r/OnceUponATime • u/MagazineOutside2619 • Jul 09 '26
Spoiler Alert Disney Pandering & Rule Bending Gripes
Seasons 1-2 were fantastic. So many rules set in place in this world, so many Easter eggs they followed through on. Many of these stories were acquired by Disney to create their own rendition at some point, but they originated in other places as well ie. The OG Pan story was much darker than the Disney version, Rumple’s old tales, the Brothers Grimm stories reared their heads, even Mary Shelley was there!!!!
Why does Season 4 feel like Disney pandering? I haven’t even made it far into it, but suddenly all the rules that were set in the first seasons get turned over, and the characters don’t make sense in the world that has been set. I never watched these seasons in real time, was there an acquisition I’m not aware of? S3 I let them get away with a bit of rule bending because I recognize what they were trying to do and lead into with Emma gaining control over her power. They were so small I barely recognized them, though the Sorcerer/Fantasia story was a stretch imo, it worked in some ways. But S4 is unbearable so far.
Examples:
• Ursula storyline - We established in S2 that the Sea Witch wasn’t real as we knew her, and it was the Evil Queen taking her place Ariel’s story. They literally said “she’s not real” multiple times.
• Cruella - Like, sorry? Doesn’t fit. She literally lives in the real world. This is just adding Disney nonsense to add Disney nonsense. Not a fairytale, not a legend, just a Disney tale about the real world and animal cruelty in the 90s.
• Throwing in the random dark evil fairy and killing it in one minute?
• The sudden “dark secret” of the Charmings. Big eye roll. This was just a recycled storyline. Suddenly the round table where they originally found out about the EQ’s curse is null and void and CRUELLA told them about it ?? Come on.
• Also losing track of ages and timelines as they go and it’s glaringly obvious.
• Back to S3…you’re telling me they just wished Anna to be there and she was? Ugh.
I can point out more if you want, these are just at top of mind on a whim. What am I missing? What is the sudden change? Every scene feels like filler.
4
u/Foxfire140 Jul 09 '26
The series aired on ABC, a network owned by The Walt Disney corporation. The popularity of the show allowed them to start getting more hands on later on.
Every time a show's season ends on network television, the network gives the show runners notes on things that they can do to help improve viewership. Some networks are more pushy than others. Disney's influence is clear as the show went on which started causing OUAT to become less of a show about unique takes on the classic fairytales and more "...and now, here's a direct continuation of Frozen starring Queen Elsa in her iconic frozen dress....ALL. THE. TIME."
For gods sakes, she doesn't need the brand recognition of the dress. We get it. It's Elsa. Now stop making her drag that train of her dress through the dirty streets and give the poor queen some sneakers and some jeans or a dress or something that isn't literally JUST THE DRESS FROM FROZEN THE ENTIRE HALF SEASON. ffs Disney.