Once Upon A Time 4×01 – A Tale of Two Sisters – Recap

Once Upon A Time returned with the season 4 premiere tonight and introduced a chilly new…villain?

Read on for our recap and review of Once Upon A Time 4×01: “A Tale of Two Sisters” below:

Overall, I’m unhappy to report that the season 4 premiere of Once Upon A Time was a bit of a disappointment. Actually, it was, overall, mostly a disappointment. With the entire “Frozen” storyline coming across like a cheap knockoff of the movie with no real focus or direction. In fact, Elsa’s entire appearance in Storybrooke was really her just hiding behind buildings while leaving a trail behind her like an icy snail.

Conceal…Don’t Feel

The episode begins moments after the season finale ended — with the big reveal being that the newly saved Marian is actually Robin Hood’s wife and mother to his child. No amount of Emma telling her she still deserves a happy ending is going to persuade Regina to smile right now. Marian can’t understand why anyone is even talking to Regina right now. They give her some space. But will she slip back into her old ways?

“That was the person I was, not the person I am.”

So she says. Robin Hood pretty much dumps Regina because he took a vow to his wife until death parts them and well..now it hasn’t. Regina visits the basement to hook up with an old friend: Sidney Glass! AKA The Mirror. AKA guest star Giancarlo Esposito. He is ready and willing to help his queen rid the one who stands in the way of her happiness.

Once Upon A Time 4×01

Regina has a new plan — save face in Storybrooke by saving Marian from Elsa’s evil snow monster… but work on changing her fate in her spare time. Regina first wants to go back in time and get rid of Marian once and for all but decides to take it one step further. She wants to find out who wrote the big book of stories so that he may change her fate. Maybe then, she can finally have her happy ending. Being good in this world gets you nowhere.

Put On A Show…Or Not

The other plots of the episode dragged and didn’t hold my attention for very long. Among the poor introduction of Frozen characters included:

• Anna getting ready for her wedding to Kristoff
• Trolls that look exactly the same as they did in the movie
• Finding out what their parents were doing and where they were going
• Anna heads to the Enchanted Forest alone…and seemingly gets lost in the curse

Which is what Elsa seems to be up to now. She wants to find her sister. Someone is always lost on this show. Did she have a run in with Mr. Gold? Anna’s necklace is found in his shop and Rumple seems to recognize something in a mysterious new mansion that appeared after the second curse.

Captain Swan fans hoping for a little romance this episode will be left disappointed. Emma isn’t in the mood to deal with all the eyeliner right now because she’s guilty about Regina. Take that as you will.

Best moment of the night? Rumple and Belle dancing to the Beauty and the Beast tune. So cute!

All in all, this was a disappointing premiere and a poor and unoriginal take and introduction of the Frozen universe. It came off uninspired and cheap. Regina and Sidney saved the day in an episode that was otherwise a bummer. What did you guys think of Once Upon a Time 4×01?