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February 17, 2012Fractured Fairy Tale: The Appeal and the Danger of 'Once Upon a Time'
The show's emphasis on the power of love is its strength—and weakness.
ABC’s big surprise hit this year doesn’t feature lawyers, police officers, doctors, or any other primetime staples. It features princesses, imps, talking crickets, magic mirrors, and an evil queen.
Once Upon a Time has consistently scored high in the ratings this season with its unique mix of classic fairy tales and modern mores. The story begins with Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison), a no-nonsense bounty hunter, being found by the son she had given up for adoption. Young Henry (Jared Gilmore) tells Emma that the town of Storybrooke, Maine, where he lives, is full of fairy tale characters who are under a dark spell that only she can break.
Naturally, Emma is disinclined to believe his theory. But meeting Henry’s adoptive mother, Regina (Lana Parrilla), convinces her that something is wrong with his situation, and that she needs to figure out what it is. Meanwhile, flashbacks reveal to us that Henry has, in fact, stumbled upon the truth: The residents of Storybrooke are indeed enchanted fairy tale characters, most of whom have no memory of whom they really are. Regina is actually the evil queen from Snow White who, out of spite and hatred, cursed these people to a life disconnected from their true identities.
It’s an intriguing premise, cleverly executed. But is that enough to account for its success? I think there may be something deeper at work here.
Many of the people of Storybrooke are unhappy with their lives for reasons they don’t fully understand. The curse placed on them has ripped apart relationships and left individuals stranded without each other. Though the writers probably didn’t intend it that way, it’s reminiscent of another curse that Christians are familiar with—one that disrupted the life that we were meant to live, and infects our lives and relationships to this day. In this respect, Storybrooke, filled with lonely, restless, searching people, is a microcosm of our own world.
At the heart of the story are Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Prince Charming (Josh Dallas), who were married with a newborn daughter—Emma—when the destructive curse took effect. In Storybrooke, Snow is now Mary Margaret Blanchard, a single elementary-school teacher, and Charming is David Nolan, seemingly married to another woman—though when it comes right down to it, he can’t actually remember marrying her. When Emma Swan shows up in town, neither of them realizes that she’s their child. Neither of them can even remember that they have a child.
Yet Mary Margaret and David are powerfully drawn to each other. They make a lovely couple, but the moral calculus required to root for them would give Archimedes a migraine. David’s married to someone else—only he really isn’t—but he thinks he is—but technically, by thinking he is, he’s cheating on his real wife, Snow/Mary—but he doesn’t know that, so he’s essentially cheating on his supposed wife . . . you get the picture. In the fairy tale world that we see in flashback, these two had a wonderful marriage; in the modern world, the only relationship they can have is a guilt-ridden and secretive one.
This too says something, I think, about why the show speaks to so many people. In a society where more of us are single than ever before, the divorce rate is soaring, and an unprecedented number of children are raised in broken homes, we long for fulfilling relationships like Snow and Charming’s. And we sympathize with those characters’ modern incarnations, Mary Margaret and David. For them, as for too many people these days, a happy and lasting marriage sometimes seems like something that could only be achieved in a fairy tale.
With that in mind, a shattered family slowly being drawn back together against all odds becomes a very exciting thing to watch. (I do have some reservations about how the show handles the topic of adoption, with Henry’s biological mother having to swoop in and save him from his evil adoptive mother, but that’s a discussion for another time.) The idea of a love so strong it can survive anything, even a memory-destroying curse, has enormous appeal. It feeds a hunger within us, created by the God who designed us to live in relationship with Himself and others.
Yet that same concept is a double-edged sword. Love can bring great joy and inspire noble deeds, as it does for Snow and Charming. But it can also tempt people to selfishness and betrayal, as we’re starting to see in Mary Margaret and David’s story.
Intentionally or not, Once Upon a Time demonstrates the danger of elevating human love above all other considerations. It illustrates C. S. Lewis’s words in The Four Loves, when he wrote about the idolization of Eros: “The god [of love] dies or becomes a demon unless he obeys God.”
And that truth is likely to have implications for the show as a whole. While it’s supposed to be all about the battle between good and evil, the worship of romantic love threatens to blur the lines between the two.
Though I’ve had occasion in the past to criticize “princess theology,” I’ve always been fond of fairy tales. As Mary Margaret says in the first episode of the show, stories are “a way for us to deal with our world. A world that doesn’t always make sense.” They can simultaneously reflect the broken reality we live in, and the ideal that we long for. But the lesson I take away from Once Upon a Time is that the ideal isn’t enough, for love doesn’t transcend good and evil. It can’t be truly inspiring, fulfilling, and all the other things we want it to be, unless it is subject to the One who made it.
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Comments
Gina, great article. Every longing we have seems to me to be based on a hunger for God, even if we don't know it. Sometimes our longings point us toward him, and sometimes they are perversions of the godly longing and they draw us away from him. Good job describing how those are in tension in this TV show.
Cheers,
Tim
Posted By: Tim | February 17, 2012 9:39 AM
Great analysis! I love this show and I hadn't quite realized the comparasions between that curse and THE curse. I'm going to have to ponder this one for awhile :)
Posted By: Leslie | February 17, 2012 9:50 AM
Intrigued by the idea, I started to watch this show, but didn't have enough time, patience, or interest in fairy tales to stick it out. I liked the idea, though, and am glad to read this fascinating and insightful analysis. Thanks, Gina.
Posted By: KSP | February 17, 2012 9:52 AM
My wife and I have enjoyed this show and really like the intriguing premise. I think you have hit on much of why the show has struck a chord with viewers, however, you may be a little premature in evaluating the relationship of Mary/David. Remember this is a TV series and is intended to run over dozens, if not hundreds, of episodes. These characters are at the beginning of their arcs. I believe we'll see more of the unintended consequences of elevating human love as the show progresses. First of all, the two world dynamic is inevitably going to lead to those very issues. Second, an ongoing story such as this thrives on drama and conflict, so road blocks, bad choices, and the consequences of both are sure to continue!=)
Posted By: Mark E. | February 17, 2012 9:53 AM
This is one of about three shows my family watches together. We love this show. I love it. But I absolutely love fairy tales -- have since I was a child. Fairy tales are so enduring because they deal with good vs. evil and often paint the world in black and white without including all the shades of gray that exist.
I was disappointed in the show when Emma decided to use less-than-ethical practices to find evidence against the mayor. BUT, the great thing is that she paid for this.
The show isn't perfect by any means, but it is doing a marvelous job of showing that when we resort to darker practices we have to deal with some pretty bad consequences.
One day I hope to write my own YA fairy tale!
Posted By: Jane Hinrichs | February 17, 2012 11:35 AM
As for the TV ratings side of it, ABC put a LOT of money and marketing into making OUAT a hit. I think they're grateful it stuck, but I don't know if we can call it a surprise! Similarly marketed shows have not fared so well (Pan Am), but I think the netwokrk is happy the show has stuck.
I'm iffy on it; I think the evil queen is more suited for a daytime soap with all her heavy-handed "meaningful" looks. But I love Jennifer Morrison and some of the other supporting cast. I like that it feels different than a lot of what's on, and the themes you picked up on definitely carry this show as more than just rehashed fairy tales.
Posted By: Stephanie | February 17, 2012 12:00 PM
Excellent analysis and review. One thing that has troubled me about the show is the way in which the evil characters seem to sometimes 'demolish' good characters who attempt to confront or come up against them, how they seem to 'one-up' them. On further thought, I know that without the only one who is truly Good (Jesus Christ) we are without protection. I am curious about how the show will deal with a 'good' that will be completely victorious over the curse. Thank you for your insightful article.
Posted By: jen | February 17, 2012 1:18 PM
Excellent article. I have had similar thoughts about the show and you've given me much more to think about. I appreciate how well thought out and articulated your thoughts are. I've bookmarked this, I think I'll want to read it a few more times as I process through the themes, not of the show, but of my own life in Christ.
Posted By: Jennifer Dawn McLucas | February 17, 2012 1:38 PM
I agree with Mark E.'s comments -- hopefully the show has a long way to go and we don't know yet how the Mary/David relationship is going to turn out, so way too soon to judge. Anyway, if there's nothing sinful going on, none of us will really be able to relate to the characters .... We are tempted and we do sin -- there was only one who didn't, and we shouldn't expect meaningful TV shows to portray a perfection we don't know or live in. And even if the final choices are not ones we would personally make, or want our friends and children to make, it's still excellent material for life lessons, especially when executed as tastefully, imaginatively, and beautifully as this show is.
Posted By: GRG | February 17, 2012 5:28 PM
Wow - what a great article! Current, relevant, insightful and thoughta provoking. Gently reminding us to stay engaged at a spiritual level, without lecturing or judging. Best of all giving me something new that I will continue to reflect on every time I watch the show - or anything similar. Thank-you Gina!
I also related to Jane's comment about loving a story told in black and white without the gray shades to complicate and confuse things. I think these themes are why fantasy and sci-fi appeal so strongly to some of us. Christianity is the ultimate good vs evil story.
Also, I was thinking that it may take someone's sacrifice to restore the Storybrooke characters to their true identities. Hopefully a sacrifice with a redemptive ending so that all can live happily ever after!
Posted By: Kristen | February 17, 2012 10:03 PM
pleeze...don't you think you are over analyzing and reading way to much in a FICTION show based on children's stories? This show is much better than most of the bloody, senseless killing and rude language of most of the shows available to watch on prime time. Just relax and enjoy the fine acting, great costumes, sets and tongue in cheek story lines.
Posted By: connie tinnin | February 18, 2012 4:17 PM
Kristen, you nailed it. It's a TV show for goodness sakes. Yes, art (even TV shows) can speak to deeper ideas. I'll be the first to say I still love Braveheart, but this show is more about cool idea, great actors (I mean, watch Robert Carlyle -- won't see that much talent on many other shows), and inventive re-tellings of classic tales. This is from the same team that created LOST. There are going to be questions, there will be hidden meanings, some things will be left unanswered. Like Kristen wrote, "just relax and enjoy".
Posted By: John | February 19, 2012 7:25 AM
I don't know if you nice church goers know this but....No one likes Charming and Snow, In Storybrooke they are wimps and jerks.
The popular character is Regina and Rumplestiltskin---With out them this show would have ended weeks ago.
Posted By: Olympiias | February 19, 2012 7:10 PM
I really enjoy this show but I have thought about a lot of the things you wrote about - I saw some of the things you point out and this is a thoughtful article on the show.
Beyond the analogy of the Storybrooke curse and the curse of sin in our world, I like that there is a book that reveals the intended identity of people and that there must be a savior who comes into the cursed world in order to save it.
Posted By: Lizzie | February 19, 2012 9:48 PM
Great analogy of this show. I have enjoyed it from the beginning. It is a unique concept for a TV show and gets down to the good vs evil lesson...in every episode. It is amazing the parallel to our lives today...always not quite happy with earthly things...but only happiness is found in the one "true love" of our Creator.
Thanks for sharing your great analogy and insight regarding this series!
Posted By: Rose Dunkerley | February 20, 2012 7:28 AM