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Once Upon a Time and Revenge - two views on vengeance
Finished watching the second episode of Once Upon a Time - which I'm still enjoying a great deal. This isn't for everyone. For one thing - it is targeted to families, specifically families with young children, and women. The story's focus is on a child's view of fairy tales, not the darker adult view. For me? It's a breath of fresh air, because finally we have a series that isn't about resolving our fears and curses with violence. The antagonist solves her problems with violence and curses. Also the violence is cartoon or metaphor. In addition? It's nice to see a show that someone under the age of 12 can actually watch at 8pm at night. There isn't anything else that I would allow a child of mine to watch. Most of my friends, and my brother? They don't. They have their kids watch either DVD's via netflix, or Nikoleodian and Disney Channel. This was not the case when I was a kid. I remember tv shows that I could actually watch, which weren't violent, and too scary. So, it's sort of nice to see a LOST style series for families.
That said, it works for adults too. The fairy tale world, while admittedly hokey, is intentionally so, while Grimm in direct contrast, wasn't. Confession? I actually thought Buffy's premise was incredibly hokey and silly. But at least Whedon seemed to be aware of it. Greenwalt, not so much.. There seems to be acknowledgment of it - via Emma Swan's bounty hunter character, who states how silly and somewhat crazy this fairy tale world is. But, she acknowledges this is how her son is coping with his world. So the metaphor's are real trope - which was a device in LOST and in Buffy, and in other similar series, is used here as well - except most of the characters, actually everyone but the little boy, his adopted Mom, Regina, and possibly Mr. Gould, believe the metaphors are well just that metaphors.
This episode - we get a great guest starring turn by Kristen Van S. from True Blood as Malificient, who I hope we get to see again. Turns out Mali is Regina's friend, and the one who Regina got the nasty curse from. Actually Regina had it, swiped it for a sleeping curse,
than grabbed it back again. It originated from Rumplestilskin, whose agenda...I'm not really clear on. Rumple is one of my fav's at the moment. I particularly adore Robert Caryle in this role. We really don't know what he is up to, or why. He's compelling. And reminds me a little of the Tyler character in Revenge, but with a lot better actor in the role.
The set-up of this series reminds me a great deal of Revenge, or a kid's eye view of it - ie. Revenge by way of children's story-book. But there's more going on here and it's more innovative in its execution. I'd say they are about equal on the dialogue. The themes are also fairly equal. As is the acting, okay maybe not the acting - Emily Van Camp is better than Jenn Morrison at the moment, but Robert Carylye beats the guy playing Tyler ten to one. Also only two episodes in, so we shall see. Another difference? The people seeking the vengeance are flipped. In Revenge - the vengeance seeker is the protagonist and she hasn't achieved her aim as of yet. While in Once, the vengeance seeker is the antagonist, achieves her aim, and the story is in part - how she achieves it, why she sought it, and what it cost her - as well as how it is turned around. Which in part is a far more positive take then Revenge. I'm not sure which I like better. Admittedly on the fence. I think Revenge is soapier. Both have a great production value, but are a bit clunky in the writing department.
And both of the villianesses, Victoria and Regina are equally evil, and evil in part due to losing someone they loved. Both stories are about women, two women, in a power struggle. In both an older woman, the villain, took the protagonist's family away and as a result the heroine/protagonist's life has been hell. The heroine is now back, but the villian doesn't know who she is or what she is after, the villian is suspicious, but can't find out anything.
And bit by bit the heroine is deconstructing the world that villain has carefully built around herself - a world of money, prestige and power, but nothing real and she is weirdly miserable. A Hollow World that is rather easy to tear apart. I find both compelling in a different ways. It's interesting both are on ABC, one for kids on Sunday night, and one for adults on Wed.
I enjoy both and find both compelling in different ways. I think Once has more potential and can do more. Revenge feels a bit more limited in scope. I also think Once will last longer, hits a broader audience.
Off to watch Good Wife and sleep.
That said, it works for adults too. The fairy tale world, while admittedly hokey, is intentionally so, while Grimm in direct contrast, wasn't. Confession? I actually thought Buffy's premise was incredibly hokey and silly. But at least Whedon seemed to be aware of it. Greenwalt, not so much.. There seems to be acknowledgment of it - via Emma Swan's bounty hunter character, who states how silly and somewhat crazy this fairy tale world is. But, she acknowledges this is how her son is coping with his world. So the metaphor's are real trope - which was a device in LOST and in Buffy, and in other similar series, is used here as well - except most of the characters, actually everyone but the little boy, his adopted Mom, Regina, and possibly Mr. Gould, believe the metaphors are well just that metaphors.
This episode - we get a great guest starring turn by Kristen Van S. from True Blood as Malificient, who I hope we get to see again. Turns out Mali is Regina's friend, and the one who Regina got the nasty curse from. Actually Regina had it, swiped it for a sleeping curse,
than grabbed it back again. It originated from Rumplestilskin, whose agenda...I'm not really clear on. Rumple is one of my fav's at the moment. I particularly adore Robert Caryle in this role. We really don't know what he is up to, or why. He's compelling. And reminds me a little of the Tyler character in Revenge, but with a lot better actor in the role.
The set-up of this series reminds me a great deal of Revenge, or a kid's eye view of it - ie. Revenge by way of children's story-book. But there's more going on here and it's more innovative in its execution. I'd say they are about equal on the dialogue. The themes are also fairly equal. As is the acting, okay maybe not the acting - Emily Van Camp is better than Jenn Morrison at the moment, but Robert Carylye beats the guy playing Tyler ten to one. Also only two episodes in, so we shall see. Another difference? The people seeking the vengeance are flipped. In Revenge - the vengeance seeker is the protagonist and she hasn't achieved her aim as of yet. While in Once, the vengeance seeker is the antagonist, achieves her aim, and the story is in part - how she achieves it, why she sought it, and what it cost her - as well as how it is turned around. Which in part is a far more positive take then Revenge. I'm not sure which I like better. Admittedly on the fence. I think Revenge is soapier. Both have a great production value, but are a bit clunky in the writing department.
And both of the villianesses, Victoria and Regina are equally evil, and evil in part due to losing someone they loved. Both stories are about women, two women, in a power struggle. In both an older woman, the villain, took the protagonist's family away and as a result the heroine/protagonist's life has been hell. The heroine is now back, but the villian doesn't know who she is or what she is after, the villian is suspicious, but can't find out anything.
And bit by bit the heroine is deconstructing the world that villain has carefully built around herself - a world of money, prestige and power, but nothing real and she is weirdly miserable. A Hollow World that is rather easy to tear apart. I find both compelling in a different ways. It's interesting both are on ABC, one for kids on Sunday night, and one for adults on Wed.
I enjoy both and find both compelling in different ways. I think Once has more potential and can do more. Revenge feels a bit more limited in scope. I also think Once will last longer, hits a broader audience.
Off to watch Good Wife and sleep.