So, I realise I am late to this party, but in this past week, according to my fandom-based socials, two things have celebrated a birthday.
One: It was a one Emma Swan’s birthday on October 22nd, so Happy Birthday to our dear Saviour.
And Two: Once Upon A Time celebrated 12 Years since the pilot aired, on October 23rd, 2011. So, a Happy 12 Years to them. This date is, of course, specific to the US, and a few others, with varying countries thereafter receiving the Pilot later. The UK, for example, not getting it until April of 2012, but this post is not about my frustration with airdates.
As it goes with Random Rambles there is zero structure, so, let’s dive in!
Oh, and this is Not Spoiler Free. It will, however, plead with you to watch it. So, if you don’t mind a lightly spoiled convincing, read right ahead. If you’ve watched it before and just want a list of reasons as to why you should watch it again? Fairly certain I’ve accomplished that too.
I watched Once Upon A Time for the first time a number of years ago, I would say at least 5, to my best recollection, and it has remained a little love of mine since. I have had profile photos of CaptainSwan, and phone backgrounds of Storybrooke, and right now our Captain and Saviour sit as the background on my watch. There is something so special about this show that reinvented fairytales in a fantastic manner that gets you hooked, and keeps you hooked.
By pure coincidence I recently finished a rewatch of the show. I should say, I don’t include Season 7, as I refuse to admit it exists (not that I don’t love each of Emma’s cameos), but the six seasons that do exist are a bloody stroke of genius, and I adore every single one. If occasionally, only for the little happy moments between the agonising plots. Get ready for an oncoming storm, there’s a couple posts lined up about this show I love so much, and these characters currently occupy about 50% of my brain cells, so they’re not going anywhere soon.
They are a little love, a beautiful love, and I am so glad I found this show. As with my usual reasons for watching things, I do believe the tangent that got us here was having seen Jennifer Morrison in House, liking her, and following her career to this. Thank god, I did.
Emma, as you may have guessed, is my favourite, and I will talk about her extensively in the future, I am sure. So, as I said, a Happy Birthday to one of my loved heroes. Emma’s arc in the show is one of my favourites, and regardless of what plots may be happening around her, I always love what she’s doing. I am, though, slightly jealous of her jacket collection. An expensive staple piece she chose, I’m sure, but one she looks fabulous in.
OUAT has so much to look forward to when you give it your time. For starters, no one has better redemption arcs than Regina and Captain Hook, the Charming’s are insufferably adorable, Emma’s development can only fill you with pride, and Zelena is too iconic to be summed up. Go watch it. You deserve it.
Once Upon A Time is the kind of show you don’t expect to be what it is. It’s not perfect, nothing is, it has its fair share of flaws, but they are flaws you can wilfully ignore if you are in love enough. They rarely effect anything anyways, so who cares? The point is Emma is saving people now, and that’s all that matters.
This show defies your presumptions and grows into something bigger and better than anyone could’ve asked for. Each season, though following similar structures but that is to be expected of any show, baffles you in this ‘how did we get here?’ kind of way. It’s beautiful. For each it’s flaws, and for each it’s successes, every season has something to love. From Charming family bonding, to pirate/saviour dates, there’s a lot to keep you coming back. Every season is bound to shock you, because fairytales rarely make sense on their own, never mind all living together in a small town in Maine. It’s glorious.
Set aside your expectations, OUAT is going to show you how fairytales should be modernised.
With that said, this show is one of those that I am happy to revisit every time I do. I enjoy the way it hooks me and grabs my obsession. I love watching them develop, grow and become better people, better heroes. Their quest for their Happy Beginnings is nothing to laugh at. Yet it is a humorous, and self-aware show, that keeps you on your toes. It gets no less heart-wrenching on rewatches when it intends to be, and no less enjoyable when it intends to be comedic. A watch of it, comes with a love that expands beyond predictions, just as they did.
Once Upon A Time is often about love, at the end of the day. All kinds of love, because a found family made up of people you’re also mostly related to is weirdly just as fulfilling as a found family. After all, technically, they did find each other! They love romantically, platonically, and with bigger hearts than anything they love their found family… and that, is why you can love them so. It’s why I love them.
So, if you read all the way here and have never watched it before, will you now? I hope so. If you watched it already, I’d recommend you watch it again, and if you’re thinking that maybe you started it but never finished it, how about you go pick it back up again. This show is worth your time. If only because slaying dragons is never not cool, and if you’re a romantic like me, this show has more than enough to fill that loving heart of yours.
Thanks
So, with that said, thank you.
This piece is short and brief, but good fun. It’s just a loving way of saying thank you to a show I adore.
I am thankful Once Upon A Time exists. It showed me anyone can find love, no matter what form it takes. It’s there, waiting for you. From the people you find along the way, or from the people who were there for you the whole time and you didn’t realise it. Love is there. That is an important lesson to know in a world like ours. Dark and stained by all the events around us, it’s good to know that even then, somewhere around the corner, some form of love will find you.
So, as a thanks to this show, there is this.
As a thanks to you, who stuck with this post of mostly rambling gibberish, thank you for reading till the end, for showing up to each post as they come, and taking the time to read the passionate incoherent musings of a fandom nerd like me.
I hope to see you for the next one!
Once Upon A Time can be streamed on Disney+ in the UK
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the images, narratives or characters present or referenced in this post. All rights belong to ABC and all other relevant parties.