Once Upon a Time

:

Season 2
  • Network: ABC
  • Series Premiere Date: Oct 23, 2011
Season #: 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 157 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 121 out of 157
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 157
  3. Negative: 14 out of 157
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User Reviews

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  1. DoctorTorchwood
    Apr 19, 2014
    10
    The season shows the emergence of Cora, one of the best villains ever. New characters and a new plot make this season even better than the first. Each episode is filled with drama and action, a perfect combination for a great show and an awesome story.
  2. mgyukeri
    Jun 16, 2013
    5
    Honestly I expected more after the first season. Since the standard flashback fairy tale/current Storybrooke format is changed, characters seem more and more out of place. Henry is also markedly worse acting-wise. I'd pass on this installment if I were you.
  3. TheQuietGamer
    May 23, 2017
    7
    With the curse having been broken, everyone's memories returned, and the introduction of magic into Storybrooke, the show changes up the game just enough to allow for new plotlines and dangers for the characters while not altering the formula that made it such a success in it's first season. We get a look at the current post-curse state of the enchanted forest from which all theseWith the curse having been broken, everyone's memories returned, and the introduction of magic into Storybrooke, the show changes up the game just enough to allow for new plotlines and dangers for the characters while not altering the formula that made it such a success in it's first season. We get a look at the current post-curse state of the enchanted forest from which all these characters came from and plenty of new faces are along for the ride.

    The writing is much darker this time around. The season's new villains make things much more dangerous for the heroes. As always, there are plenty of twists and turns to keep viewers guessing and engaged. The new takes on classic fairytales are just as inventive as ever.

    The flaws from the first season are still hanging around though. Characters still make the most boneheaded decisions and the glimpses back into the past play out exactly how you would expect them to. So the frustrations are still in place. Yet, when all is said and done the new stuff and increased scale make season 2 a slight improvement on the first.

    7.3/10    … Expand
  4. Jpopham8856
    May 29, 2013
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Are you stupid Regina could have died but rumplestiskin could have stopped that diamond easily but instead you wanted to kill Regina. And how was Henry taken if he was in snow whites arms I score that episode with 5… Expand
  5. mustard_tiger
    Mar 6, 2013
    7
    The show is very fun this season but mainly due to the fact that it has flown totally off the rails. This season has had some of the worst acting and writing I've ever seen but the actors are giving it everything they've got which makes it even funnier. The star wars references are funny and I never through I would see an implied lesbian couple fist each other on a Disney show but itThe show is very fun this season but mainly due to the fact that it has flown totally off the rails. This season has had some of the worst acting and writing I've ever seen but the actors are giving it everything they've got which makes it even funnier. The star wars references are funny and I never through I would see an implied lesbian couple fist each other on a Disney show but it happened... it was with a heart but I got the sub text. Again, is anyone sick of everything looking like BC?… Expand
  6. joegrant
    Oct 15, 2012
    9
    The first episode starts with big changes in the storyline, unexpected twists and new characters. After a few episodes, I found myself enjoying this second season like a kid.
  7. Rox22
    Sep 15, 2013
    8
    Season 2 was pretty good and I thoroughly enjoyed it. However, a little less than I did Season 1.

    Don't get me wrong, it was still a damn good season that in most respects was better in overall quality, but it also lacked the freshness that the first season had. This can not be helped. Most of the character's do a great job. Regina & Rumpelstiltskin are given such depth, that they    Season 2 was pretty good and I thoroughly enjoyed it. However, a little less than I did Season 1.

    Don't get me wrong, it was still a damn good season that in most respects was better in overall quality, but it also lacked the freshness that the first season had. This can not be helped.

    Most of the character's do a great job. Regina & Rumpelstiltskin are given such depth, that they are clearly my favorite characters. Hook is a great addition. I really hope they keep him and expand on his character.

    Henry was, in my opinion, the weakest. Not the character, but the writing for the character. He did alright in the first season, but this time round he comes across a little bit hammy. He may be a kid, but no kid that age is that immature and corny.

    While many might moan, I loved the increase of the fairy tale aspect and also the increase in effects. However I also felt this season had allot more exposition and filler than season 1. Granted, season 1 was dominantly exposition, it is to be expected from the opening season of any show.

    Overall:
    Season was great and added allot to the already immersive lore. However, less filler, more entertaining content.    … Expand
  8. tcyoder
    Aug 1, 2013
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. While the 2nd season didn't deliver on quite the level of season 1, there were still plenty of reasons to watch!
    (some spoilers below)

    First, Robert Carlyle's work is always outstanding on the show, and with the re-introduction of his son, Baelfire, there is a lot of drama that stems from that.

    Second, Barbara Hershey was just fantastic this season. My favorite episode this season was 2.16 "The Miller's Daughter". I personally would have loved to keep her story going, but Cora's death lead to a lot of emotion.

    The romantic entanglements of some of the characters are juicy and interesting.

    Colin O'Donoghue as Captain Hook brought something refreshing to the show, and was the best new character this season (along side Michael Raymond-James). I will admit there were too many new characters introduced that didn't really make a difference, and they actually took time away from moments with already established characters (like Ruby/Red).

    The cliffhanger at the end of the season just makes you want to watch more!

    My biggest disappointment of the season was that a lot of the mystery that was in season 1 is now missing because of the curse being broken. A lot of the things that happened were indeed predictable.

    There were also too many flashbacks that involved Snow White being hunted by the queen (how many times can the queen actually hunt Snow White?).

    There were also more storylines that had huge plot-holes than season 1. In one of the first episode the Blue Fairy says she can't use magic without her wand and/or fairy dust. A couple episodes later, she has her wand. Where did she get it? I know there are probably scenes cut that explained some of the holes, but the writers need to be more careful with plot-holes.

    Finally, the show does tend to stay away from the danger of any of its core characters. I know it would be sad, but there has to be a feeling of danger, and I think the death of a major character would really up the ante on the danger that these characters face. Heck, they couldn't even let Pinocchio die (from a still unexplained powerful taser), and they had to find a way to let him live.

    Overall, this show is still great, and with a little smoothing out season 3 will be the best yet.    … Expand
  9. seventhbeacon
    Nov 23, 2014
    1
    Once upon a time, ABC was in talks with an amazing creator named Bill Willingham, whose comic series "Fables" is a long line of brilliance, mature exploration of character and fairy tale tropes blended into a modern setting. It is hands down one of the best series I have ever read, and it's still going (at least into 2015 when the story comes to a close).

    At some point, those talks fell    Once upon a time, ABC was in talks with an amazing creator named Bill Willingham, whose comic series "Fables" is a long line of brilliance, mature exploration of character and fairy tale tropes blended into a modern setting. It is hands down one of the best series I have ever read, and it's still going (at least into 2015 when the story comes to a close).

    At some point, those talks fell through. Then, half a year later, ABC announces Once Upon a Time, based on the same basic conceit as the Willingham comic from Vertigo (DC). I'm sad it's not Fables, but I'm excited at the idea.

    Then, I watch it. I tried. I really did. It's so watered down, trying to appeal to the lowest common denominator, with annoying leads (though I liked Jiminy Cricket and I liked Rumpelstiltskin for what they were worth). It had a less-intriguing premise. It was far too soft and Disney-fied. They basically took this amazing mature story and tried to make it have mass appeal to the family audience. Already not what I wanted, but hey, I like a good family show on occasion, so I stuck it out.

    And the writing sucked. The plotting, the dialogue, the generic tropes done with a straight face, bland as could be. The kid is obnoxious. Snow's 'daughter' is obnoxious. Snow is less interesting than a bottle of Ambien (and it's sad, too, I loved the actress in Big Love).

    Jiminy and Rumpel are the only reason this review didn't get a '0'.

    If you want something that's actually good in this vein, go read Fables. Or watch Grimm.    … Expand
  10. manningn15
    Oct 15, 2018
    8
    Another great season. This show just continues to get better. Still one of my favorite shows ever.
  11. Felindie
    Jul 15, 2019
    5
    I just can not buy the premise, even the characters are not enough. I am going to give up on this one.
  12. Lucas565
    Dec 12, 2020
    10
    Uma das melhores séries que eu já assisti eu recomendo ela é ótima mesmo muito

Critic Reviews

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Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    Sep 28, 2012
    70
    This season, with flatly played new characters introduced in the world of fantasy, I found myself itching to get back to Storybrooke, although the way the lands eventually intersect makes for a nifty cliffhanger.
    Read full review