Once Upon a Time 1st season Spoiler

Entertainment Weekly article in the issue that came out Friday!
Entertainment Weekly had a four page article on Once Upon A Time. Sadly, I can't scan in the pictures, but I did retype the entire article. If you repost please give me some credit because it took about an hour to do.

Once Upon A Time: Your Burning Questions Answered
Fairy-tale characters trapped in modern-day Maine are making ratings magic or ABC’s new drama. So what’s next for the residents of Storybrooke? EW casts a truth spell on the exec producers for answers. By Nuhat Naorreen

When executive producers Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis first pitched networks Once Upon A Time - a drama about a cast of fairy-tale characters trapped in the real world by an evil queen – they didn’t get the happily-ever-after they were hoping for. “We were completely rejected,” recalls Horowitz. “We were young writers and we were pitching an idea that involved fairies and wolves and all these big, difficult concepts.” It wasn’t until eight years later, after he and Kitsis found their footing as writers on another show about big, difficult concepts - Lost - that they felt ready to revisit the idea. This time the outcome was different, thanks in part to ABC’s newly installed entertainment president, Paul Lee. “When we saw the pilot, we knew it was an extraordinary piece of television,” says Lee, who was impressed by the showrunners’ ability to create emotionally compelling characters within a complicated narrative bridging two worlds. “I think it’s a testament to their power as storytellers.”

Both Horowitz and Kitsis say their time on Lost helped shape Once. “One thing we learned on Lost that [exec producers] Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse really put into us is: Character first, mythology second,” said Kitsis. “At its core, Once Upon A Time is about the characters. It’s about the journey of Snow White to find love. It’s about the journey of Jiminy Cricket to regain his conscience. That is more important than anything else.”

Like Lost, Once (Sundays at 8 p.m.) has developed a passionate fan base – nearly 12.9 million people tuned in for the first episode, and viewership has settled in between 11 and 12 million viewers since. And all those fans have lots of questions. Does Regina (Lana Parrilla) know she’s the Evil Queen? Will Henry (Jared Gilmore) be able to convince Emma (Jennifer Morrison) that she’s the daughter of Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin) before the end of season 1? And what can fans expect for season 2? EW hit Kitsis and Horowitz with the biggest burning questions about Once Upon A Time.

Do the residents of Storybrooke ever question why they can’t remember anything before the curse was enacted 28 years ago?
Not only has the curse erased the true identity of each fairy-tale character, it has also left them completely unaware of how they ended up in Storybrooke. “They have an existence that for 28 years has made sense to them because of the curse, but only now, with the arrival of Emma, does the haze start to lift.,” says Horowitz. Kitsis adds, “What the curse has done is that it’s ripped everything you love from your life and created a void, but what it’s also done is it’s replaced your story with a new one. So Mary Margaret [whose alter ego is Snow White] had no idea that Prince Charming was in a coma and that he’s her soul mate.

What does it mean that the clock has started working again?
After Emma moves to Storybrooke, the town’s clock tower begins functioning again – a detail the writers say is significant in a number of ways. “The clock moving forward is symbolic of the fact that now the war has begun,” says Kitsis of the battle between good and evil, which begins with townspeople aging and regaining a sense of their own will. “What you’re going to see in upcoming episodes is characters starting to free themselves and acting in ways that they previously had not.” So what does it mean that the clock was initially set to 8:15? The writers admit it was a reference to Oceanic Flight 815 on Lost. Laughs Kitsis, “We just couldn’t help ourselves.”

Who wrote the fairy-tale book that convinced 10-year-old Henry that everyone in the town is cursed?
“That is a very, very important part of the show, and one that we’re really excited to answer,” teases Horowitz, before adding, “just not now.” Kitsis hints that Henry’s fairy-tale bible doesn’t give the complete picture of Once’s world: “There are stories that were not included in that book because the people who are the stars of those stories may be considered villains.”

Are Regina and Mr. Gold aware that they are fairy-tale characters?
Since Regina enacted the curse, the writers say she’s fully aware that everyone in Storybrooke is actually a fairy-tale character. As for how much Mr. Gold/Rumplestiltskin (Robert Carlyle) knows? The answer will become clear within the next nine episodes. “We address that head-on,” says Kitsis. (The next episode airs Nov. 27; previous episodes are available ABC.com.)

Why did Regina adopt Henry?
“More than anything she wants a great relationship with him,” says Kitsis, noting that the only reason she can’t fully love Henry is that the curse has left her with an emotional void – something Regina is determined to overcome. “The only way she is going to truly win is to fill that void and prove to everybody that she could enact this curse and find her happiness.”

Where does season 1 go from here?
Now that the series has received a full-season pickup, Horowitz and Kitsis have started to map out what they’d like the endgame for the year to be. Explains Kitsis, “I would say a lot of the questions that people are asking – Why does the Queen hate Snow White so much? How did Rumplestiltskin become Rumplestiltskin? – those are questions we intend to answer this season.”

Have you started planning season 2 yet?
“We have some rough ideas for season 2, but we’ve only aired three episodes, so there’s still plenty of time to crash and burn,” says Kitsis. “We’re really focused on the season we have and making that great. A lot of shows are like, ‘Oh, we have to have five seasons planned right away,’ [but] a lot of things you think of in season 1, by the time you get to season 3 they’re no longer exciting or relevant. We want to be able to have a road map so the show is not rudderless, but at the same time have the creative freedom to push the show in different directions.”

What other characters are we going to see in Storybrooke?
So far the writers on Once have used characters from ABC’s parent company, Disney, and classic fairy-tale characters in the public domain to avoid dealing with outside rights, permissions, and fees. Kitsis points to Peter Pan, a personal favorite, as a character who won’t be popping up in Storybrooke anytime soon: “Unfortunately Peter Pan is not public domain, so that is a rights issue that has to be worked out. We’re hoping that someday we can, because it would be such a shame to not be able to have Captain Hook or Peter Pan on the show.”

One character that is in the works? Ariel from The Little Mermaid - though they’re still figuring out how they’ll introduce her into the narrative. “We actually have a really exciting idea for it, and it’s just a matter of whether we can get it in this year or next,” says Kitsis. Jokes Horowitz, “Mermaids have the toughest agents.”

Are we going to meet Henry’s father?.
In the pilot, Emma assures Regina that Henry’s father isn’t in the picture. But that might not be the case for long. “Henry’s father is a very important piece of the puzzle,” says Horowitz, who hints, “It’s also entirely possible we may meet him and not know we’ve met him.” Viewers should also keep an eye on handsome Sherriff Graham (Jamie Dornan), who Horowitz says is “pivotal” to the story.

Will the residents of Storybrooke ever find their happily-ever-after?
Since the series hinges on the curse, it’s hard not to question what will happen once it’s lifted and the characters are able to return to the fairy-tale world. “The idea, of course, is for everybody to find their happiness or their hope,” says Kitsis, but he cautions that the happiness the characters find may not necessarily lead them back to the fairy-tale world. “One of the questions we explore on the show is, What is a happy ending? What does it mean?” explains Horowitz. “We started the show with what we felt was one of the most iconic happy endings, which was Prince Charming waking up Snow White. We then showed you that what you thought was a happy ending was actually the beginning of something so much more.”

OnceUponaTimeFR: We saw Snow White, Cinderella and soon Belle will arrive. Which other Fairy princesses can we expect on OUAT?
While we're not sure which princesses will be making appearance in Storybrooke soon, we do know the show is currently casting a "beautiful, alluring and seductive" woman to play the siren. It's almost impossibly for any man to ignore her temptations and we hear she may set her sights on a certain charming man.

Noelle: Some Once Upon a Time scoop would be great! Thanks!
Remember Dr. Whale (David Anders), David's slimy doc who was in cahoots with Regina (Lana Parrilla)? We'll soon learn who he was in the fairy tale realm. Speculate away!

Nick: I do not approve of anyone dying on Once Upon a Time! Any hints?!
We love all the characters so we're bummed to see anyone go…but that doesn't mean it isn't happening. We can officially eliminate Henry and Ruby from the guessing game. Also, Don't forget to vote in our OUAT death pool!

Once upon a time in the middle of winter, when the flakes of snow were falling like feathers from the sky, a queen sat at a window sewing, and the frame of the window was made of black ebony. And whilst she was sewing and looking out of the window at the snow, she pricked her finger with the needle, and three drops of blood fell upon the snow. And the red looked pretty upon the white snow, and she thought to herself, would that I had a child as white as snow, as red as blood, and as black as the wood of the window-frame.

Soon after that she had a little daughter, who was as white as snow, and as red as blood, and her hair was as black as ebony, and she was therefore called little snow-white. And when the child was born, the queen died.

After a year had passed the king took to himself another wife. She was a beautiful woman, but proud and haughty, and she could not bear that anyone else chould surpass her in beauty. She had a wonderful looking-glass, and when she stood in front of it and looked at herself in it, and said, looking-glass, looking-glass, on the wall, who in this land is the fairest of all.

The looking-glass answered, thou, o queen, art the fairest of all.

Then she was satisfied, for she knew that the looking-glass spoke the truth.

But snow-white was growing up, and grew more and more beautiful, and when she was seven years old she was as beautiful as the day, and more beautiful than the queen herself. And once when the queen asked her looking-glass, looking-glass, looking-glass, on the wall, who in this land is the fairest of all.

It answered, thou art fairer than all who are here, lady queen. But more beautiful still is snow-white, as I ween.

Then the queen was shocked, and turned yellow and green with envy. From that hour, whenever she looked at snow-white, her heart heaved in her breast, she hated the girl so much. And envy and pride grew higher and higher in her heart like a weed, so that she had no peace day or night. She called a huntsman, and said, take the child away into the forest. I will no longer have her in my sight. Kill her, and bring me back her lung and liver as a token. The huntsman obeyed, and took her away but when he had drawn his knife, and was about to pierce snow-white's innocent heart, she began to weep, and said, ah dear huntsman, leave me my life. I will run away into the wild forest, and never come home again.

And as she was so beautiful the huntsman had pity on her and said, run away, then, you poor child. The wild beasts will soon have devoured you, thought he, and yet it seemed as if a stone had been rolled from his heart since it was no longer needful for him to kill her. And as a young bear just then came running by he stabbed it, and cut out its lung and liver and took them to the queen as proof that the child was dead. The cook had to salt them, and the wicked queen ate them, and thought she had eaten the lung and liver of snow-white.

But now the poor child was all alone in the great forest, and so terrified that she looked at all the leaves on the trees, and did not know what to do. Then she began to run, and ran over sharp stones and through thorns, and the wild beasts ran past her, but did her no harm.

She ran as long as her feet would go until it was almost evening, then she saw a little cottage and went into it to rest herself. Everything in the cottage was small, but neater and cleaner than can be told. There was a table on which was a white cover, and seven little plates, and on each plate a little spoon, moreover, there were seven little knives and forks, and seven little mugs. Against the wall stood seven little beds side by side, and covered with snow-white counterpanes.

Little snow-white was so hungry and thirsty that she ate some vegetables and bread from each plate and drank a drop of wine out of each mug, for she did not wish to take all from one only. Then, as she was so tired, she laid herself down on one of the little beds, but none of them suited her, one was too long, another too short, but at last she found that the seventh one was right, and so she remained in it, said a prayer and went to sleep.

When it was quite dark the owners of the cottage came back. They were seven dwarfs who dug and delved in the mountains for ore. They lit their seven candles, and as it was now light within the cottage they saw that someone had been there, for everything was not in the same order in which they had left it.

The first said, who has been sitting on my chair. The second, who has been eating off my plate. The third, who has been taking some of my bread. The fourth, who has been eating my vegetables. The fifth, who has been using my fork. The sixth, who has been cutting with my knife. The seventh, who has been drinking out of my mug.

Then the first looked round and saw that there was a little hollow on his bed, and he said, who has been getting into my bed. The others came up and each called out, somebody has been lying in my bed too. But the seventh when he looked at his bed saw little snow-white, who was lying asleep therein. And he called the others, who came running up, and they cried out with astonishment, and brought their seven little candles and let the light fall on little snow-white. Oh, heavens, oh, heavens, cried they, what a lovely child. And they were so glad that they did not wake her up, but let her sleep on in the bed. And the seventh dwarf slept with his companions, one hour with each, and so passed the night.

When it was morning little snow-white awoke, and was frightened when she saw the seven dwarfs. But they were friendly and asked her what her name was. My name is snow-white, she answered. How have you come to our house, said the dwarfs. Then she told them that her step-mother had wished to have her killed, but that the huntsman had spared her life, and that she had run for the whole day, until at last she had found their dwelling.

The dwarfs said, if you will take care of our house, cook, make the beds, wash, sew and knit, and if you will keep everything neat and clean you can stay with us and you shall want for nothing. Yes, said snow-white, with all my heart. And she stayed with them. She kept the house in order for them. In the mornings they went to the mountains and looked for copper and gold, in the evenings they came back, and then their supper had to be ready. The girl was alone the whole day, so the good dwarfs warned her and said, beware of your step-mother, she will soon know that you are here, be sure to let no one come in.

But the queen, believing that she had eaten snow-white's lung and liver, could not but think that she was again the first and most beautiful of all, and she went to her looking-glass and said, looking-glass, looking-glass, on the wall, who in this land is the fairest of all.

And the glass answered, oh, queen, thou art fairest of all I see, but over the hills, where the seven dwarfs dwell, snow-white is still alive and well, and none is so fair as she.

Then she was astounded, for she knew that the looking-glass never spoke falsely, and she knew that the huntsman had betrayed her, and that little snow-white was still alive.

And so she thought and thought again how she might kill her, for so long as she was not the fairest in the whole land, envy let her have no rest. And when she had at last thought of something to do, she painted her face, and dressed herself like an old pedlar-woman, and no one could have known her. In this disguise she went over the seven mountains to the seven dwarfs, and knocked at the door and cried, pretty things to sell, very cheap, very cheap. Little snow-white looked out of the window and called out, good-day my good woman, what have you to sell. Good things, pretty things, she answered, stay-laces of all colors, and she pulled out one which was woven of bright-colored silk. I may let the worthy old woman in, thought snow-white, and she unbolted the door and bought the pretty laces. Child, said the old woman, what a fright you look, come, I will lace you properly for once. Snow-white had no suspicion, but stood before her, and let herself be laced with the new laces. But the old woman laced so quickly and so tightly that snow-white lost her breath and fell down as if dead. Now I am the most beautiful, said the queen to herself, and ran away.

Not long afterwards, in the evening, the seven dwarfs came home, but how shocked they were when they saw their dear little snow-white lying on the ground, and that she neither stirred nor moved, and seemed to be dead. They lifted her up, and, as they saw that she was laced too tightly, they cut the laces, then she began to breathe a little, and after a while came to life again. When the dwarfs heard what had happened they said, the old pedlar-woman was no one else than the wicked queen, take care and let no one come in when we are not with you.

But the wicked woman when she had reached home went in front of the glass and asked, looking-glass, looking-glass, on the wall, who in this land is the fairest of all.

And it answered as before, oh, queen, thou art fairest of all I see, but over the hills, where the seven dwarfs dwell, snow-white is still alive and well, and none is so fair as she.

When she heard that, all her blood rushed to her heart with fear, for she saw plainly that little snow-white was again alive. But now, she said, I will think of something that shall really put an end to you. And by the help of witchcraft, which she understood, she made a poisonous comb. Then she disguised herself and took the shape of another old woman. So she went over the seven mountains to the seven dwarfs, knocked at the door, and cried, good things to sell, cheap, cheap. Little snow-white looked out and said, go away, I cannot let anyone come in. I suppose you can look, said the old woman, and pulled the poisonous comb out and held it up. It pleased the girl so well that she let herself be beguiled, and opened the door. When they had made a bargain the old woman said, now I will comb you properly for once. Poor little snow-white had no suspicion, and let the old woman do as she pleased, but hardly had she put the comb in her hair than the poison in it took effect, and the girl fell down senseless. You paragon of beauty, said the wicked woman, you are done for now, and she went away.

But fortunately it was almost evening, when the seven dwarfs came home. When they saw snow-white lying as if dead upon the ground they at once suspected the step-mother, and they looked and found the poisoned comb. Scarcely had they taken it out when snow-white came to herself, and told them what had happened. Then they warned her once more to be upon her guard and to open the door to no one.

The queen, at home, went in front of the glass and said, looking-glass, looking-glass, on the wall, who in this land is the fairest of all.

Then it answered as before, oh, queen, thou art fairest of all I see, but over the hills, where the seven dwarfs dwell, snow-white is still alive and well, and none is so fair as she.

When she heard the glass speak thus she trembled and shook with rage. Snow-white shall die, she cried, even if it costs me my life.

Thereupon she went into a quite secret, lonely room, where no one ever came, and there she made a very poisonous apple. Outside it looked pretty, white with a red cheek, so that everyone who saw it longed for it, but whoever ate a piece of it must surely die.

When the apple was ready she painted her face, and dressed herself up as a farmer's wife, and so she went over the seven mountains to the seven dwarfs. She knocked at the door. Snow-white put her head out of the window and said, I cannot let anyone in, the seven dwarfs have forbidden me. It is all the same to me, answered the woman, I shall soon get rid of my apples. There, I will give you one.

No, said snow-white, I dare not take anything. Are you afraid of poison, said the old woman, look, I will cut the apple in two pieces, you eat the red cheek, and I will eat the white. The apple was so cunningly made that only the red cheek was poisoned. Snow-white longed for the fine apple, and when she saw that the woman ate part of it she could resist no longer, and stretched out her hand and took the poisonous half. But hardly had she a bit of it in her mouth than she fell down dead. Then the queen looked at her with a dreadful look, and laughed aloud and said, white as snow, red as blood, black as ebony-wood, this time the dwarfs cannot wake you up again.

And when she asked of the looking-glass at home, looking-glass, looking-glass, on the wall, who in this land is the fairest of all.

And it answered at last, oh, queen, in this land thou art fairest of all. Then her envious heart had rest, so far as an envious heart can have rest.

The dwarfs, when they came home in the evening, found snow-white lying upon the ground, she breathed no longer and was dead. They lifted her up, looked to see whether they could find anything poisonous, unlaced her, combed her hair, washed her with water and wine, but it was all of no use, the poor child was dead, and remained dead. They laid her upon a bier, and all seven of them sat round it and wept for her, and wept three days long.

Then they were going to bury her, but she still looked as if she were living, and still had her pretty red cheeks. They said, we could not bury her in the dark ground, and they had a transparent coffin of glass made, so that she could be seen from all sides, and they laid her in it, and wrote her name upon it in golden letters, and that she was a king's daughter. Then they put the coffin out upon the mountain, and one of them always stayed by it and watched it. And birds came too, and wept for snow-white, first an owl, then a raven, and last a dove.

And now snow-white lay a long, long time in the coffin, and she did not change, but looked as if she were asleep, for she was as white as snow, as red as blood, and her hair was as black as ebony.

It happened, however, that a king's son came into the forest, and went to the dwarfs, house to spend the night. He saw the coffin on the mountain, and the beautiful snow-white within it, and read what was written upon it in golden letters. Then he said to the dwarfs, let me have the coffin, I will give you whatever you want for it. But the dwarfs answered, we will not part with it for all the gold in the world. Then he said, let me have it as a gift, for I cannot live without seeing snow-white. I will honor and prize her as my dearest possession. As he spoke in this way the good dwarfs took pity upon him, and gave him the coffin.

And now the king's son had it carried away by his servants on their shoulders. And it happened that they stumbled over a tree-stump, and with the shock the poisonous piece of apple which snow-white had bitten off came out of her throat. And before long she opened her eyes, lifted up the lid of the coffin, sat up, and was once more alive. Oh, heavens, where am I, she cried. The king's son, full of joy, said, you are with me. And told her what had happened, and said, I love you more than everything in the world, come with me to my father's palace, you shall be my wife.

And snow-white was willing, and went with him, and their wedding was held with great show and splendor. But snow-white's wicked step-mother was also bidden to the feast. When she had arrayed herself in beautiful clothes she went before the looking-glass, and said, looking-glass, looking-glass, on the wall, who in this land is the fairest of all.

The glass answered, oh, queen, of all here the fairest art thou, but the young queen is fairer by far as I trow.

Then the wicked woman uttered a curse, and was so wretched, so utterly wretched that she knew not what to do. At first she would not go to the wedding at all, but she had no peace, and had to go to see the young queen. And when she went in she recognized snow-white, and she stood still with rage and fear, and could not stir. But iron slippers had already been put upon the fire, and they were brought in with tongs, and set before her. Then she was forced to put on the red-hot shoes, and dance until she dropped down dead.

And another thing, I'm confused about the kid, Henry. Is he supposed to be the Evil Queen's father and that's why he's living with the Mayor, because there's supposed to be a Henry in her life?

I think it's the second choice you wrote. I imagine that so...

and I have doubts about the scheriff... maybe he is the huntsman

no, you should read this article #entry479859259
when the Queen has sacrificed her father, opened in the Queen's heart an unbridgeable gap. To fill this void, to have someone to love and and to have someone loves her, she adopted a child.
She wanted an any child , but Mr. Gold has other plans (of which we are still obscure) he gave her Emma's child. I'm almost certain that Henry is not a fairy tale character, but that he represents only the truth of the innocence.

Why did Regina adopt Henry?
“More than anything she wants a great relationship with him,” says Kitsis, noting that the only reason she can’t fully love Henry is that the curse has left her with an emotional void – something Regina is determined to overcome. “The only way she is going to truly win is to fill that void and prove to everybody that she could enact this curse and find her happiness.”

I really wish Once Upon a Time would do more with Breaking Bad's Giancarlo Esposito. -- Elaine
NATALIE: Your wish will soon come true! (Note: That's also a hint.) Once will bring Esposito back after the New Year, executive producer Adam Horowitz promises. "His origin story will hopefully be very surprising to people; [we'll find out] who he is, who he was and how he got in the mirror," he says.