For those who enjoy watching the abc
series "Once Upon a Time" and have not yet seen season seven, you may
want to return to this post later as I am about to reveal many spoilers. Thus
far season 7 is actually my favorite. I
must admit that I did quite a bit of skipping around with seasons 3-6, reading
the synopsis of each episode. Season 7
has peaked my curiosity. I also like the
story of Cinderella better than the entire Snow White ordeal. I also like looking at fairytales from other
perspectives.
Season Seven starts out with Henry
saying good-bye to Regina. He tosses a
magic bean onto the ground and drives his motorcycle through the portal into
the enchanted forest. Next thing we see, Henry is a grown man. He has his adventures and chooses to live in
the enchanted forest - for at least a decade, I assume. Another curse is placed upon the land, but
instead of Storybrook, MA, the fairytale characters are transformed into Hyperion
Heights, WA.
I remember having always liked fairy
tales and have enjoyed twisted versions and mixing of characters (such as Into The Woods). I think it's fun to get a new perspective on
what might have possibly made a fairytale villain become that or see the roles
reversed (as within Disney's Maleficent).
In abc's Once Upon a Time we have the
opportunity of seeing many hearts harden and many harden hearts turn to the
light. Roland had once asked what it is
I like about the show. I don't guess
that it is much different from his comic books or comic book movies where there
are also heroes and villains.
As a youth I think the things I
enjoyed most about fairytales was being able to decipher who was the hero and
who was the villain. Growing up has
changed that somehow, because we don't always know. It isn't always so obviously spelled out for
us. We don't always know what is trickery and
magic or even intent. We turn to both
light and darkness searching for answers or solutions to fix our problems. We may steal from another who can afford to
be stolen from - or at least that is how we rationalize it in our minds. We're coaxed into trying things like drugs or
alcohol to make ourselves feel better. Or perhaps we have seen some fall into gambling
because there's a slight chance that we could double or triple money in order to pay the bills just to make ends
meet. But dark choices often lead to
addictions - not happiness. Dark choices
come with a price - not just to the person making the choices, but those
closest to the one choosing or being controlled by the dark ones.
In one episode we see a young mother
picking vegetables from a garden that isn't hers. The witch who owns the garden finds the young
mother picking radishes instead of magic beans which she finds odd. The woman apologizes and explains that she is
in need of food for her family and "will do anything to keep them safe and
happy" at which point the witch locks the mother (Repunzel) in a
tower. Repunzel yells out for someone to
help her. Six years pass before she is
able to make her escape by cutting off her hair and use it as a rope to get down. Repunzel Tremaine learns of her family's
whereabouts and learns her husband has remarried but does allow visitation
rights for her to spend time with her two daughters, Anastasia and Drizilla.
Anastasia is thrilled. From the moment her mother had disappeared
she had been sending lanterns into the sky as a sign to come home. Lady Tremaine is treated differently by each
of her daughters. Drizilla does not
remember her mother as well as Anastasia and has accepted Ella's biological
mother as her own. Out of resentment,
Lady Tremaine kills Ella's mother in order to have her family back. Her hatred towards Ella happens later when
the three girls are skating on the ice. Just
before Anastasia falls through the ice, Ella walks out to save her but they
both end up falling through. Mr. Tremaine can only save one of the girls and
returns to the surface with Ella. Anastasia
ends up dying. Repunzel Tremaine becomes
wicked not just to Ella but Drizilla as well.
We all live in Storybook at one time
or another. We have all dealt with pain
and darkness, and know those who seek comfort in the light. We allow our hearts to change based upon our
emotions, financial circumstances, and other situations. We fluctuate between light and darkness
searching for answers. There are times
when we get off course and ask the wrong person or seek others approval when
what we really need to do is "look up and find the answers" (quote
comes from Alice - who also seems to share characteristics with a mad hatter's
personality as well).
Looking "up" could be a metaphor
of prayer or turning to God for the answers.
This often requires more endurance than does the dark side in which the
darkness happens so subtly, it's hard to pinpoint when the darkness started
(for me anyway) whereas the light seems to transform one's heart right
away. A powerful brightness that makes
the darkness disappear. If it could only
be that way always. None of us is
perfect. We all have choices to make. We all have burdens to carry. We don't have to carry these burdens
alone. We may have good days when we are
looked at as heroes and bad days where others may see us as villains. May we always seek the light that will make
us shine.
