What is once upon a time about

User reviews Review. Top review. First Six Seasons are Awesome! I loved the first six seasons of Once Upon a Time, and actually binged all six seasons twice and eagerly awaited the arrival of season 7. There are few shows I can recommend more highly than the first six seasons of Once but seven was beyond disappointing. I couldn't make it through the first episode. I hated all the new and revamped characters. They lacked the class, style, fun and imagination of the original cast and the story itself was absolutely lackluster.

If you want to continue enjoying Once Upon a Time, do yourself a favor and rewatch the first six seasons. FAQ 6. Is the series available to own? Who knows about the curse? Who remembers they were a fairy tale character, while under the curse? Details Edit. Release date October 23, United States. United States. Official Facebook Official site. Steveston, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. Technical specs Edit.

It is up to Emma Swan to come and save the citizens of Storybrooke and the realm that started it all. Emma Swan faces her unlikely destiny in a small town called Storybrooke in Maine. Whilst Flashbacks reveal the World of Fairytales where a conflict between Snow White and the Evil Queen threatens to destroy there entire world and all their happy endings Emma Swan's son, Henry Mills, leaves to find his own adventure.

A new curse has been cast on the town of Hyperion Heights and whether heroes prevail or not has never been more uncertain. Relationships are forged as others are destroyed. With betrayal and witches centered around this new curse, the fate of happy endings lay in the hands of these unlikely new heroes. It's filled with magic, monsters and all of the characters we all know from stories growing up. It's real, and so are the people in it.

But unlike the "happily ever after" you may have heard about, their stories continued, and The Evil Queen cast a Dark Curse over the land Both parties are tested, but one suffers a blow that could derail the entire operation. In a flashback to long before the Age of Arthur, young Merlin finds purpose after he is blessed with magic and immortality, but when he falls in love with a young refugee named Nimue , everything changes for Merlin, as their romance starts a chain of events that touches every one of our present day heroes.

Refusing to give in, Emma and our heroes face off against Arthur, Merlin and Zelena in an epic battle of magic and will. Just when the end is in sight, Emma is forced to make a gut-wrenching choice that no one saw coming. Zelena and Arthur journey to DunBroch on a mission to retrieve an enchanted relic that will provide the advantage they need to vanquish Emma and our heroes. Merida enlists the help of two friends, Mulan and Ruby , but, in order to satisfy the Witch and save DunBroch, she first must discover the identity of the knight who killed her father.

In flashbacks, Merida learns about bravery and honor as she trains for combat and rides alongside Fergus into the infamous battle that claims his life. In a Camelot flashback, Hook becomes a Dark One and his lust for revenge against Rumplestiltskin is reignited. When Emma and Hook disagree about their best course of action, the final pieces of the puzzle are revealed as events in Camelot catch up to the present and we witness a charged confrontation between the forces of light and dark that sends our heroes on a collision course with destiny.

Meanwhile, in Storybrooke , Hook's centuries old lust for revenge against Gold puts both of their fates in jeopardy while Emma's love faces the ultimate test as she tries to convince Hook to turn away from the darkness before she, Mary Margaret , David and Regina embark on a new mission as an unsuspected evil is released.

The dark siege of Storybrooke is underway as all of the resurrected Dark Ones target a living soul for sacrifice so that they can return to the realm of the living. With doom imminent, Gold advises Mary Margaret , David and the rest of the heroes to spend their last fleeting moments enjoying the company of their loved ones.

Emma , however, refuses to give up, knowing that she is responsible for righting all the poor choices she made as Dark One - there's only one problem, Dark Hook. When they face-off with the fate of Storybrooke at stake, Hook's actions will devastate Emma in a way no one saw coming. In a Fairy Tale Land flashback, the Evil Queen tests Hook's mettle by forcing him to confront a demon from his past before contracting him to dispatch one from hers. Emma , Regina , Mary Margaret , David , Robin , Henry and Gold arrive in the Underworld , on a mission to rescue Hook , only to discover that their search will be more difficult than they had anticipated.

The inhabitants of the Underworld—all souls with unfinished business and many with quite personal vendettas—hound our heroes at every turn. Meanwhile, in an Enchanted Forest flashback, a familiar face from the Evil Queen 's past returns to present Regina with the perfect birthday gift. In the Underworld , an escapee from Hades ' prison informs the heroes that Hook is being held captive.

But before the heroes can rescue Hook, they must face a terrifying beast that guards the prison. Mary Margaret searches for an old childhood friend who knows how to defeat the monster. However, once reunited, she discovers that her friend is no longer the hero he once was. Meanwhile, in an Enchanted Forest flashback, a young Snow White struggles to preserve peace in her kingdom and must learn how to be a true hero if she wants to one day become queen.

Hook 's captivity takes a dark turn when Hades threatens to condemn him to the River of Lost Souls after Hook refuses to choose which three of his friends will have to remain in the Underworld. Meanwhile, Gold is suddenly eager to help Emma , Snow , David , Regina , Robin and Henry find Hook so he can return home to Belle ; but in order to do so, he must find his ex-wife Milah in the Underworld and ask for her help.

In Fairy Tale Land flashbacks, Rumple and Milah face a life-or-death crisis concerning their son, Baelfire , that forces Rumple to make a deal that will haunt him. A surprise visit from Hook's departed brother Liam just might provide the lead they were looking for—others who have tried to overthrow Hades spoke of a book that contained the key to his downfall. Tired of watching from the sidelines, Henry secretly takes matters into his own hands while the others search for the book.

Meanwhile, Hades redoubles his efforts to trap the heroes in the Underworld by playing them against one another. In flashbacks, the bond between the two young Jones brothers is tested and strengthened on a merchant ship heading into a dangerous storm.

While Zelena and Regina get into a sibling squabble, Belle is reunited with Rumple only to learn some tremendously shocking news that will change her life forever. Meanwhile, Snow and David hopelessly attempt to send a message from the Underworld to their son, Neal. In flashbacks, Hades learns about Zelena's very special spell and pays her a visit in Oz with the intention of striking an alliance, but finds himself with more than just a partner in crime.

Belle turns to Rumplestiltskin with hope of finding a way to protect their child from Hades. However, they disagree over whether to use dark magic , as Belle forbids Rumplestiltskin from using his powers for evil. Meanwhile, Hades secretly meets with Gaston in the Underworld and encourages him to seek revenge on Rumplestiltskin.

As the heroes try to find a way to defeat Hades, Emma has a terrifying nightmare that she realizes is beginning to come true. And in flashbacks, Belle and Gaston meet for the first time, but their blossoming romance comes to a halt on the eve of the Ogre wars.

In flashbacks, Ruby and Mulan find themselves in Oz , where they meet Dorothy. Meanwhile, Snow and David struggle with not being able to be with their son, Neal , and devise a plan so that one of them can escape the Underworld. Now that Hades and Zelena are reunited, Hades tells Zelena that he wants a future with her outside of the Underworld. When Regina overhears of this plan, she enlists Cora 's help to find a way to separate Zelena from Hades. However, Cora reveals a family secret that could change Regina and Zelena's lives forever.

Meanwhile, David finally meets James , only to realize that his twin is determined to seek revenge on him for stealing the life he could have had. Hades turns to the heroes to ask for help with getting Zelena back from Rumplestiltskin and Peter Pan. In return, he offers to take all their names off their tombstones. However, when Hook is still unable to leave, he and Emma must journey into the depths of the Underworld.

Meanwhile, Cruella De Vil is determined to keep the heroes trapped in the Underworld. In flashbacks, Emma searches for answers about her family and makes an unexpected friendship. Emma , David , Regina , Robin and Henry are finally back home in Storybrooke and reunited with Snow , but, unfortunately, they still have to contend with Hades , who continues to deceive Zelena as he lays out his plan to use the all-powerful Olympian Crystal to take over the town.

The heroes desperately search for a way to defeat Hades while Hook does the same in the Underworld , looking for those missing storybook pages. Regina and Robin take a more direct approach, which culminates in an epic showdown that will leave our heroes forever changed. Henry decides he no longer can stand all the pain magic has caused his family, so he goes rogue, with Violet in tow, to destroy magic once and for all. Meanwhile, Zelena , Snow , David and Hook attempt to open a portal that will return Merida and the other Storybrooke guests to their homes, but things go awry, and the group winds up in a deranged new world.

With the possibility of magic being destroyed and the fate of Storybrooke hanging in the balance, it's a race for Emma and Regina to track down Henry before Gold can find him first.

Regina continues to struggle with her frustrations over her former evil-self and, elsewhere, Snow , David , Hook and Zelena are imprisoned and must contend with very two very disturbed individuals that may give Gold a run for his money. As our heroes set out to stop Hyde , Emma develops a mysterious side effect, and Storybrooke becomes a haven for refugees from the Land of Untold Stories. Meanwhile, Regina and Zelena embrace their newfound sisterhood by becoming roommates, while Rumple tries to free Belle from the sleeping Curse with the help of a stranger.

In flashback, Jafar confronts an afflicted Aladdin in Agrabah , and a secret about the Savior is revealed. When a mysterious man from the Land of Untold Stories , who has a past with the Evil Queen , arrives in Storybrooke , David and Snow work together with Regina to neutralize the threat.

The Evil Queen continues to try to win Zelena over to her side, while Emma resumes her therapy sessions with Archie and shares her terrifying vision of the future. As Storybrooke continues to welcome the new arrivals from the Land of Untold Stories , families, friends and even long-lost enemies are reunited once again.

When Ashley Cinderella searches for her step-family, intent on settling their unfinished business, Emma , Hook and Henry scramble to help her before it's too late. Meanwhile, Regina attempts to bribe Mr.

Hyde for information about how to defeat the Evil Queen and Snow helps Dr. Jekyll find a suitable laboratory for his work. David makes a deal with Gold and delivers a message to Belle in exchange for new information about his father. In flashback, Cinderella attends a ball and meets her prince.

The Evil Queen and Hyde continue on their quest to steal Dr. Meanwhile, back in the past, Rumplestiltskin helps Dr. In Storybrooke , the Evil Queen tricks Hook and the Charmings and forces Emma to reveal her secret in an effort to divide the family.

While the Evil Queen pampers Zelena , elsewhere in town, Regina and our heroes scramble to learn what became of Aladdin. Gold reminds her of his most important lesson. Meanwhile, in the past, Hook finds himself kidnapped by the mysterious Captain Nemo and held captive inside his legendary submarine, the Nautilus. In a flashback to the Enchanted Forest , Bandit Snow dodges a bounty hunter known as the Woodcutter while shepherd David goes on a fateful journey to sell his family's farm.

In Storybrooke , the Evil Queen threatens to destroy the town and everyone in it unless Snow and David surrender their hearts. As Emma , Hook and Henry prepare to defend Storybrooke, Snow, David and Regina search for a magical sapling created by the first spark of true love.

Regina uses Gold 's and the Evil Queen's burgeoning romance against them, and Zelena offers Belle some friendly advice. Emma and Regina formulate a plan to trap the Evil Queen in a prison of their own making, while Snow and David adjust to life without each other. As Henry nervously prepares to take Violet to the school dance, the Evil Queen impersonates Regina to give him some advice that could lead him down a dark path. Meanwhile, Zelena agrees to help Belle , and together they enlist Aladdin to steal a magical object from Mr.

Gold that could protect Belle and her unborn child from him forever. Back in Storybrooke , Gold tells the Evil Queen that she must kill Zelena , and the EQ makes a decision that will change her relationship with her sister forever. Meanwhile, Jasmine finds a genie-less lamp that she hopes to use to save Agrabah , and Aladdin finds a way to be her hero. Meanwhile, Gold and Belle face a surprising danger to their newborn son. Gideon makes a startling confession to Belle and Gold about his whereabouts while he was missing.

Meanwhile, Regina struggles with the realization that everyone, perhaps even Robin , is better off in the alternate world where the Evil Queen was defeated. And when Emma inspires a familiar face to help her and Regina return home, she discovers the power to change her fate. Before Hook takes the next step in his relationship with Emma , he wants to make sure David sees him as more than just a pirate. Meanwhile, Regina works to acclimate Robin to life in Storybrooke , but soon discovers he has a dark side that makes the task much more complicated than she anticipated.

When Gideon resumes his mission to kill Emma and become the Savior , Mr. Gold steps in to ensure that the use of dark magic does not poison his son. Meanwhile, Robin proves willing to ally himself with anyone offering the possibility of escape from Regina and Storybrooke. Hook gathers the courage to come clean to Emma, but not before she discovers he's been keeping a secret.

And in a flashback to Fairy Tale Land , the legendary folk hero Beowulf sets his sights on Rumplestiltskin after the Dark One uses his powers to defeat the ogres and win the war for humanity.

Believing there isn't room in Storybrooke for both her and Regina , the Evil Queen sets out to eliminate her other half using Robin to bait the trap.

Hook , determined to make things work with Emma , turns to his old friend Capt. Nemo for advice, but Gideon torpedoes his plan before he's able to set things right.

In a flashback to the Enchanted Forest , the Evil Queen learns a surprising lesson about the true source of her misery. When Hook finds himself trapped in another realm along with the Nautilus and her crew, he races to return to Emma before Gideon can execute the rest of his plan. And in a flashback to Agrabah , Jasmine befriends Ariel , and together they set out to locate Prince Eric as the threat from Jafar intensifies.

Gold and Belle convince Emma to help Gideon , explaining that together they can stop the Black Fairy. Henry experiences a disorienting shift in his powers that forces Regina to seek counsel from the previous Author.

Meanwhile, in Fairy Tale Land , Hook attempts to win the assistance of an old adversary by betting his most prized possession on a game of cards.

And, in a flashback, the Black Fairy tortures young Gideon in hopes of molding him into the perfect apprentice. Still trapped in Neverland , Hook aligns himself with Tiger Lily , hoping to find a way back to Emma.

Back in Storybrooke , Regina works to break the sleeping curse that David and Snow are under, and Gold denies The Black Fairy , which brings the two of them to a fearsome impasse.

In flashbacks, we learn what Snow and Charming sacrificed in order for Emma to fulfill her destiny as the Savior. In flashback, Zelena befriends a young woodcutter who has been cursed and turns to her for help finding a new heart. Zelena is forced to choose between keeping her powers and her friendship with him. In flashback, after Rumple 's mother, Fiona , learns from his fairy godmother that his destiny is prophesized, she does everything in her power to keep it from happening.

Ultimately, Fiona will have to make a decision that will change the course of both their lives forever. Meanwhile, in Storybrooke , Rumple faces a similar dilemma. In flashback, Snow and Charming make a special wish that Emma will be protected. The result of their wish has the whole kingdom bursting into song which infuriates the Evil Queen. Meanwhile, in Storybrooke , the Black Fairy announces her plans to unleash another curse on the town while Emma and Hook prepare for their wedding.

Henry awakens to a cursed Storybrooke and discovers Emma has been in the mental hospital , and the Black Fairy is the new mayor. Henry attempts to help Emma regain her memory while Gold tries to find out what has really happened to Belle.

Henry leaves Storybrooke in search of his own story. Years later in another realm , he encounters a troubled Cinderella , changing the trajectory of his quest forever. When Cinderella's evil step-mother, Lady Tremaine , poses a threat, Henry discovers that following his heart will require him to make more difficult choices than he ever could have imagined. Years later, a young Lucy finds a disillusioned Henry at his home in Seattle , determined to make him remember his true self in order to defeat the curse afflicting the fairytale characters of "Hyperion Heights.

When Henry finds himself in trouble, he calls upon his Storybrooke family for help, and together they set off on a mission to find Cinderella. Along the way, Hook is confronted by an unexpected foe who threatens the group's success. In Hyperion Heights , Jacinda searches for a way to see Lucy with some unwelcome assistance from Henry, while Victoria Belfrey enlists the help of Gold and Weaver to push Henry out of the neighborhood.

When Cinderella finds herself staring danger in the eye, she receives help from an unlikely source. Her rescue leads to an alliance that could aid in the defeat of Lady Tremaine 's rule and reveals a dark secret from Cinderella's past. In Hyperion Heights , Jacinda goes to extreme measures to stop Victoria Belfrey from destroying Lucy 's beloved community garden , while Lucy tries to convince Henry that Victoria is after more than just a plot of land.

Meanwhile, Victoria makes a discovery that could alter everyone's fate. Meanwhile, Tilly appears to be waking up from the curse and is intent on leading Weaver to the truth — but not if Victoria can help it. In a flashback, Rumple and Belle seek the answer to a prophecy that could cement their happy ending. Tiana seeks help from a traveling soothsayer, the iconic Dr. Facilier , in an attempt to save her kingdom. But when it's revealed that he has an ulterior motive she's forced to take matters into her own hands.

In Hyperion Heights , Sabine and Jacinda take on a risky business venture, but the strength of their friendship is tested when Victoria interferes with their plans. Meanwhile, Ivy recruits Henry to investigate Victoria, and Roni makes a discovery that could change her relationship with Henry forever. Rogers uncovers a crucial clue in his search for Eloise Gardener.

Feeling like a third wheel as Henry and Cinderella 's relationship strengthens, Regina is surprised to find herself needed by Drizella , who is searching for magic.

But when a brutal truth is revealed, it could lead Drizella down a dangerous path. In pursuit of revenge, Hook seeks a dark and powerful magic , but an encounter with Rapunzel could alter his fate forever. Meanwhile, in Hyperion Heights , Ivy 's plot to take down Victoria intensifies and has unexpected consequences for Jacinda and Lucy.

Rogers enlists Henry and Tilly 's help in his ongoing quest to find the missing Eloise Gardener , but what he discovers isn't what meets the eye. In an attempt to prevent a distressed Alice from running away, Henry and Ella follow her into Wonderland. Henry is desperate for his mom's help and thinks that Emma is actually the long, lost daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming.

Yes, the actual Snow White and Prince Charming. Even stranger, Henry believes that Storybrooke, the sleepy New England town he calls home, is really part of a curse cast by the Evil Queen, freezing fairytale characters in the modern world with no memory of their former selves.

Of course the seen-it-all Emma doesn't believe a word, but when she gets to Storybrooke, she can't help sensing that everything's not quite what it seems. As Henry shows Emma around with the help of his fairytale book, the town, and its inhabitants like Henry's therapist Archie Hopper and the enigmatic Mr. Gold, seem just strange enough to set off her already suspicious nature. She becomes even more concerned for Henry when she meets his adopted mother, Regina, who he suspects is none other than the Evil Queen herself!

Storybrooke is a place where magic has been forgotten—but is still powerfully close—and happily ever after seems just out of reach. In order to understand where the fairytale world's former inhabitants came from, and what ultimately led to the Evil Queen's wrath, you'll need a glimpse into their previous lives. But it might just turn everything you've ever believed about these characters upside-down.

Meanwhile, the epic battle for the future of all worlds, modern and fairytale alike, is about to begin. For good to win, Emma will have to accept her destiny and fight like hell. About Season 2: To ensure that no one in Fairy Tale Land—especially Snow White—had any more "happily ever afters," Evil Queen Regina cast a curse which trapped the fairy tale characters, frozen in time, and brought them into our modern world.

Although still alive, they had no knowledge of their former selves and were sleepwalking through life—ageless—for 28 years, until a savior arrived in the form of Emma Swan. Abandoned as a baby, Emma's life was anything but magical; her last job was as a bail bondsperson, but she mostly drifted without much of a life plan.

When her year-old son, Henry—whom she had given up for adoption years earlier—appeared on her doorstep with a book of fairy tales and a wild story about how Emma was the progeny of fairy tale characters trapped in a town called Storybrooke, she thought he was crazy.

But curiosity got the better of her, and when she brought Henry back to the town—where Regina, ever the control freak, had made herself mayor and was also Henry's adoptive mother—Emma soon discovered that Storybrooke was more than it seemed. Over time she came to believe the stories were true, began to see cracks in the curse, and was finally able to break it.

Reality and myth were merged as the fairy tale characters began awakening, once The Curse was lifted, and remembered who they were. But to their dismay they were not transported back to fairy tale land. And to make matters worse, Rumplestiltskin—aka Mr.

Gold—in an effort to gain the upper hand in his power struggle with Regina, introduced magic into the town. In fairy tales magic has its place, but in our world it can have unfathomable consequences.

Now the fairy tale characters must contend with magic in their quest to find a way home, as new fairy tale characters are revealed, old acquaintances are revisited, and some we had come to believe could be trusted will turn against their own kind. About Season 3: Welcome to Storybrooke, Maine, a small town that probably won't show up on your GPS, but it's a magical place to visit.