Magic Returns to Network Television

As someone who grew up during the “Golden Age” of Disney I love fairy tales. So when I heard that ABC was going to be doing a show about fairy tale characters I grew positively giddy in my excitement. Two episodes of Once Upon a Time have now aired and I couldn’t be more relieved that my high expectations were not disappointed.

Emma Swan is a loner living in Boston who is surprised on her birthday by the unexpected appearance of the now 10 year old boy she gave up for adoption. She agrees to drive Henry back to his home in Storybrooke, Maine and along the way he spins a strange tale of his home and the people who live there. According to Henry all the inhabitants are actually fairy tale characters who are under a curse where time stands still and they no longer remember who they are. The curse was cast by the Evil Queen who in the current world happens to be Henry’s adoptive mother. He claims that Emma is really the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming and that she is the only one who can save them. Worried about Henry, Emma decides to stay to make sure that he is okay.

I really like the concept of this show; I think it is interesting. It is a lot of fun to see these characters we have grown up with put into a “real world” scenario. The Evil Queen is the town mayor, Snow White is an elementary school teacher, Jiminy Cricket is a therapist (and his name is Archie Hopper, which made me chuckle) and they all behave in ways you would imagine their fairy tale counterpart would.

One of the most fascinating components of the show is reminiscent of the flashback sequences in LOST. Each episode of Once Upon a Time offers a glimpse into the fairy tale world that these characters were torn from. We are able to find out bits and pieces of their stories and the things that motivate them. This is where they are fleshed out for us. For instance, in the second episode we were shown what the Evil Queen had to go through in order to unleash her dark curse and the price she had to pay. While I don’t necessarily sympathize with her yet I do understand that there is much that lies beneath the surface of her agenda and in her mind at least she is justified in the things she is doing. And I am extremely curious about what Snow White did that she feels ruined her happily ever after.

As a side note, I must take a moment to recognize the high production quality of the show, especially during the fairy tale scenes. The locations used for filming and the cinematography are just gorgeous and truly make you feel as though you have been swept into a fantastical land where magic exists. It is not very often that you see something of this caliber on television.

Without question right now I am most intrigued by the character of Rumplestiltskin (who is aptly named Mr. Gold in Storybrooke). He is played by Robert Carlyle who is great at playing these sly and somewhat creepy types of characters. We were briefly introduced to him in the pilot, but got a much better look at him in the second episode. I am amazed at the difference between the squirmy and mischivous Rumplestiltskin and his very poised, yet no less threatening counterpart Mr. Gold. Carlyle does an incredible job making these two very distinct characters still have enough threads of similarity that you know they are the same. There are so many things that I want to know about him. Where did he get the curse that he traded to the Evil Queen? What kind of power does he have? Why is he considered so dangerous and imprisoned in the fairy tale world? Does he know who he and everyone else really is in Storybrooke? What does he know about Henry and Emma? The list goes on and on. I am sure that it will be some time before answers to these questions are even hinted at, but honestly that doesn’t bother me. Robert Carlyle does such an incredible job with this role that part of me doesn’t want the mystique taken away.

It has been a long time since a show based in fantasy has survived on network television, but I have high hopes that Once Upon a Time will break this trend. With it’s unique concept, interesting characters, air of mystery, and stunning visuals I really think it has a chance. Of course I have thought the same things with other promising fantasy shows and they have all been cancelled. Only time will tell if Once Upon a Time can prove to be a show that holds audiences captive season after season or if it will be another in the long list of shows that disappeared once the novelty wore off. I hope with all my heart that it is the former.

What about you? Have you been watching Once Upon a Time? Do you like it or think that it lacks some appeal? Which characters are you most intrigued by? Any predictions on what we can expect this season? Let me know in the comments.

Next Monday will start my four post series looking at characters from Harry Potter, but the following week I will take a look at NBCs attempt to fill the fantasy void through Grimm.

Check it out! This post just got featured on Hypable.com

The Soothing Touch of Structure

A week may not be that long, but that short break was exactly what I needed. I now have my feet firmly settled beneath me again and am ready move forward.

Beginning tomorrow I will put up a post every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Each day will have posts of a similar theme. I know many bloggers are great at coming up with cute little labels for their different blogging days, but apparently I am not one of them. I have tried and it just isn’t happening. Ah well. But hey! I do have some pretty fabulous readers who are very creative so I’ll tell you what – if one of you can come up with a catchy little phrase that you think would be a good descriptor of one of my days, put it in the comments. If I see one I like, then I will use it and give you credit each week with a link to your blog (or twitter, or facebook, or …).

Now to tell you what is going to happen each day:

Mondays – These are going to be the days where I post things similar to what I have been doing up to this point. I will continue to post reviews and commentary on books, TV shows, and movies that I encounter, but I am also going to introduce something slightly different. I am going to begin doing series lasting 3-5 posts. I will alternate each week between a series post and a review/commentary post. The first series I will be doing takes the lead from my Snape post. I have chosen several characters from the Harry Potter series and will be doing a character analysis on them. Ideas I have for future series include an exploration of dragons and a look into the mythology of King Arthur.

Wednesdays – I am going to be using these days to share things that have been on my mind or fun stories that I have to tell. Some of these posts will be serious and some will be funny (at least to me they will be, hopefully you think so too). Examples of past posts that would fit in this day are The Power of a Good Story and An Education in Nerd Lingo. This day will be a chance for you to get to know me better and my hope is that you will be inspired to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments so that I can get to know you better as well.

Fridays – There are so many talented bloggers out there that I have decided to make Friday my day to highlight that talent. On these days you can expect to find guest posts from whoever I can coerce is kind enough to agree to do so as well as mash-ups of blog posts I think are worth mentioning.

There you have it. This is what you can expect to see from me each week. I am really excited with what I have planned and think that it will be a lot of fun. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

Pardon the Interruption

Hello all. I just wanted to let you know that I am going to be a bit silent on the blog front this week and possibly (but hopefully not) next week. I am working on a slightly new structure for my blog and need to get some preparation done this week. I have lots of good things in store. I will explain more when it begins, but I’ll start by saying now that I will be posting 3 times a week on regular days and each day will have its own unique content. Don’t worry, one of those days will continue with the same types of reviews and analysis that I have provided thus far. I am really excited for the additions I will be making. I promise my absence won’t last long and in the mean time feel free to look through my previous posts and visit me on Facebook or Twitter. See you soon!

Jessica

One Story, Two Tellings

Video: Defying Gravity with Stephanie J. Block as Elphaba

I will never forget the first time I saw the Broadway musical Wicked live. I got to see it at the Gershwin Theater in New York City and I was enthralled from the moment it began. I was already very familiar with the music going in to see it and I had read the book on which it was based. Even with all of that prior knowledge nothing had prepared me for the true wonder of the live show.

Like Gregory Maguire’s book the musical follows the story of Elphaba. It begins with her time at Shiz University where she and Galinda become unlikely friends and ends after her fateful encounter with Dorothy. But that is where the similarities end.

As I discussed last week, Maguire’s Wicked is dark and gritty. It is a story that examines some very serious moral issues in a way that frequently makes the reader feel uncomfortable. The musical takes that story and those very important issues and “Glindafies” them. We are still forced to look at things like discrimination, prejudice, and abuse of power, but those things are presented amidst laughter and fun. Wicked is a musical that the whole family can enjoy.

Everything about Wicked is amazing. From the costumes to the sets, the script to the music it all draws you into the fantastical land of Oz. The energy of the show is just plain fun and you can’t help but engage in that fun as you watch. When I saw it I was so moved by the beauty of the performance that I was brought to tears (not exactly an unusual occurrence for me, though). I can’t even begin to describe the way in which it touched me, especially the music. It didn’t matter that I knew every song by heart going into it, seeing them actually performed live and in context brought the songs to a whole new level. There were several moments I could scarcely breath the music was so powerful.

Whether it is Gregory Maguire’s book or the Broadway musical, Wicked is a story that demands attention. I think it is so amazing that this thought-provoking and touching story is told in such vastly different ways. This allows the story of Elphaba to reach audiences it would not normally meet if it were confined to just one telling. No matter which version is preferred Wicked is a story that needs to be heard and experienced.

What about you? Have you seen the musical or read the book? Which do you prefer? Is there another musical that moves you in the way that Wicked moves me? Tell me in the comments!

Paying it Forward

This week I had a very unexpected pleasure – two bloggers listed me as a blog worth checking out. Ginger Calem awarded me with the Versatile Blogger Award along with 14 other bloggers. I was still gaping in speechless wonderment when, just two days later Jessica Salyer included me in her Pay it Forward blog post along with 3 other bloggers. I am so honored that these two wonderful women chose to include me in their lists. My blog is still such a young baby and being recognized by two fellow bloggers is more than I could have ever hoped for. As a thank you I am going to continue what they started.

Martin Shone: Martin is one of the nicest people I have met since joining the worlds of blogging and tweeting. He writes some amazing poems and short stories and has recently started a new blog where he shares his thoughts on various matters using his unique style and humor.

Stephanie Scott: When I read the tagline for her blog, “Book reviews, a writer’s life, and some nerd culture”, I knew this was a blog I would enjoy and I was not wrong.

Girls With Pens: Marcy Kennedy and Lisa Hall-Wilson share this blog on writing. My first experience with this blog was a very entertaining post that used Buffy the Vampire Slayer versus Bella Swan (from Twilight) to illustrate what makes a good character in a story.

Tiffany White: Tiffany, like me, is an avid television watcher and a post on one of my favorite shows, Psych, is what brought her blog to my attention. Her blog is a ton of fun and infused with her personality whether she is writing on TV, movies, or whatever else she is Ooo-ing over.

the Little Red Reviewer: As the name of this blog implies it is full of reviews, mostly scifi/fantasy books. This blog is an excellent source for reading material and also engages in “readalongs”.

UPDATE 10/19/11:

Myndi Shafer: I just discovered this blog and HAD to add it. Myndi has a great, funny personality that shines through her writing. Whether she is writing about underwear drawers, popsicles, or crying in public there is something relatable and funny.

I hope that you are able to check out the blogs I have listed as well as the two that were kind enough to honor me. There are so many amazing blogs out there that I am still discovering every day. It was a pleasure to take the opportunity to highlight a few of them.

Wicked Witch or Misunderstood?

I love musical theater. It is one of my passions and almost exclusively what fills up my iPod. When I first read that a new musical called Wicked was going to open on Broadway I became intrigued. The idea that Glinda and the Wicked Witch of the West were once friends sounded fascinating. I soon learned that the show was based on the book Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire. Before I even listened to the music from the show I decided to read the book on which it was based. I am so glad I did.

Drawing inspiration from both the Oz books written by L. Frank Baum and the film starring Judy Garland, Maguire weaves a dark and intriguing tale that follows the life of Elphaba. Elphaba, who’s name is derived from the initials of L. Frank Baum, was born with green skin and sharp teeth. When she goes to school at Shiz University she is assigned to be roommates with the rich and popular Galinda. In spite of a rough start, Elphaba is able to make some friends, but she also becomes embroiled in the fierce political debate over Animal rights. It is this political activism that makes her an enemy of the Wizard and leads to her eventual demise.

At it’s core Wicked is a classic tale of good and evil, but Maguire takes this idea and goes much deeper with it. He really delves into the motivations behind the actions people take and the question of whether or not good intentions mitigate bad actions or bad results. He takes a character we have known since childhood as being “wicked” and explores how and why she became known to be that way. In the end, he causes us to question whether or not she is, in fact, wicked.

Maguire also uses the political conflict surrounding the Animals to address issues of discrimination and subjugation. The Animals are different from ordinary animals in that they are sentient beings who can actually talk. In his story there are political factions that wish to treat the Animals as animals and take away their rights which are equal with humans. As the novel progresses the climate gradually grows less favorable for Animals through subtle changes in policies and legalized discrimination. It is a very interesting facet of the book and one that can be related to many current minorities that still face discrimination around the world.

As much as I love this book I feel I should offer a word of caution. At times the story is very dark and very bizarre. Unlike the material on which it is based this book is in no way intended for children or immature readers. There are a few scenes that are, quite frankly, twisted and perverted. It all lends itself to create a very specific tone to the book and to show that the land of Oz is far less than idyllic. I know several people who could not get through the book because of this darkness, but all I know who were able to make it through loved it.

Gregory Maguire created one of the most memorable characters I have ever had the pleasure of meeting when he created Elphaba. Her story was one of those that moved me deep within and stayed with me, not for a few days, but for weeks. Her life was doomed to be tragic from the start and my heart ached for her throughout. But tragedy is often where the most beautiful stories lie, and Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West is one of those instances.

What about you? Have you read Maguire’s tale of the Wicked Witch? If so, what did you think? What are some books you have read that stayed with you in the way this stayed with me? Let me know in the comments!

The Inheritence Cycle: The End is Almost Here (Finally)

After a three year wait the final book in Christopher Paolini’s The Inheritance Cycle is just one  month away from being released. The first three books – Eragon, Eldest, and Brisingr – follow the story of 15 year old Eragon who stumbles upon a dragon egg while hunting. Soon after his discovery a blue dragon whom he names Saphira hatches from the egg and he becomes the first Dragon Rider since the tyrant Galbatorix and his followers killed all the other dragons and their Riders. Thanks to this chance discovery Eragon finds himself thrust into the forefront of a rebellion that wants to end the reign of Galbatorix.

When I first read these books I devoured them. The world that Paolini created, called Alagaesia, is a vibrant world full of races both familiar and new. There are elves, dwarves, and dragons as well as creations called Urgals and Ra’zac. Most of these different races have their own unique language that Paolini created and uses throughout the series. All of this would be impressive on its own, but what is truly remarkable is Paolini was only 15 years old when he began writing Eragon. At such a young age he created and put to paper an intricate and detailed story that is better than some of the drivel put out by “more seasoned” authors.

Like any book or series these books are by no means perfect. They have been criticized a great deal for being derivative with comparisons to Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings most common. If you go through the story and list out the similarities they are quite numerous, but the same can be said for a number of books. The Lord of the Rings pretty much revolutionized the fantasy genre and I think you would be hard pressed to find a contemporary book of fantasy that was not somehow influenced by it. In the case of Star Wars, that series utilized many common storytelling conventions, such as the hero’s journey, but because it reached such huge levels of popularity many seem to credit it with creating those conventions. Yes, Paolini used a lot of the same plot devices, but so do many other stories in a variety of genres. To me it just isn’t that big of a deal as long as the story is interesting, which The Inheritance Cycle is.

From the start of the first book I fell in love with the characters and story. The relationship between Eragon and Saphira is fascinating and I love watching as they grow with one another. In the second book, Eldest, Paolini introduces the parallel story taking place in the home Eragon was forced to abandon through the eyes of his cousin, Roran. At times the story of Roran is even more interesting than that of Eragon. Roran is just an ordinary human with no magic or any other supernatural aid, but when his home is attacked by the Ra’zac he faces the challenge head on and does whatever needs to be done to protect those he loves. He goes through his own hero’s journey and it is a nice juxtaposition to that of Eragon’s.

The past three years have been a long wait and I am so glad it is almost over. There are so many unanswered questions and mysteries I am ready to have answered. So it is with eager anticipation that I wait the final month for Inheritance and the answers to all my questions.

What about you? Have you read any of the books in The Inheratence Cycle? Do you enjoy them or agree with some of the criticisms? Will you be purchasing the final book of the series? Let me know in the comments!