Why Once Upon A Time Season One Is Just As Good As The Classic Disney Fairy Tales
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Why Once Upon A Time Season One Is Just As Good As The Classic Disney Fairy Tales

Part One

90
Why Once Upon A Time Season One Is Just As Good As The Classic Disney Fairy Tales

Most people are already fans of Disney, but some are taking a little bit more time becoming fans of “Once Upon a Time.” This is a mistake because this show can broaden their perspective on fairy tales. Some people are of the opinion that fairy tales must have a happy ending. Other people are of the opinion that fairy tales need only to teach a lesson, and this may not require having a happy ending. Here you will see why the show "Once Upon a Time" (whose episodes always end with a new problem) is as good as, if not better than the famous and classic Disney movies (which always have a happy ending). "Once Upon a Time" is just as good of a fairy tale as Disney movie fairy tales because it makes characters relatable, it teaches lessons in a real way, and it has believable endings.

"Once Upon a Time" combines and changes the lives and stories of many different characters in a way that makes the characters more relatable to everyday people. Disney movies have unrelatable villains. Cruella DeVille and Ursula are evil just to be evil. Viewers are given no reason for this, leaving them to think maybe the writers just needed a villain. Villains with no reason to be evil lack both complexity and relatability. They serve only to further the character development of the hero. “Once Upon a Time” draws viewers, because it allows them to relate to the “villains” as well as the “heroes.” Many real people can be heroes and villains in the same day and sometimes at the same time. For this reason, they will relate better to characters that have imperfections and sometimes do the wrong thing for the right reasons.

One prime example of a lovable villain would be Regina (the evil queen). She is loved and hated by many, because of her real problems in dealing with pain and more importantly, love. Most ordinary people can relate to feelings of love and many people do crazy things for love all the time. The writers of OUAT understand this, so they motivate their characters by the single most universal emotion of love. Since love is so universal, virtually anyone can relate to a character that does something (whether good or bad) in order to protect the ones that they love.

"Once Upon a Time" is successful not only because of the relatability of characters but also because it teaches lessons without glazing over things that are hard to deal with. The show is very hopeful at points and yet we still experience the pain. Cora killed Regina’s true love right in front of her, Little Red Riding Hood ate her boyfriend, and Peter Pan is seriously evil. Classic Disney fairy tales are known for making cartoons that have darkness in them, however this darkness is never talked about deeply, and viewers are left only to marvel at the happy ending. Simba loses his father, but he goes on to meet some fun and crazy friends and take back the kingdom from his evil Uncle Scar. Cinderella grows up with an evil stepmother, but shortly after one night at a ball, she marries the prince and lives happily ever after. Ariel is miserable under the sea and makes a deal with an evil sea witch, but in the end, her father saves her and she is able to spend the rest of her days on land with the handsome Prince Eric. Disney fairy tales make everyone happy but they are not realistic. OUAT, however, gives viewers the darkness that is required to make them think and really wonder how there can still be a happy ending with all that is wrong.

Fairy tales that are truly scary and relatable teach people how to deal with real life. In order to really learn a lesson, people need to first, fully experience the bad. If we don’t find anything wrong with the bad, than why fight for good? People need to feel the guilt and pain before they can fully appreciate the true love of doing the right thing and being the hero. This is why Once is so successful, it not only teaches you a lesson, it forces you to feel the lesson where you most need it, your heart.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

58375
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

37605
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

959219
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

193503
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments