Once Upon a Time

There is a town in Maine where every story book character you've ever known is trapped between two worlds, victims of a powerful curse. Only one knows the truth and only one can break the spell.

Once Upon a Time (2011-2018) is an American network fantasy drama created by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz for ABC. A seven-season serialized fantasy in which a skeptical young woman, Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison), arrives in the quiet Maine town of Storybrooke and learns that its residents are fairy tale characters trapped by a powerful curse. Her son Henry believes she is the one who can break the spell, and Emma's search for her own identity drives the story forward. Around her, Regina Mills, Captain Hook, Mr. Gold and Prince Charming pursue their own agendas, while the storybook kingdom appears in flashback and parallel storylines. Each season unfolds as a continuing mythology with self-contained episodes built around fairy tale reinterpretations. The tone blends wistful family drama with whimsical adventure and moments of dark enchantment. Fans of Lost, Fables and Grimm will find resonance in its layered mythology, parallel timelines and fairy tale reinterpretation, a family-oriented fantasy that wears its heart openly.

Audiences rate the series positively, praising its fairy tale reinvention and ensemble of familiar characters, while finding its pacing uneven and its later seasons weaker.

• Fablesfairy tale characters reimagined in a modern town, serialized mystery with flashback reveals
• Lostfantasy, serialized mythology, family drama with time-shifted storylines
• Twin Peakssmall town secrets, fantasy realm colliding with the real world, serialized mythology
• Grimmfairy tale fantasy with a modern-day small town and found family

Created by

Edward Kitsis, Adam Horowitz

Release Date

2011-10-23

Episode runtime

43 min

Rating

7.6 / 10 (2563)

What is Once Upon a Time about?

A small Maine town is secretly home to trapped fairy tale characters, and a skeptical woman must break a curse that has erased their true identities.

What is Once Upon a Time like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Once Upon a Time as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as layered.

Is Once Upon a Time violent?

Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Once Upon a Time as mild.

What did critics think of Once Upon a Time?

Audiences rate the series positively, praising its fairy tale reinvention and ensemble of familiar characters, while finding its pacing uneven and its later seasons weaker.

Which shows are like Once Upon a Time?

Shows with a similar feel include Fables, Lost, Twin Peaks, and Grimm.

How long is Once Upon a Time?

Once Upon a Time: 7 seasons, 156 episodes.

Is Once Upon a Time still running?

No, Once Upon a Time has ended.

Where can I watch Once Upon a Time?

In United States, Once Upon a Time streams on Disney Plus, Hulu.