in with the show Once Upon A Time. This should have happened MUCH earlier in this series for people to keep watching.
As I have expressed before, this show is nowhere near the quality of Once Upon A Time, but it is certainly improving as of the end of Season 1 - worth a look at the very least. With the introduction of an actual tie between the series in late season 1, it may have a future.
Perfecrtly unexpected wow
Ahmedx027 January 2019
I actually didn't expect for this show to be this good and fun because I don't trust the spinoffs but this one is really really perfect from episode 1 till the last one , I love the characters it's full of adventures and the love stories are so beautiful and the red queen is super pretty I liked Alices character its strong and. Determined
Once Upon a Time down the rabbit hole
TheLittleSongbird4 January 2021
'Once Upon a Time in Wonderland' really interested me. Am a big fan of Lewis Carroll's 'Alice in Wonderland' and 'Through the Looking Glass', have seen recently the books and Carroll as a person in a whole new light as well, and really liked its parent series 'Once Upon a Time' for much of Seasons 1-5 before becoming hit and miss in the Underworld arc and in Season 6 and then having a generally disappointing last season (with a few episode exceptions).
So there was real interest to see how the Wonderland characters would work with this premise and 'Once Upon a Time's' format of multiple storylines, fairy-tale flashbacks and references to stories. Seeing it, it was quite enjoyable but was an uneven show and didn't live up to full potential. In all fairness though, one can say that it didn't get enough of a chance to grow, as by the latter half of the show's limited run it had actually started to grow. Comparing it to its parent series, 'Once Upon a Time in Wonderland' at its best (the last three episodes, which were great) is not quite as great as 'Once Upon a Time' at its best but its worst episodes (for me it was "Home", which is probably not a popular opinion, and even that was more borderline average than lacklustre) are nowhere near the parent series at its worst which was the worst of Season 7.
Am going to start with what didn't work in 'Once Upon a Time in Wonderland'. The asset that was consistently bad and never improved upon was the special effects, which were cheap looking throughout. The White Rabbit fares least badly, but Caterpillar and Cheshire Cat (the latter being an odd character all round and far from purr-fection) were very poorly done and Bandersnatch in "Forget Me Not" was beyond amateurish. Jabberwocky also looked ridiculous but was actually a good character otherwise. A lot of the episodes were on the muddled and over-stuffed, especially the first three episodes and "Home". Some episodes had a good deal of time wasting, the Mallow Marsh stuff in "Down the Rabbit Hole" didn't intrigue or entertain that much and felt like padding.
Naveen Andrews and Emma Rigby generally didn't gel. They both had their moments when Jafar and Red Queen were actually interestingly developed and more than stock villains and their motivations clear, Andrews in "The Serpent" and "Bad Blood" and Rigby in "Heart of Stone" and "Heart of the Matter". Mostly though the characters are one-dimensional and Red Queen's decision making and such especially can be very all over the place and both mostly were not too great. Andrews tended to be dull and lacked menace as Jafar and Rigby often overacts to an embarrassing degree and is also not sinister enough. Their competition in who can ham it up the most in "Trust Me" was more indigestion-inducing than fun. Some of the dialogue was pretty cheesy and didn't always flow.
For all those problems, 'Once Upon a Time in Wonderland' has a lot of recommendable things. Less than special special effects aside, the show looks good. It is beautifully and atmospherically photographed, complete with vivid set design (especially the Red Queen's palace) and colourful costumes. Complete with a nice contrast of vibrant Wonderland settings and the more grim Victorian era ones when they appeared. 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.
While the writing is not perfect, enough of it is thought provoking and has charm and fun. A lot of the best lines go to Knave, who is on the whole one of the best characters. Emotions-wise, the humour comes off the best with the Knave's sass and he and Alice have many great exchanges throughout. The storytelling was heavily flawed for much of 'Once Upon a Time in Wonderland's' run and started off very uneven but by "Bad Blood" or so the emotion increased as did the tension stakes. Found Cyrus underdeveloped to begin with but "Dirty Little Secrets" did a great job with him, and "Nothing to Fear's" calmer treatment of Lizard and its tastefully done exit for the character were appreciated. Cheap physical form aside, Jabberwocky was a very promising character and made a strong first impression in "Nothing to Fear". A character high point was Cora's return in "Heart of the Matter".
Excepting reservations with Andrews and Rigby, and Iggy Pop in "Forget Me Not" was an odd choice for Caterpillar and didn't fit the look, the acting was fine. Sophie Lowe was very appealing as Alice, and really appreciated her more mature, wittier, assertive and more active in the action personality. Michael Socha often stole the show, loved him as Knave and Peter Gadiot did very well with what he did when he was used well. Barbara Herschey thoroughly enjoys herself as Cora/Queen of Hearts and Peta Sergeant's Jabberwocky was creepy and authoritative. John Lithgow was inspired casting for White Rabbit and Keith David's voice for Cheshire Cat was that character's redeeming quality (a character that was otherwise a misfire).
On the whole, uneven but got a lot better in the second half post-"Home". 6/10
So there was real interest to see how the Wonderland characters would work with this premise and 'Once Upon a Time's' format of multiple storylines, fairy-tale flashbacks and references to stories. Seeing it, it was quite enjoyable but was an uneven show and didn't live up to full potential. In all fairness though, one can say that it didn't get enough of a chance to grow, as by the latter half of the show's limited run it had actually started to grow. Comparing it to its parent series, 'Once Upon a Time in Wonderland' at its best (the last three episodes, which were great) is not quite as great as 'Once Upon a Time' at its best but its worst episodes (for me it was "Home", which is probably not a popular opinion, and even that was more borderline average than lacklustre) are nowhere near the parent series at its worst which was the worst of Season 7.
Am going to start with what didn't work in 'Once Upon a Time in Wonderland'. The asset that was consistently bad and never improved upon was the special effects, which were cheap looking throughout. The White Rabbit fares least badly, but Caterpillar and Cheshire Cat (the latter being an odd character all round and far from purr-fection) were very poorly done and Bandersnatch in "Forget Me Not" was beyond amateurish. Jabberwocky also looked ridiculous but was actually a good character otherwise. A lot of the episodes were on the muddled and over-stuffed, especially the first three episodes and "Home". Some episodes had a good deal of time wasting, the Mallow Marsh stuff in "Down the Rabbit Hole" didn't intrigue or entertain that much and felt like padding.
Naveen Andrews and Emma Rigby generally didn't gel. They both had their moments when Jafar and Red Queen were actually interestingly developed and more than stock villains and their motivations clear, Andrews in "The Serpent" and "Bad Blood" and Rigby in "Heart of Stone" and "Heart of the Matter". Mostly though the characters are one-dimensional and Red Queen's decision making and such especially can be very all over the place and both mostly were not too great. Andrews tended to be dull and lacked menace as Jafar and Rigby often overacts to an embarrassing degree and is also not sinister enough. Their competition in who can ham it up the most in "Trust Me" was more indigestion-inducing than fun. Some of the dialogue was pretty cheesy and didn't always flow.
For all those problems, 'Once Upon a Time in Wonderland' has a lot of recommendable things. Less than special special effects aside, the show looks good. It is beautifully and atmospherically photographed, complete with vivid set design (especially the Red Queen's palace) and colourful costumes. Complete with a nice contrast of vibrant Wonderland settings and the more grim Victorian era ones when they appeared. 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.
While the writing is not perfect, enough of it is thought provoking and has charm and fun. A lot of the best lines go to Knave, who is on the whole one of the best characters. Emotions-wise, the humour comes off the best with the Knave's sass and he and Alice have many great exchanges throughout. The storytelling was heavily flawed for much of 'Once Upon a Time in Wonderland's' run and started off very uneven but by "Bad Blood" or so the emotion increased as did the tension stakes. Found Cyrus underdeveloped to begin with but "Dirty Little Secrets" did a great job with him, and "Nothing to Fear's" calmer treatment of Lizard and its tastefully done exit for the character were appreciated. Cheap physical form aside, Jabberwocky was a very promising character and made a strong first impression in "Nothing to Fear". A character high point was Cora's return in "Heart of the Matter".
Excepting reservations with Andrews and Rigby, and Iggy Pop in "Forget Me Not" was an odd choice for Caterpillar and didn't fit the look, the acting was fine. Sophie Lowe was very appealing as Alice, and really appreciated her more mature, wittier, assertive and more active in the action personality. Michael Socha often stole the show, loved him as Knave and Peter Gadiot did very well with what he did when he was used well. Barbara Herschey thoroughly enjoys herself as Cora/Queen of Hearts and Peta Sergeant's Jabberwocky was creepy and authoritative. John Lithgow was inspired casting for White Rabbit and Keith David's voice for Cheshire Cat was that character's redeeming quality (a character that was otherwise a misfire).
On the whole, uneven but got a lot better in the second half post-"Home". 6/10
Very Clever Series with Great Potential.
zactac19 October 2013
In the ever-growing (and confusing) world of "Once" we now take a prolonged trip to Wonderland in this stylish spin-off to the big hit "Once Upon a Time."
"Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" is the story of Alice, a young girl who travels to the wondrous world, where she meets exciting and even terrifying people. However, when she returns home she tells her father of her amazing adventures but he doesn't believe her. To prove her sanity she spends many years of her life searching for proof for her father. Then she meets a genie named Cyrus. The two of them go on new adventures and fall in love. However, the Red Queen tracks them down and apparently kills Cyrus in front of Alice. In her world she is about to go through a terrible procedure to forget about Cyrus and her adventures. Just in time, the Knave of Hearts along with the White Rabbit save her and tell her Cyrus is alive. Now the three of them go to Wonderland to save Cyrus and liberate Wonderland from the hold of the Red Queen and Jafar.
To make an original series and make it feel fresh is hard to do. To make a spin-off series and make it feel fresh is nearly impossible to do. However, this show does feel fresh and full of energy. The world introduced here is full of vibrant characters and a fantastic cast with much depth put into their roles.
While the entire cast is wonderful it is Sophie Lowe as Alice that makes this such a delightful show to watch. For so many years Alice has been a damsel in distress yet, the tables are turned in this enchanting series. Lowe brings much personality and depth to a role that could've very easily been stereotyped. Alice is clever, witty, kind, and even tough as nails. She might be interested in finding her true love but she isn't willing to wait around for him to save her. It is really refreshing to see.
Just like the parent series "Wonderland" has many twists and surprises around the corner to lead up to an interesting climax. With interesting characters, great chemistry between the cast, fun and intriguing villains, and a wonderful love story that does not feel forced "Wonderland" is a truly enchanting story that will hopefully live up to its promise.
"Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" is the story of Alice, a young girl who travels to the wondrous world, where she meets exciting and even terrifying people. However, when she returns home she tells her father of her amazing adventures but he doesn't believe her. To prove her sanity she spends many years of her life searching for proof for her father. Then she meets a genie named Cyrus. The two of them go on new adventures and fall in love. However, the Red Queen tracks them down and apparently kills Cyrus in front of Alice. In her world she is about to go through a terrible procedure to forget about Cyrus and her adventures. Just in time, the Knave of Hearts along with the White Rabbit save her and tell her Cyrus is alive. Now the three of them go to Wonderland to save Cyrus and liberate Wonderland from the hold of the Red Queen and Jafar.
To make an original series and make it feel fresh is hard to do. To make a spin-off series and make it feel fresh is nearly impossible to do. However, this show does feel fresh and full of energy. The world introduced here is full of vibrant characters and a fantastic cast with much depth put into their roles.
While the entire cast is wonderful it is Sophie Lowe as Alice that makes this such a delightful show to watch. For so many years Alice has been a damsel in distress yet, the tables are turned in this enchanting series. Lowe brings much personality and depth to a role that could've very easily been stereotyped. Alice is clever, witty, kind, and even tough as nails. She might be interested in finding her true love but she isn't willing to wait around for him to save her. It is really refreshing to see.
Just like the parent series "Wonderland" has many twists and surprises around the corner to lead up to an interesting climax. With interesting characters, great chemistry between the cast, fun and intriguing villains, and a wonderful love story that does not feel forced "Wonderland" is a truly enchanting story that will hopefully live up to its promise.
Nice concept but one glaring problem.
geniesayer121218 October 2013
Warning: Spoilers
My problem with this show, lies mainly with the writing. To me, the writing is as cookie cutter as they come. When I watch or read something, I like whichever formulaic approach is taken in writing the plot, to be hidden beneath layers of good scenes, action, and dialogue. With this show, I constantly feel distracted by the fact that the formula is staring right at me the entire time. Its almost as if the writers are fresh out of a classroom and afraid to experiment with tweaking known working formulas just enough to make the show more engaging, and less run of the mill.
Thats my main gripe with the show. Some others include: - The marshmallow swamp scene seems out of place. This is Wonderland, not Candyland. - The actor's lines seem forced and could be written a lot better. - The twists aren't all that unexpected barring the Wonderland / Aladdin mash up.
Which makes me think a stand alone series for Aladdin might have been the better route all together.
-Special effects from the early nineties. The chroma keying is ugly. There's no excuse for being able to see the lines where the actors have been cut and pasted onto scenes in this day and age. Especially when Disney owns the company broadcasting the show.
With all that being said, there are a few things I like.
All in all I think the show rates around more of a 6. It falls victim to that whole great idea, poor execution thing.
Thats my main gripe with the show. Some others include: - The marshmallow swamp scene seems out of place. This is Wonderland, not Candyland. - The actor's lines seem forced and could be written a lot better. - The twists aren't all that unexpected barring the Wonderland / Aladdin mash up.
Which makes me think a stand alone series for Aladdin might have been the better route all together.
-Special effects from the early nineties. The chroma keying is ugly. There's no excuse for being able to see the lines where the actors have been cut and pasted onto scenes in this day and age. Especially when Disney owns the company broadcasting the show.
With all that being said, there are a few things I like.
- The Aladdin mash up. (Again wish it were its own series though.)
- The acting really isn't that bad. They just don't have much to work with when reading the atrocious lines that the writers wrote.
- The prospect of a girl fight between Alice and the Queen lol.
All in all I think the show rates around more of a 6. It falls victim to that whole great idea, poor execution thing.
Not worth the hour
GypsyNomad11 October 2013
Warning: Spoilers
This spin-off/concurrent story is like a badly written sequel in the hands of a genius' idiot younger sibling. Or at least a masterpiece giving sequel rights from its big name studio and giving it to elementary students to do with it what it pleased without giving them a real viewing of the original, only pieces and telling them they can't use any of it anyway. Let me start by saying that the first season, minus the season finale of the original Once Upon A Time was brilliant and I absolutely hated the second season, so much that I stopped watching it except random fast-forwards to see if it could have possibly have regained its original momentum, it hadn't. I have absolutely no interest in season season 3. Now back to my analogy, the original is like a mature work where there was thought put into it and could have very well been AMAZING and was for all of the first season. Then the writers seemed to go out back and smoked something that fried the braincells that had the outline and they were scrambling to come up with something to give the audience. This spin-off was immature and there were so many plot holes in addition to the crisis the original was facing. Which reminds me of that whack-a-mole game, or the movie Holes. Or... they can go on. Anyway there were vague references to the original but only two characters that were sort of in it. One a lot more, the other only like one episode. Which I get and nods to somethings that happened. Timeline and characters aside though, it really didn't jive with the original in anyway. This isn't a spoiler unless you're blind, but the Red Queen isn't even the same person and if the time-line is to be believed then Regina's mom is the Red Queen long before this and long after this, so the blond woman they have playing her is pointless. Besides, (and this is a spoiler for the other show), they killed her off last season so she's looking for a job. And could reprise her role for this. The rest of it, the acting, the casting, the accents, it's just nails on a chalkboard for me. At the very least they could have had ugly actor/actresses that could really act or really attractive actors/actresses that couldn't act at all. This middle stuff is nauseating. It's dodgy, patchy thrown together quickly material that's riding on the back of the original and since one's failing, the other is too.
Here's the important thing, the only reason why I bothered to watch this was because the original first season was great and they lost their way somewhere. I WAS hoping that it would be a sort of reboot, an apology to the audience for going so far off the deep end and drowning rather than making it from France to England through the English Channel. A way to sort of make a nod towards the original but say clearly that they aren't that and they're not going to interact at all with it either. That this is more Alice in Wonderland weekly than Once Upon a Time. They didn't do that, and in fact they only made it worse. I wanted to see what happened to Wonderland with Alice of course, but mostly how the world falls apart once the Queen is dead or who would come in to try and take over without some of the star characters like the Mad Hatter and the Queen. Instead they replaced the Queen and try to make it a parallel story that goes back and forth between worlds when from the moment the Knave comes to find Alice they're messing with continuity since he wasn't supposed to be able to leave and that the world was never changing but clearly there was a huge storm that they dealt with too. There were so many opportunities they could have seized upon but made some really bad moves. I'm not going to watch this anymore. They had a chance and they blew it.
Here's the important thing, the only reason why I bothered to watch this was because the original first season was great and they lost their way somewhere. I WAS hoping that it would be a sort of reboot, an apology to the audience for going so far off the deep end and drowning rather than making it from France to England through the English Channel. A way to sort of make a nod towards the original but say clearly that they aren't that and they're not going to interact at all with it either. That this is more Alice in Wonderland weekly than Once Upon a Time. They didn't do that, and in fact they only made it worse. I wanted to see what happened to Wonderland with Alice of course, but mostly how the world falls apart once the Queen is dead or who would come in to try and take over without some of the star characters like the Mad Hatter and the Queen. Instead they replaced the Queen and try to make it a parallel story that goes back and forth between worlds when from the moment the Knave comes to find Alice they're messing with continuity since he wasn't supposed to be able to leave and that the world was never changing but clearly there was a huge storm that they dealt with too. There were so many opportunities they could have seized upon but made some really bad moves. I'm not going to watch this anymore. They had a chance and they blew it.
Great fun and fantasy!
wolftitan12 October 2013
OK just to start off I will not post any spoilers just how I feel about the series so far. I thought the story was very interesting and can have a lot of depth in the future. All stories start out slow, and this one has great potential. I see a lot of people complaining and I don't understand. This series is supposed to take place in a full on fantasy world and all I hear is the graphic aren't so great. But I so what I don't care as long as the story is good and the characters are likable. The time slot may need to be changed, preferably right after the first "Once Upon a Time". The lead actress does a great job at portraying a more mature Alice. Which is a nice change from all the kid like movies. So if you like a show that doesn't take itself to serious and is fun you will like this series.
Not great, but worth watching
lobke8879 March 2015
To begin I'd like to point out that the trailer is definitely more exciting than the series is. It's a nice idea, the crossover kind of works. But it also does not for several reasons. Some actors are either really bad, or their characters are unintentionally very annoying. Like Alice for example. Throughout the storyline she is just too perky, too determined and too optimistic. Her fighting skills also are not well staged. The red queen has too much botox and a whiny voice. But her character becomes more likable throughout the story line. The truth of the matter is that the flashbacks are more interesting than the actual story. The show becomes better when it progresses and has some surprisingly interesting ideas. The genie story seems to work out slightly better than the wonderland story. But in the genie story, the characters are unrealistic in the sense that mother and sons seem to have an age difference of less than 10 years and some of them look more European-Arabic, which slightly annoyed me. The show does have some very good scenes, some great actors and very nicely placed characters like the white rabbit and the jabberwocky. The actors have chemistry and the show flows nicely with some scenes better than the others. Which makes it worth watching.
Very disappointing
adamo10023 October 2013
I will never get that hour back. What a terrible looking show. Did they hire a film school class to shoot this project? The green screen work was very obvious and looked horrible. There were times where the cast looked like they were floating down a path and not walking. I watched this show with my son who is a high school senior and in his words "I play video games with "better renderings than that". The look of the show totally took away from the story. ABC I don't know what you are thinking here but this is really terrible. Next time hire some real producers and camera crews to make your show look good.
By the way Jafar in wonderland? Really?!? Back to the drawing board on this one guys.
By the way Jafar in wonderland? Really?!? Back to the drawing board on this one guys.
Brilliant and the series was way too short!
drama5911 May 2014
Warning: Spoilers
In a time of magic (as so began another great series "Merlin") this was a wonderful series cut way too short. (One can only hope they come back on "Once Upon A Time). With an amazing cast, Sophie Lowe as "Alice" and Peter Gadiot as "The Genie" are a wonderful couple. The story revolves around Alice and her adventures in Wonderland. The real world thinks that she is crazy but of course she is not. She journeys into Wonderland to find her love and adventures ensue. The voice of John Lithgow as the White Rabbit is perfect. Michael Socha is a great Knave of a Hearts. Emma Rigby is brilliant as the Red Queen. Naveen Andrews is the PERFECT Jafar. What I really LOVE about this show and "Once Upon A Time" is that it give adults a fairytale to love. If you don't want to grow up...then try this one. Go back to the time of childhood and enjoy falling in love with love. I will miss this dearly. I cannot believe that they canceled this show. Great writing, great scenery, great cast.........what more do you need??? The one big plus is that if you had to end this amazing show they did it perfectly. Bravo to the writers. I guess next time we may be finding ourselves in OZ as a series.
More Fairy Tale Characters Come to Life
davidm-1410 October 2013
I wasn't sure what to think when I saw that there was a spin off of "Once Upon a Time". I was initially skeptical of that show, but it grew on me. Maybe Disney just can't resist the tie-in to all those potential money-making cartoons of theirs already out there.
It's not bad, although the initial scenes of Alice in the asylum reminded me very strongly of the beginning of "Return to Oz". The brief scene in Storybrooke at the start was a bit useless, but I found the actors to all be quite likable, oh yay, more actors from Lost, and wow, doesn't that Red Queen have some lips! It will be interesting as time goes by (provided Disney/ABC doesn't cancel it after 3 episodes like they do most everything else) to see what characters may crossover between the shows.
I was really looking forward to hearing Paul Reubens take on the white rabbit, but maybe it will come out later.
It's not bad, although the initial scenes of Alice in the asylum reminded me very strongly of the beginning of "Return to Oz". The brief scene in Storybrooke at the start was a bit useless, but I found the actors to all be quite likable, oh yay, more actors from Lost, and wow, doesn't that Red Queen have some lips! It will be interesting as time goes by (provided Disney/ABC doesn't cancel it after 3 episodes like they do most everything else) to see what characters may crossover between the shows.
I was really looking forward to hearing Paul Reubens take on the white rabbit, but maybe it will come out later.
too much green screen
SnoopyStyle15 November 2013
Alice (Sophie Lowe) is a young woman stuck in an asylum. She follows the White Rabbit (John Lithgow) back to Wonderland to rescue Cyrus (Peter Gadiot) from the Red Queen (Emma Rigby) and Jafar (Naveen Andrews) with the help of Knave of Hearts (Michael Socha).
There is too much green screen acting. You can tell these guys are suffering from acting opposite non-existing objects and characters. The humanity is gone from their performances. Sophie Lowe is doing a one-note acting job. She's girl power period. John Lithgow is the CG White Rabbit. It's a marvel of the computer age, but his voice doesn't really fit. Michael Socha is probably the only compelling actor here. He adds some levity to the proceedings. Emma Rigby as the Red Queen has the plastic look. And Naveen Andrews needs to be more threatening looking. Maybe they should add a Tyson face tattoo. The overwhelming CGI doesn't make the show magical. Instead it makes the show artificial. It makes it lackluster and tiring. I don't expect it to be renewed.
(EDIT after 10 episodes) The look of the show has improved with less green screen. The story is still struggling to maintain the pacing. The best chemistry coming from the most compelling characters continues to be Alice and Knave. The show works best when they are together. However the show keeps splitting them apart.
There is too much green screen acting. You can tell these guys are suffering from acting opposite non-existing objects and characters. The humanity is gone from their performances. Sophie Lowe is doing a one-note acting job. She's girl power period. John Lithgow is the CG White Rabbit. It's a marvel of the computer age, but his voice doesn't really fit. Michael Socha is probably the only compelling actor here. He adds some levity to the proceedings. Emma Rigby as the Red Queen has the plastic look. And Naveen Andrews needs to be more threatening looking. Maybe they should add a Tyson face tattoo. The overwhelming CGI doesn't make the show magical. Instead it makes the show artificial. It makes it lackluster and tiring. I don't expect it to be renewed.
(EDIT after 10 episodes) The look of the show has improved with less green screen. The story is still struggling to maintain the pacing. The best chemistry coming from the most compelling characters continues to be Alice and Knave. The show works best when they are together. However the show keeps splitting them apart.
Its a good show :)
shoshannayarrick-836-8720115 November 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Watching this show after waiting for so long!! I can't help but notice some of the amazing efforts which have gone into it to make this amazing fantasy world come to life for us,the viewers, with some of the breathtaking settings that i can't help but want to venture further into, the new take on an old Classic in a way which compliments it and develops it further and the characters!! So far I can't help but find my self taken by these characters!!, their amazing stories and their depth it all seems to just work and make me love it more. ANYWAY overall I really do love once upon a time in wonderland (as you may have figured) and I can't wait to see more.
Interesting take on Alice in Wonderland
chelseasings24 January 2017
Granted, I watched this as it aired, so I'm going off what I remember from four years ago.
I though this was a very interesting take on the Alice in Wonderland tale.
I liked the cast.
I thought the characters were complex and interesting.
It wasn't better than the early seasons of Once Upon a Time, but it's leagues above where they are currently (seasons four and five).
Was one of the first dramatic television shows I got into, so I like it if only for that reasons.
Would recommend for strong fans of Once Upon a Time.
I though this was a very interesting take on the Alice in Wonderland tale.
I liked the cast.
I thought the characters were complex and interesting.
It wasn't better than the early seasons of Once Upon a Time, but it's leagues above where they are currently (seasons four and five).
Was one of the first dramatic television shows I got into, so I like it if only for that reasons.
Would recommend for strong fans of Once Upon a Time.
Why only 1 season?
brookwilliams-1654629 October 2020
Did Anyone At The Network Watch This Before Airing?
wahoo888830 October 2013
Calling this a train-wreck would be a disservice to all train-wrecks. I don't even know where to begin. Everything about this show is just wrong. The actors (does this take place in Britain?) are so wooden it at times appears to be stop-motion animation. The writing (is each script selected at random from a second grade class writing assignment?). The production (taken from the trash bin of the Wizard of Oz set?). The storyline makes no sense at all. The action sequences are so amateurish that I'm wondering if the viewer is meant to laugh. I actually felt sorry for the actors because this has to be a very public embarrassment for them. Their only saving grace will be that any discerning viewer will have tuned out long before the season fades into obscurity.
Next Volume
hellraiser710 November 2014
Alice in Wonderland has always been one of my favorite fantasy stories when I was six and I still love it now, from it's color nonsensical nature it really showed that anything to everything is possible and can happen.
This is another under the radar gem I really like. I'm usual not all that keen on spin off shows, to me it's always a hit or miss affair; this one actually turned out to be a hit because it does what it should do, it acts as it's own story.
Personally I thought making a spin off on "Once Upon a Time" was actually a really cool idea, because it really broaden the scope of the franchise. It makes sense since after all the original show does have a fantasy realm which means a broader world and lots of possibilities for stories. Which is why it's a shame this show didn't succeed, who know if it did may'be we could of had one or two other spin off shows may'be "Once Upon a Time in the Sherwood Forest", "Agrabah", "Narnia" I'm not sure it could of been a number of things and so many other characters could of surfaced may'be even crossed over with the original show. I don't know and sadly we'll never know.
I really like the story it's pretty much you could say like with Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" it's kinda the third volume in the series. Though personally I like this show a lot more, it to me just has a lot more heart and going for it.
The effects in making the fantasy world of Wonderland are solid and believable enough, like with the original most of it was done on green screen. Though it's true not all the effects are on par, but it's network tele what the hell to you expect. But just like with "Once Upon a Time" it's not the effects that carry the show out, to me it's really the characters.
And yeah like with the original show there is a plot line and it does develop but it's the characters and mystery that the show is more concerned about, making this show kinda a character drama and fantasy suspense thriller.
However a few major differences with this show and the original is it has a more adventurous feel to it, as we see the characters explore the land more and there is even a bit more action, it's not wall to wall but solid/decent chirography is on par. And also the show has a bit more in the romance side of things as we explore more depth into the relationships the characters have and actually makes us care as to what happens to them.
I also like how in the plot line there are some crucial plot points that connect with the original show which makes this spin off more interesting because it really gives you another reason to re watch to find most of those connections, sort of an easter egg hunt.
The characters are great both protagonists and villains. I really like the live action version of Alice, the actress Sofie Lowe I liked her performance and personally she's my favorite live action version of Alice. She's cute, has a lot of charisma and wisdom, and also really like that she's capable of kicking ass. Even like the guy that plays her significant other Sirus, whom is the genie from the lamp. He's a good genie he's got charisma, capable of kicking ass, but I really love seeing how much of a trickster he really is. Both of them have solid chemistry and I really felt it was believable, and you really felt pathos for Alice as both are unfairly separated and getting shafted in the real world which just all the more makes you want Alice to win and for this couple to be together, they deserve each other.
However the two characters I like the best are Will Scarlett and the Red Queen/Annastasia. Will Scarlett is great he's pretty much a master thief but with a good heart if not exactly one of gold. He's borderline selfish and selfless, yeah he's a thief but he also knows when to help his friends but most of all would do anything for his significant other. However his character is also kinda sad and is lost in some way.
The Red Queen/Annastaisia is a interesting character. She not like exactly an all in villainous but more just a person whose head is in the wrong place. The problem with her is that she is driven by vanity and greed. But we see her slowly but surely realize those are not what she really needs at all . I really like the chemistry between the two and the depth which is complicated, sad, but also sweet. I really bought into it hoping both will find some way back to each other and themselves.
And like the original show, it's a bit of a Christian show as there are some Chirstian themes on redemption, forgiveness, love, and even honesty.
It's a real shame that this story was cut short, I really felt like there was potential for the show to go further. We could of saw even more of Wonderland, may'be some other characters could of entered the picture like Aladdin, Jasmine, or Sinbad. And may'be even a crossover with the original show. However I wouldn't fret too much due to the fact this show didn't end on some unanswered cliffhanger note it makes the show sort of a mini series.
Overall this I think is a great spin off that I feel is worth a look if your a fan of "Once Upon a Time" or even a non fan of the franchise. Wonderland has gotten a lot bigger.
Rating: 4 stars
This is another under the radar gem I really like. I'm usual not all that keen on spin off shows, to me it's always a hit or miss affair; this one actually turned out to be a hit because it does what it should do, it acts as it's own story.
Personally I thought making a spin off on "Once Upon a Time" was actually a really cool idea, because it really broaden the scope of the franchise. It makes sense since after all the original show does have a fantasy realm which means a broader world and lots of possibilities for stories. Which is why it's a shame this show didn't succeed, who know if it did may'be we could of had one or two other spin off shows may'be "Once Upon a Time in the Sherwood Forest", "Agrabah", "Narnia" I'm not sure it could of been a number of things and so many other characters could of surfaced may'be even crossed over with the original show. I don't know and sadly we'll never know.
I really like the story it's pretty much you could say like with Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" it's kinda the third volume in the series. Though personally I like this show a lot more, it to me just has a lot more heart and going for it.
The effects in making the fantasy world of Wonderland are solid and believable enough, like with the original most of it was done on green screen. Though it's true not all the effects are on par, but it's network tele what the hell to you expect. But just like with "Once Upon a Time" it's not the effects that carry the show out, to me it's really the characters.
And yeah like with the original show there is a plot line and it does develop but it's the characters and mystery that the show is more concerned about, making this show kinda a character drama and fantasy suspense thriller.
However a few major differences with this show and the original is it has a more adventurous feel to it, as we see the characters explore the land more and there is even a bit more action, it's not wall to wall but solid/decent chirography is on par. And also the show has a bit more in the romance side of things as we explore more depth into the relationships the characters have and actually makes us care as to what happens to them.
I also like how in the plot line there are some crucial plot points that connect with the original show which makes this spin off more interesting because it really gives you another reason to re watch to find most of those connections, sort of an easter egg hunt.
The characters are great both protagonists and villains. I really like the live action version of Alice, the actress Sofie Lowe I liked her performance and personally she's my favorite live action version of Alice. She's cute, has a lot of charisma and wisdom, and also really like that she's capable of kicking ass. Even like the guy that plays her significant other Sirus, whom is the genie from the lamp. He's a good genie he's got charisma, capable of kicking ass, but I really love seeing how much of a trickster he really is. Both of them have solid chemistry and I really felt it was believable, and you really felt pathos for Alice as both are unfairly separated and getting shafted in the real world which just all the more makes you want Alice to win and for this couple to be together, they deserve each other.
However the two characters I like the best are Will Scarlett and the Red Queen/Annastasia. Will Scarlett is great he's pretty much a master thief but with a good heart if not exactly one of gold. He's borderline selfish and selfless, yeah he's a thief but he also knows when to help his friends but most of all would do anything for his significant other. However his character is also kinda sad and is lost in some way.
The Red Queen/Annastaisia is a interesting character. She not like exactly an all in villainous but more just a person whose head is in the wrong place. The problem with her is that she is driven by vanity and greed. But we see her slowly but surely realize those are not what she really needs at all . I really like the chemistry between the two and the depth which is complicated, sad, but also sweet. I really bought into it hoping both will find some way back to each other and themselves.
And like the original show, it's a bit of a Christian show as there are some Chirstian themes on redemption, forgiveness, love, and even honesty.
It's a real shame that this story was cut short, I really felt like there was potential for the show to go further. We could of saw even more of Wonderland, may'be some other characters could of entered the picture like Aladdin, Jasmine, or Sinbad. And may'be even a crossover with the original show. However I wouldn't fret too much due to the fact this show didn't end on some unanswered cliffhanger note it makes the show sort of a mini series.
Overall this I think is a great spin off that I feel is worth a look if your a fan of "Once Upon a Time" or even a non fan of the franchise. Wonderland has gotten a lot bigger.
Rating: 4 stars
Wonderland leaves me wonder-less...
johanna-sml23 October 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I barely ever bother writing reviews but this show is so appallingly bad, I just had to - to offer fair warning to other viewers. First, let's start with the acting - or the lack thereof. The only exception, being Naveen Andrews - everyone else is laughably amateurish. Both female leads - Alice and the Red Queen - are yawn-inducing one-dimensional and fail abominably to pull off strong characters; Sophie Lowe's depiction of Alice's feisty spirit is about as convincing as the Red Queen's collagen-pumped lips being passed of as au naturale. (Seriously - what is up with that?). While I was intrigued by the initial setting of Alice being cooped in an Asylum, they simply didn't take that theme far enough - having her shed any nuance of bitterness / angst aside to suddenly become the silly and awkwardly coquettish girl within minutes of meeting Cyrus (seriously... is that really the best name for a genie from Agrabah...) I get that it's a love story, but they could've taken their time with it ala Snow and Charming from OUAT.
Where OUAT at least started strong with credible actors and clever back-stories for so many beloved fairytale characters - its spin off fails to deliver any of these traits. Even the costumes seem to lack OUAT's classy flair and clearly its budget - the Red Queen's red-on-red-on-red (yes I know she's the RED Queen but there are other shades beside tacky-chili-pepper-red) dresses pale in comparison to Regina's boldly dramatic Evil Queen gowns. (Admittedly the first dress we see Alice in when she meets Cyrus is pretty albeit predictable. Would've been way cooler to see remnants of her traumatic experience in the Asylum in the real world, as part of her wardrobe even in Wonderland). And it's all such a shame - there's so many layers and potential about the story and its characters - I'm really quite taken aback by how underwhelming this turned out to be.
All in all - I've seen better productions on YouTube.
Where OUAT at least started strong with credible actors and clever back-stories for so many beloved fairytale characters - its spin off fails to deliver any of these traits. Even the costumes seem to lack OUAT's classy flair and clearly its budget - the Red Queen's red-on-red-on-red (yes I know she's the RED Queen but there are other shades beside tacky-chili-pepper-red) dresses pale in comparison to Regina's boldly dramatic Evil Queen gowns. (Admittedly the first dress we see Alice in when she meets Cyrus is pretty albeit predictable. Would've been way cooler to see remnants of her traumatic experience in the Asylum in the real world, as part of her wardrobe even in Wonderland). And it's all such a shame - there's so many layers and potential about the story and its characters - I'm really quite taken aback by how underwhelming this turned out to be.
All in all - I've seen better productions on YouTube.
Good but not Great 7/10
songbirdn20 October 2013
I can't help but feel slightly disappointed with Once Upon a Time in Wonderland. I have only seen the first two episodes, and maybe there will be hope for the rest of the season, but right now I'm not too pleased.
The thing about this show is that it's actually pretty good as far as the actors go, and visually it's nice. I like the fact that everything in Wonderland looks pretty unreal, as if you've jumped into a hallucination. Sophie Lowe as Alice was a perfect choice, and her genie is very attractive. The writing is interesting, and I think it's awesome that they were able to weave in the parent show as well.
So if everything else is fabulous, what could be wrong with the show?
Well, in my opinion, it makes too much sense.
I know, that sounds weird, but think about it...Lewis Carrol's Wonderland is supposed to be a world occupied by insane, head-strong, eccentric, and often obnoxious characters. There is no madness in this story, and the characters are all quite logical and perfectly sane. It's just NOT Wonderland.
I don't think that movies/shows inspired by or based on books have to be carbon copies of the source material. That just wouldn't be realistic, of course, and I have no problem with a sequel/spin-off, just like I had no problem with Tim Burton's film. In fact, I loved his adaptation, because he captured the real essence of Wonderland, not the squeaky- clean Disney cartoon of the 1950s. And all the characters were a bit mad and rude.
But this version of Wonderland isn't really Wonderland. Again, I'm no stickler, but is it too much to ask that Wonderland is a world of madness? That's the most basic element of book, and the fact that this ABC version hasn't showcased that at all is a bit annoying.
The thing about this show is that it's actually pretty good as far as the actors go, and visually it's nice. I like the fact that everything in Wonderland looks pretty unreal, as if you've jumped into a hallucination. Sophie Lowe as Alice was a perfect choice, and her genie is very attractive. The writing is interesting, and I think it's awesome that they were able to weave in the parent show as well.
So if everything else is fabulous, what could be wrong with the show?
Well, in my opinion, it makes too much sense.
I know, that sounds weird, but think about it...Lewis Carrol's Wonderland is supposed to be a world occupied by insane, head-strong, eccentric, and often obnoxious characters. There is no madness in this story, and the characters are all quite logical and perfectly sane. It's just NOT Wonderland.
I don't think that movies/shows inspired by or based on books have to be carbon copies of the source material. That just wouldn't be realistic, of course, and I have no problem with a sequel/spin-off, just like I had no problem with Tim Burton's film. In fact, I loved his adaptation, because he captured the real essence of Wonderland, not the squeaky- clean Disney cartoon of the 1950s. And all the characters were a bit mad and rude.
But this version of Wonderland isn't really Wonderland. Again, I'm no stickler, but is it too much to ask that Wonderland is a world of madness? That's the most basic element of book, and the fact that this ABC version hasn't showcased that at all is a bit annoying.
Wonderful family adventure
jorcmccallon26 December 2013
Once upon a time in Wonderland is tastefully written, well acted and creatively filmed. Thank you ABC for bringing us a show that we can sit down and watch all together. We are really enjoying this show and hope that it will have a long running life. Our whole family has gotten caught up in this experience. We look forward each week to seeing the next episode. Our family's age run from age 6 yrs. to 55 yrs. As a parent I appreciate that it is kept clean, no severe violence, good language content, no profanity, the costumes are imaginative, creative and discrete, there is plenty of suspense action and adventure. We hope they will bring it back next season.
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