Get ready your winter gloves and slip on your snow boots, because Once Upon A Time just got a little bit frozen! Yes, the highly anticipated Season 4 Première had a distinctly icy edge to it with the arrival of Arendelle royalty, Princess Anna and Queen Elsa. The dynamic duo were back on our screens after the success of Frozen, but this time as live-action television characters, portrayed by Georgina Haig (Elsa) and Elizabeth Lail (Anna). Sufficed to say, the announcement of the arrival of the characters brought much scepticism, but Haig and Lail proved that they could embody their characters personality perfectly, with Haig showing off her more refined, responsible side as Queen Elsa, and Lail bringing life to the quirky, sometimes quick-acting Anna. We're going to be doing this review in two parts, the first is a quick recap of the entire episode, and then a review of the episode on a whole - so, if you don't want to hear the recap, then scroll down to the review, and if you don't care to read the review, stick around up top for the recap alone.
Recap
In Arendelle
The episode kicked off with Elsa and Anna's parents struggling to keep on their boat at sea (as portrayed in the movie version). The parents of the famous duo seemed to be keen to send a message to Anna and Elsa via a bottle, but whether it ever reached the two is unknown (it seems likely it didn't). Many years later, after the events of Frozen, Elsa and Anna visit their parents' graves and Elsa reveals she has a wedding gift for her sister, for her union with Kristoff. It's a wedding dress, but whilst Anna is trying it on Elsa finds her mother's diary that makes it seem like they left because of her. Anna doesn't believe this is true and goes to see her 'in-laws' - the troll people.
The elder troll tells her that her parents were on their way to a place called 'MistHaven'. Anna is keen to go to the place, but Elsa tells her she shouldn't, but she goes anyway. Elsa and Kristoff run after her but they are too late, she is already boarded - and Kristoff reveals that MistHaven is called 'The Enchanted Forest' in other realms.
In Storybrooke
Regina is heartbroken over Marian's re-arrival, and Robin tells Regina her made a vow to Marian that he would be with her till death do he part. Regina is understandably upset, and seeks help from Sidney (Magic Mirror), hoping to go back in time and kill Marian before Emma can rescue her. Meanwhile, Elsa has escaped and begun to cause havoc round town, creating icy snowmen bodyguards to protect her, which Regina destroys. Elsa manages to sneak undetected in Gold's shop while he is on his honeymoon with Belle, and takes Anna's necklace (that she had given to her before in Arendelle) and says that she will find her. In a house near town, Belle and Gold are on their Honeymoon, and Gold, after visiting Neal's grave, reluctantly switches his dagger back with the fake one, leaving Belle to truly hold the real one. He notices a box on the table of the house, but doesn't mention it to Belle.
After an impromptu dance in full Beauty and The Beast attire, he goes back downstairs to the box when Belle is sleeping and (with a little magic) reveals it to be The Sorcerer's Hat (Mickey Mouse). Regina eventually resolves to locate the person who wrote the Story book that has caused her so much pain, and means to get them to re-write it so she can have her happy ending; as Regina says, 'Villains don't get happy endings'.
Review
Well, now that things have gotten a lot more icy, in both the relationship department and in the literal foundation of the town, it would seem like Storybrooke has got plenty of news issues to deal with. With the arrival of Arendelle's favourite resident(s), Elsa and Anna look set to shake things up significantly for the probably exhausted members of the humble town. Haig and Lail seem all-in-all appropriate choices for their characters, and although we were sceptical, they do have the character quirks down well, with Anna's giddiness and Elsa's strong demeanour but vulnerable side showcased well through Haig's responses to the situations that face her character.
There are certainly plenty of interesting events happening in Storybrooke, especially regarding the Evil Queen herself, Regina - who has now set herself on a path to redo a Villain's fate. This clever twist on the old classic motto that Villain's don't get a happy ending is one that is no doubt going to go heavily wrong for at least a few people. The person who penned such a book better hope he lives far, far, away from Storybrooke and it's heart-broken inhabitant. Regina's return to (half) evil certainly puts us back in a similar position to the beginning of the show, but it would seem that even Regina isn't exactly the same person she was before (demonstrated by her saving Marian from the snowman). What this will spell for the future of her relationship with Robin, is for the moment, unclear.
Emma seemed to take a relatively smooth back seat in this week's episode, and Snow White seems to be enjoying her time with her new-born. Emma's budding relationship with Hook (which she seems to be putting off) is stalling a little, and it will be interesting to see exactly how this develops considering Neal is buried in the ground just a few feet away from the town. Will the Captain and Swan end up together in the end?
In the land of happy-endings lies Belle and Rumplestiltskin, who, after recently tying the knot, have chosen to vacation in an abandoned house in town. These new settings finally allow Rumple to work a bit of his magic for good, returning the dagger to its proper place (in the hands of Belle) and also dazzling up a room for their first dance together. Cue Beauty and the Beast costumes! A much anticipated event, the dance was one of the most emotional of the episode, a no doubt a crowd pleaser for most. In amongst all the drama of the episode, it was satisfying to have a moment of peace, with the dance slowing things down a little for the viewer.
Being a Frozen inspired episode, there were an abundance of good and not-so-good references to the movie, but one of the best was undoubtedly the two-way door scene between Emma and Regina. Regina, taking on the part of the film's Elsa, sobbing in her cold prison after being thoroughly heartbroken after the breakdown of her relationship, and Emma acting as the film's Anna, trying to get her to come out and embrace the life she has around her. It was touching, and interesting to see the contrast between the characters, and the resemblance their is between the Frozen sisters.
Overall, the first episode of the Fourth Season brought with it plenty of new unanswered questions, more drama and an icy edge to a magical series that always has a surprising twist or turn at almost every corner. What creators Kitsis and Horowitz have planned for this season is anyone's guess, but it looks set to be a thrilling ride for all involved.
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The next episode is entitled 'White Out', watch the promo for 4x02 here:
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