Once Upon a Time: Episode 4 "The Price of Gold"

Once Upon a Time is a modern take on the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales in which the Evil Queen has cast a spell in retaliation against Snow White and Prince Charming. The spell has thrust all the storybook characters into the town of “Storybrooke, Maine” which they cannot leave. Not only have all the characters forgotten who they are, but they can never have their happy endings. The male and female leads are ten year old Henry who is the adopted son of the town’s mayor (the evil queen) and Emma, a twenty-seven year old woman who is the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming. Henry is the only one who has figured out the curse and knows who in the town is which character, and Emma is the only one who can break the curse and restore the happy endings. Each episode plays in parallel the modern story in Storybrooke, Maine, and the original story in the Enchanted Forest.

Episode 4 “The Price of Gold” is a blend of Cinderella and the story of Rumpelstiltskin. The number of men and women are fairly balanced so far, though not all of the characters have been introduced yet. At this point there are slightly more women (Snow White, Cinderella, the Evil Queen, Red Riding hood, Granny, and Emma), but each episode more male characters have been introduced (Prince Charming, Rumpelstiltskin, Jiminy Cricket, the Sherriff, and Henry). Masculinity and femininity are very different in the modern town and the Enchanted Forest. The Enchanted Forest fairy tales have the classic set up of damsels in distress and the male prince to save them. However, in Storybrooke, Maine no matter who is in distress, Emma saves them. While the contrast is not highlighted, or a main feature of the show, it presents a new angle on the damsel in distress conundrum.

As for gender issues, they are not very subtle. In episode 4, Ashley (Cinderella) is a nineteen year old, pregnant maid in the local bed and breakfast. Because of family pressures, the father of the child has left her, and believing there is no other option she has entered a contract to sell the baby to pawn shop owner Mr. Gold (Rumpelstiltskin). While the show focuses on the story of Cinderella and Rumpelstiltskin, it creates interesting commentary on single and/or young mothers and whether or not they are fit to raise a child on their own. The town of Storybrooke, Maine says no, pushing to uphold the contract, but Emma fights for Ashley to be able to keep and raise her own child which eventually leads to her boyfriend retuning.

Overall, the show is fairly upfront with gender themes and issues and usually creates a contrast between traditional and non-traditional views on the matter at hand. In the end the show tends to fall more on the non-traditional side of the issues.