TV Review: Once Upon a Time 4X01 – “A Tale of Two Sisters”

As a huge Disney fan, I have surprisingly not watched any of the Once Upon a Time seasons, despite the good ratings and praise the show has received. But once ABC announced that season four was going to revolve around Frozen-related material and characters, I knew I had to watch it. When you think the Frozen craze has died down, it only becomes stronger.

I came into this season blind. So I was unaware if that would hinder my viewing experience, but it surprisingly did not. However, I do need to get caught up in the relationships that each of the characters has with one another. But besides that, I enjoyed the episode. There are moments that carry over from previous seasons, but for the most part, I felt that this season could stand alone on its own. So for Disney fans who have not watched the show before, do not dwell. I advise that you start watching the show because you do not want to miss this season.

I loved how the episode started off. The opening scene has the parents of Anna and Elsa on a boat during a heavy storm. For those who have watched Frozen, you know what is about to happen. As the storm gets worse, their mother writes an important note that carries information that she believes the girls must know. The chance that a small bottle will get back to the girls is slim to none. But knowing Disney, anything is possible, right!? The message is yet to be revealed.

That is not the only drama that is brewing! Will Regina stay good? That is a question that is probably hanging over our heads. Is a villain always a villain? Honestly, if I got to be any Disney character in a show, it would definitely be the villain. Villains are so complex and you see a hint at Regina’s complexity in this episode. I can’t wait for the layers of her character to be revealed throughout the season. As she has an internal battle with herself, she is questioning whether becoming evil again is worth it to get her true love back. But why does she question this? Because Marian, Robin Hood’s wife, is back!

Can you just feel the awkwardness? Now caught between his past and present, Robin Hood has to choose. But he holds his sacred vows to death and he ends up choosing Marian. This does not sit well with the Evil Queen. The Evil Queen is ready to get Robin back by any means necessary. As she gets help from the magic mirror, she is set on getting rid of Marian once and for all.

As Elsa reveals her wedding gift to Anna, their mother’s wedding gown, she eyes a diary. It is her mother’s. Holding the guilt that it was her fault that their parents died is only confirmed. But I believe that the message that is in the bottle will reveal the truth. Guess we have to wait and see! Anna, who loves her sister to death, sets out on a quest to find the truth, only to leave Kristoff and Elsa in the kingdom.

Now the rest of the episode is set up with an epic battle between a snow monster and Emma Swan and the rest of the gang. Guess we did not see the last of the snow monster in Frozen. Elsa let her fears get to her when she was hiding in the other world. But knowing the extent that her sister will go to make her happy, she knew that getting their mother’s wedding gown back was fitting.

Photo Credit: ABC

When everyone is defeated and Marian is about to get stomped on by the snow monster, the Evil Queen makes her timely entrance. She has a change of heart and saves Marian. From the internal battle that we saw the Evil Queen having earlier in the episode, it looks like the good side won. But probably not for long.

The delivery of the last line of how it’s the villain’s turn to get their happily-ever-after was spooky and chilling. I loved it! It was perfect! I know that the material in this season answers a lot of questions for us Disney fans. Also love how timely it is that the villain will get her happily-ever-after right around October.

There are so many added layers that tonight’s episode is only the tip of the iceberg. The intertwined stories and plots are quite interesting and done so well. The transitions were smooth and the sparks of Disney magic were there. Also, I loved Elsa’s dress. It was a great depiction of what we saw in the film. The only parts that I need to still see get developed are where Belle comes into the picture. The problems of coming into a show blind, I suppose! Overall,  I’m looking forward to seeing what will happen during the rest of the season.