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.
"Second Star to the Right" from personal opinion is the best 'Once Upon a Time' since "The Miller's Daughter" (also from Season 2) and one of the better episodes of a season that generally was of a solid standard with a few disappointments. Other episodes of Season 2 and of 'Once Upon a Time' in general do better at progressing existing characters and plot lines, and characters like Dr Whale have served more point elsewhere.
On the other hand, there is a huge amount to like about "Second Star to the Right". Really liked how it put its own fresh twist on one of literature's most justifiably famous stories rather than making it a conventional telling, one that is twisty and at times dark, in a way that makes one truly excited for how it's going to progress, a great way to set such a great idea up.
The existing characters have enough to do too and there is a lot going on but handled very neatly and not in a way that feels convoluted or like "too many cooks spoil the broth". Both of which being fears of mine, seeing as 'Once Upon a Time' introducing and including new fairy tale and literary characters to expand the universe and have more than one story to focus on has had variable success in the past and since. The connections between fairy tale and reality and past and present continue to be neatly done and cohesive.
All the acting is uniformly fine, no problems there. Really do love how this element, along with the writing on the most part, has come on such a long way since 'Once Upon a Time' first started.
Furthermore, "Second Star to the Right" 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.
In conclusion, great and makes one excited for the finale and Season 3. 9/10 Bethany Cox
"Second Star to the Right" from personal opinion is the best 'Once Upon a Time' since "The Miller's Daughter" (also from Season 2) and one of the better episodes of a season that generally was of a solid standard with a few disappointments. Other episodes of Season 2 and of 'Once Upon a Time' in general do better at progressing existing characters and plot lines, and characters like Dr Whale have served more point elsewhere.
On the other hand, there is a huge amount to like about "Second Star to the Right". Really liked how it put its own fresh twist on one of literature's most justifiably famous stories rather than making it a conventional telling, one that is twisty and at times dark, in a way that makes one truly excited for how it's going to progress, a great way to set such a great idea up.
The existing characters have enough to do too and there is a lot going on but handled very neatly and not in a way that feels convoluted or like "too many cooks spoil the broth". Both of which being fears of mine, seeing as 'Once Upon a Time' introducing and including new fairy tale and literary characters to expand the universe and have more than one story to focus on has had variable success in the past and since. The connections between fairy tale and reality and past and present continue to be neatly done and cohesive.
All the acting is uniformly fine, no problems there. Really do love how this element, along with the writing on the most part, has come on such a long way since 'Once Upon a Time' first started.
Furthermore, "Second Star to the Right" 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.
In conclusion, great and makes one excited for the finale and Season 3. 9/10 Bethany Cox
