Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: N/A | 4 USERS: A YOU GRADE IT Fairy Tales Can Come True
By Cindy McLennan | Season 1 | Episode 1 | Aired on 10.23.2011
Queenie says she didn't come to ruin anything. "I've come to give you a gift. [...] My gift to you is this happy, happy day, for tomorrow, my real work begins. You've made your vows, now I make mine. Soon, everything you love -- everything all of you love -- will be taken from you. And out of your suffering will rise my victory. I shall destroy your happiness if it is the last thing I do." Queenie starts to swoop out. Charming shouts, "Hey!" When she turns around, he throws his sword straight at her. She disappears in a cloud of smoke. Charming takes Snow in his arms. The live action shot of them morphs into an illustration in a fairy tale book, because now we are in...
Our World, Boston, MA: A little boy, who we'll learn is Henry Mills (Jared Gilmore), is riding a bus to South Station. On his lap lies a fairy tale book, with the aforementioned illustration of Snow White and Prince Charming. When another passenger asks him if he likes his book, Henry clutches it and says, "This? It's more than just a book." The book's title, by the way, is Once Upon A Time. Henry gets off the bus, finds a cab, and asks the driver if he takes credit cards. Cabbie: "Where to, Chief?"
Boston Restaurant: Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison), in a smoking hot red dress, enters and meets up with Ryan (Warren Christie), who -- at first blush -- appears to be her date. Ryan thinks he's her date, too, but Emma is really a bail bondswoman. He doesn't know that yet though, so he asks her about herself. It's her birthday. She's kind of a loner -- no family. He tells her she's the sexiest friendless orphan he's ever met. She says it's her turn to sum him up, and then reveals she knows he skipped town on bail after embezzling from his company. Ryan runs. Emma sighs as she stands. "Really?" Ryan rushes outside. Emma takes her sweet time because she knows she's had a boot put on Ryan's car. He's not going anywhere. When she catches up to him, he says he'll repay her -- that he has the money. Emma: "No you don't. And if you did, you should give it to your wife to take care of your family." Ryan: "What the hell do you know about family?" Now Emma is angry and I like it. She reaches in Ryan's car, grabs him by the head, smashes it against the steering wheel, knocks him out, and says, "Nothing."
Emma arrives home, and I just want to give kudos to the set decorator, because the outside of Emma's apartment door is covered in longhand script that you just know must tell a fairy tale. Emma kicks off her shoes, hobbles to her kitchen, and takes a little box out of the bag she's carrying. Inside is a cupcake. She decorates it with a blue star candle, lights the candle and says, "Another banner year." She then closes her eyes. You can tell she's making a wish. As soon as she blows out the flame, her doorbell rings. It's Henry. When she confirms she's Emma Swan, he introduces himself. "My name's Henry. I'm your son." Commercial.