ONCE UPON A TIME: When “Snow Falls” In Love

Now this is a Snow White I can get behind! In the third entry into the growing fairy tale library that is Once Upon a Time, we got to see how Snow White met Prince Charming (aka James) and fell for him despite her best intentions.

When we first met Snow, back in the pilot episode, she was being awakened from her coma by Prince Charming’s kiss. A traditional perspective on the princess, especially since her [easyazon-link asin=”B00003CXCQ”]Disney-fication in 1937[/easyazon-link]. But this Snow White is no damsel in distress. Going further back into Snow’s fairy tale past, we meet a young woman on the run, living by her wits in the forest as she tries to simultaneously evade the Evil Queen’s soldiers and steal enough loot from the Queen to travel beyond her grasp. We had our first reference to the Huntsman this week, who may or may not be Sheriff Graham, and another reference to the Queen hating Snow, but we still don’t know exactly what Snow did.

Meanwhile, Prince My-Name-Is-James is engaged to a vapid, cranky princess in what Snow quickly ascertains is an arranged marriage joining two kingdoms. He’s determined to go through with it, but we see him becoming enchanted by the plucky, vulnerable, totally adorable woman who stole his engagement ring as their adventure progresses through defeating the Queen’s men and taking out some trolls. As far as “meet cutes” go, this was an all-around winner. I even like that we were left with both characters sort of bewildered about their feelings for each other as they go their separate ways. It would have been too easy, too pat for them to end up together already. I want an epic romance, and I think that’s what we’re going to get as the series unspools their story a bit at a time.

In Storybrooke, another love story is unfolding. Henry is convinced that the comatose John Doe is Prince Charming to Mary Margaret’s Snow White. Emma agrees to have Mary Margaret read the story to Mr. Doe in hopes that he’ll remember and wake up. I’m confused about whether or not Emma believes Henry now. She talked to him like she believed what he was saying, but presented the plan to Mary Margaret as a way to prove to Henry that the book is NOT true. And she looked genuinely surprised when Mary Margaret reported that Mr. Doe grabbed her hand as her reading drew to a close.

Anyway, John Doe is awake, and when no one is looking he takes himself out of the hospital and into the woods. Because of course there’s an unguarded door at the hospital that leads “to the woods”. A quick check of the security tapes with Sleepy and Grumpy reveals his direction, and the Sheriff, Emma and Mary Margaret go in search of him. Aside: comment is made that the Sheriff is supposed to be an expert tracker, which is why I’m leaning toward Huntsman as his alter-ego. After being joined by truant Henry, who insists that Mr. Doe is searching for Mary Margaret, the group arrives at the T(r)oll Bridge and find him unconscious by the water. Some CPR that turns into a kiss revives him in a neat parallel to the Prince kissing Snow, but Mr. Doe doesn’t remember who he is. Not that it matters because Regina is been alerted to his conscious state by the Doctor – who went on a disastrous first date with Mary Margaret at the beginning of the episode – and manages to turn up with “David’s” estranged wife who identifies him. The woman is the unsympathetic fiancee from fairy tale land, so we know she can’t be his true soul mate.

Emma calls Regina out on conveniently finding Catherine after all this time, but Regina has a logical enough explanation for it. She really is clever, and I love that Emma is willing to stand up to her. As she leaves, Regina says that “the worst curse of all is having no one,” as the camera pans to Mary Margaret wistfully watching the husband and wife reunion with her possible soulmate. Whatever Snow White did to the Evil Queen, that is some harsh retribution.

She won’t be alone for long, though. In the episode’s final moments, Emma gives up living in her car and accepts Mary Margaret’s invitation to stay in her spare room. Mother and daughter, together again.

Once Upon a Time airs Sundays at 8/7c on ABC. Next week: Cinderella makes a deal with Rumplestiltskin.

New characters: Trolls that live under the bridge; Dr. Whale