'Once Upon a Time' was very addictive when it first began. What really intrigued me into seeing it in the first place was its fascinating and creative premise of turning fairy tales and characters on their head and putting own interpretations on them. Good premises always do intrigue me and that or talented casts, or both, are usually my main reasons in my interest in watching something. Liked to loved a vast majority of Seasons 1-4 and found a lot to like about Season 5, despite reservations with the second half of it.
Season 6 was for me more hit and miss, leaning generally towards the disappointing. Personally thought that the first three episodes of the season were very good to great, especially "The Other Shoe". It was from "Strange Case" onward when the problems began and things got somewhat pear-shaped, when there was an increasing lack of new ideas and magic, increasing too were the campiness and soap opera, the over-stuffing and less interesting characterisation. Not all the episodes mind, but enough until things improved quite massively with "Page 23". That improvement between that episode and the previous episode "When Bluebirds Fly" continued, with the only dip being "A Wondrous Place".
"The Black Fairy" is another one of Season 6's best episodes, again from personal opinion. Not quite a 'Once Upon a Time' high point but among the show's better episodes in a while and of the last two seasons.
Not much wrong here, but Tiger Lily still comes across as bland and actually somewhat forgot her presence and what the point of her was. Likewise with Belle. Thought that when first seeing the episode, still feel it now on re-watch. Then again that may be me and my on and off memory loss rather than the episode itself.
However, a lot is done right in "The Black Fairy". Much credit has to be given for providing a back-story that is gripping and emotionally investable, that has not been the case with some back-stories this season (namely "Ill Boding Patterns"). It held my attention from the get go and didn't feel predictable or left me cold. While Rumple has been much more interesting in other episodes, what is done with the Black Fairy is something of a revelation, she is menacing but one also feels sympathy for her. Do like the show's take on the Blue Fairy as well, showing that there's more to her than meets the eye.
Another high point of "The Black Fairy" was the pairing of Regina and Zelena. Have very seldom had problems with the way either character was written, they have near-consistently been two of the show's most interesting characters, and continue to enjoy their chemistry, which is sassy, tense and heartfelt. With them there are plenty of amusing moments and just as many poignant ones.
It does feel like the story is progressing, it didn't feel illogical or muddled, and the characterisation doesn't feel repetitive, out of character or going around in circles, even if a few are not quite as strong as others on the depth factor (Rumple has always been one of my favourite 'Once Upon a Time' characters but he has had more depth to him before). Despite a lot going on, "The Black Fairy" does a better job than most Season 6 episodes at not feeling over-stuffed, rushed or choppy, thanks to having gripping story-telling and characters one cares properly about. Really love the character interaction, a frequent strength of 'Once Upon a Time', especially between Regina and Zelena.
Fine too is the acting, the best performances coming from Jaime Murray, Lana Parrilla and Rebecca Mader. The dialogue is amusing, thought-provoking, heartfelt and intense, balanced very well. Less soap, corn and camp here. The production values have a lot of beauty and atmosphere, nothing drab or gaudy here, while being attractively photographed. The music doesn't ever sound cheap or out-of-kilter, fitting well with the mood and never found myself questioning its placement. The main theme is still memorable.
Summing up, one of the season's best episodes. 9/10
Season 6 was for me more hit and miss, leaning generally towards the disappointing. Personally thought that the first three episodes of the season were very good to great, especially "The Other Shoe". It was from "Strange Case" onward when the problems began and things got somewhat pear-shaped, when there was an increasing lack of new ideas and magic, increasing too were the campiness and soap opera, the over-stuffing and less interesting characterisation. Not all the episodes mind, but enough until things improved quite massively with "Page 23". That improvement between that episode and the previous episode "When Bluebirds Fly" continued, with the only dip being "A Wondrous Place".
"The Black Fairy" is another one of Season 6's best episodes, again from personal opinion. Not quite a 'Once Upon a Time' high point but among the show's better episodes in a while and of the last two seasons.
Not much wrong here, but Tiger Lily still comes across as bland and actually somewhat forgot her presence and what the point of her was. Likewise with Belle. Thought that when first seeing the episode, still feel it now on re-watch. Then again that may be me and my on and off memory loss rather than the episode itself.
However, a lot is done right in "The Black Fairy". Much credit has to be given for providing a back-story that is gripping and emotionally investable, that has not been the case with some back-stories this season (namely "Ill Boding Patterns"). It held my attention from the get go and didn't feel predictable or left me cold. While Rumple has been much more interesting in other episodes, what is done with the Black Fairy is something of a revelation, she is menacing but one also feels sympathy for her. Do like the show's take on the Blue Fairy as well, showing that there's more to her than meets the eye.
Another high point of "The Black Fairy" was the pairing of Regina and Zelena. Have very seldom had problems with the way either character was written, they have near-consistently been two of the show's most interesting characters, and continue to enjoy their chemistry, which is sassy, tense and heartfelt. With them there are plenty of amusing moments and just as many poignant ones.
It does feel like the story is progressing, it didn't feel illogical or muddled, and the characterisation doesn't feel repetitive, out of character or going around in circles, even if a few are not quite as strong as others on the depth factor (Rumple has always been one of my favourite 'Once Upon a Time' characters but he has had more depth to him before). Despite a lot going on, "The Black Fairy" does a better job than most Season 6 episodes at not feeling over-stuffed, rushed or choppy, thanks to having gripping story-telling and characters one cares properly about. Really love the character interaction, a frequent strength of 'Once Upon a Time', especially between Regina and Zelena.
Fine too is the acting, the best performances coming from Jaime Murray, Lana Parrilla and Rebecca Mader. The dialogue is amusing, thought-provoking, heartfelt and intense, balanced very well. Less soap, corn and camp here. The production values have a lot of beauty and atmosphere, nothing drab or gaudy here, while being attractively photographed. The music doesn't ever sound cheap or out-of-kilter, fitting well with the mood and never found myself questioning its placement. The main theme is still memorable.
Summing up, one of the season's best episodes. 9/10
