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". "White Out" and "Rocky Road" were good if not as good and "The Apprentice" and "Breaking Glass" were very good.
After such a consistently impressive, it was inevitable that the season would falter at some point, and while the episode is still decent "Family Business" sees the season's first disappointment. That it focuses less on the 'Frozen' arc and having its own story is appreciated, so far Season 4 has shown that the show is doing far more than capitalising on 'Frozen's' success or being a marketing ploy like it could have been.
Other episodes do a better job with progressing characters and stories. The exception here is the Snow Queen's, a good deal of the others felt like they were there to pad out the episode. Was very disappointed with Belle's development here, the show was starting to make her interesting with her charming and heartfelt relationship with Rumplestiltskin but here she is a bland character and her story veering towards soap opera territory.
Writing similarly tends to underwhelm. 'Once Upon a Time's' writing generally has come on a long way since it first started, this was especially apparent in its very strong Season 3. "Family Business" doesn't see enough of the layers and nuances that were materialising with many of the show's previous arcs. It is particularly weak with Belle and her interactions with Elsa and with Anna. Would have liked a different motivation than the derivative one given for Ingrid/The Snow Queen, read somewhere that there was the feeling that the motivation was too reminiscent of Zelena's in the second half of Season 3 and that sums up my feelings too.
Sure there are episodes with more richness, layers, more surprises and character and plot advancement, what happens here doesn't for examples have the richness of the Neverland and Zelena story arcs that dominated Season 3.
However, there is enough to like about "Family Business". It does show signs of momentum, it has entertainment value, nice character moments that mean a lot and enough heart. Some of the writing does intrigue and entertain
The best thing about "Family Business" is the story of the Snow Queen. That is something that does progress forward, as does the character herself, and is really quite fascinating and worth investing in emotionally. Emma isn't too passive or overwrought either, her role has heart.
All the performances are fine, the best performance coming from Elizabeth Mitchell showing both an icy demeanour and subtlety.
Furthermore, "Family Business" 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.
In conclusion, decent but disappointing. 6/10 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". "White Out" and "Rocky Road" were good if not as good and "The Apprentice" and "Breaking Glass" were very good.
After such a consistently impressive, it was inevitable that the season would falter at some point, and while the episode is still decent "Family Business" sees the season's first disappointment. That it focuses less on the 'Frozen' arc and having its own story is appreciated, so far Season 4 has shown that the show is doing far more than capitalising on 'Frozen's' success or being a marketing ploy like it could have been.
Other episodes do a better job with progressing characters and stories. The exception here is the Snow Queen's, a good deal of the others felt like they were there to pad out the episode. Was very disappointed with Belle's development here, the show was starting to make her interesting with her charming and heartfelt relationship with Rumplestiltskin but here she is a bland character and her story veering towards soap opera territory.
Writing similarly tends to underwhelm. 'Once Upon a Time's' writing generally has come on a long way since it first started, this was especially apparent in its very strong Season 3. "Family Business" doesn't see enough of the layers and nuances that were materialising with many of the show's previous arcs. It is particularly weak with Belle and her interactions with Elsa and with Anna. Would have liked a different motivation than the derivative one given for Ingrid/The Snow Queen, read somewhere that there was the feeling that the motivation was too reminiscent of Zelena's in the second half of Season 3 and that sums up my feelings too.
Sure there are episodes with more richness, layers, more surprises and character and plot advancement, what happens here doesn't for examples have the richness of the Neverland and Zelena story arcs that dominated Season 3.
However, there is enough to like about "Family Business". It does show signs of momentum, it has entertainment value, nice character moments that mean a lot and enough heart. Some of the writing does intrigue and entertain
The best thing about "Family Business" is the story of the Snow Queen. That is something that does progress forward, as does the character herself, and is really quite fascinating and worth investing in emotionally. Emma isn't too passive or overwrought either, her role has heart.
All the performances are fine, the best performance coming from Elizabeth Mitchell showing both an icy demeanour and subtlety.
Furthermore, "Family Business" 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.
In conclusion, decent but disappointing. 6/10 Bethany Cox
