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 4 had a lot to live up after Season 3 being as impressive as it was. At this early stage of the season, one can see a lot of promise, some may argue that it is capitalising on 'Frozen's' success but there is much more to the season than that. This promise was apparent from the get go, with a great season opener in "A Tale of Two Sisters".
After such a great start to the season, "White Out" was a little bit of a disappointment. Not that it's bad, in fact it's a good episode. Just not a great one, though it is not easy following on from something as great as "A Tale of Two Sisters".
It's not a perfect episode. Found Bo Peep to be an awkward fit with everything else. The character and the way she was acted felt somewhat out of place and didn't gel within both the flashback and Storybrooke stories. Everything between her and David/Charming should have been tense but came over as silly and for me the least interesting subplot in the episode.
Mary Margaret's subplot fares better, it and the character of Happy entertains and Mary Margaret is charming as ever. The other subplots though were more emotionally resonant and compelled more.
However, am continuing to love what is done with Anna and especially with Elsa, who is much more than a standard villain. Their story is continuing to develop and it's already proving to be a relatable one and the two characters are remarkably true to personality.
The most interesting subplots are with Elsa and Emma and with Regina. With Regina, there continues to be some significant development and major strides forward. She is continuing ton be written in a nuanced manner, being written with humanity and realism to balance out her evil in a way that makes one understand once more how she came to be that way.
Elsa and Emma's subplot has a real sense of danger, simmering tension and also some poignancy. Emma has really grown as a character, she's not passive or overwrought and her chemistry with Elsa is handled beautifully. Rumplestiltskin continues to be awesome, and there is a nice end twist that is not expected.
Can't fault the acting, apart from for Bo Peep. Lana Parrilla continues to deliver, Ginnifer Goodwin also consistently charms and Jennifer Morrison has really grown just like Emma herself has evolved. Georgina Haig is both suitably icy and conflicted.
Furthermore, "White Out" 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 main theme.
Writing has the right balance of humour, pathos, mystery and intrigue.
All in all, good episode with a lot of excellent qualities. 7/10 Bethany Cox
Season 4 had a lot to live up after Season 3 being as impressive as it was. At this early stage of the season, one can see a lot of promise, some may argue that it is capitalising on 'Frozen's' success but there is much more to the season than that. This promise was apparent from the get go, with a great season opener in "A Tale of Two Sisters".
After such a great start to the season, "White Out" was a little bit of a disappointment. Not that it's bad, in fact it's a good episode. Just not a great one, though it is not easy following on from something as great as "A Tale of Two Sisters".
It's not a perfect episode. Found Bo Peep to be an awkward fit with everything else. The character and the way she was acted felt somewhat out of place and didn't gel within both the flashback and Storybrooke stories. Everything between her and David/Charming should have been tense but came over as silly and for me the least interesting subplot in the episode.
Mary Margaret's subplot fares better, it and the character of Happy entertains and Mary Margaret is charming as ever. The other subplots though were more emotionally resonant and compelled more.
However, am continuing to love what is done with Anna and especially with Elsa, who is much more than a standard villain. Their story is continuing to develop and it's already proving to be a relatable one and the two characters are remarkably true to personality.
The most interesting subplots are with Elsa and Emma and with Regina. With Regina, there continues to be some significant development and major strides forward. She is continuing ton be written in a nuanced manner, being written with humanity and realism to balance out her evil in a way that makes one understand once more how she came to be that way.
Elsa and Emma's subplot has a real sense of danger, simmering tension and also some poignancy. Emma has really grown as a character, she's not passive or overwrought and her chemistry with Elsa is handled beautifully. Rumplestiltskin continues to be awesome, and there is a nice end twist that is not expected.
Can't fault the acting, apart from for Bo Peep. Lana Parrilla continues to deliver, Ginnifer Goodwin also consistently charms and Jennifer Morrison has really grown just like Emma herself has evolved. Georgina Haig is both suitably icy and conflicted.
Furthermore, "White Out" 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 main theme.
Writing has the right balance of humour, pathos, mystery and intrigue.
All in all, good episode with a lot of excellent qualities. 7/10 Bethany Cox
