Once Upon a Time 1.06 'The Shepherd'

Did I ever mention that I love ‘Once Upon a Time’? Well, I do. So there. Now that that’s out of the way let’s talk about this week’s episode, which was another episode full of stunning imagery, beautiful stories and heartbreaking moments.

‘The Shepherd’ reveals how James ended up on the road the day he met Snow. When John Doe leaves his wife, Mary tries to decide whether to do the right thing, or follow her heart.

It’s easy to criticise this series for not making every episode a huge one, with massive revelations each week but I think it’s a trait that it should be commended for. It’s remarkably obvious how well planned the series is, and this episode proved it. Not only in intersecting this week’s flashback with one we’ve already seen, but in the way it continues to unravel the story piece by piece, including each of the characters fascinating motivations for the position they end up in before the curse strikes. Also, that identical twin twist was pretty great, wasn't it?!

The story of Snow and James is breaking my heart so badly, even if I know they'l be together eventually. I need for them to have their moment of happiness, but once they do, I think the series will have hit a major point that once it reaches it, there’ll be no turning back. The idea of them fighting what they both know is real is such a testament to the honourable characters they are in both worlds.

One reader noted the darkness of the flashbacks, and that’s something that I never really elaborated on. Even though the series boasts a family-show vibe, it also tackles its stories and imagery with such an edge that there’s something in it for almost everyone. Take the creepy dolls from ‘That Still Small Voice’ that popped up again during this episode; creepy as hell.

If there’s once series I have utmost faith in, it’s ‘Once Upon a Time’; another fantastic episode.

9/10