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Once Upon a Time Season 1 Episode 8

Desperate Souls

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AIRED: Jan 08, 2012

8.3

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259 votes

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EPISODE REVIEWS
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Episode Summary

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Regina and Gold find themselves on opposite sides in Emma's attempt to run for Sheriff, but Emma soon discovers that the price of the election may be too great to pay. In the fairy tale world, a human Rumplestiltskin begins his quest to help his son by finding the power necessary to avoid war.moreless

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (5)

Unexpectedly good!

10

By amazing_race, Jul 03, 2012

I read a short synopsis about this episode before watching it, and I wasn't expecting too much from it, because the storyline wasn't sounding all that interesting, since I don't really like the Rumpelstiltskin character, but it turned out to be unexpectedly good! It was the tale of how Rumpelstiltskin started turning evil! And it was very interesting!

Meanwhile, in the present, there was a very good storyline as well, with the battle for the sherriff position! Very interesting stuff, and some interesting tactics used in the battle as well, by both sides of the battle.

Overall, a very good episode, and I can't wait for more! Keep it up, OUaT!moreless
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Fabulous, Fabulous, Fabulous

10

By BabsetteJacks, Jun 20, 2012

How on earth do you get people to sympathize with someone who has shown you nothing but evil? It isn't easy, but the writers have done it. They have made me feel for Rumplestiltskin and start to ponder whether Mr. Gold really is a bad guy. He may have been a coward, but he was a good guy with good intentions before he became cursed. Wow... love the twist and now I love the character even more. Cannot wait to see where he goes.

So, on one hand we see how manipulative he is, but we see that he is doing it for a reason. Just what is that reason? Well, that is all part of the captivating mystery. All we know is that Mr. Gold wanted Emma to be sheriff and voila: she is. He seems to have a hard on for Regina and I cannot wait to find out why.

As usual Robert Carlyle and Lana Parilla were fabulous as was Gilmore and Morrison. It is so fun to watch Carlyle so over the top as Rumple and then as Mr. Gold be so coy and subtle. I have come to realize that episodes that feature him are somehow a little bit better than those without him.

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Desperate Souls

10

By TrueTvWatcher, Jan 10, 2012

Desperate Souls was a perfect episode of Once Upon A Time, though I feel for some viewers there should have been another episode before it dealing with Graham's death and the fall out because of it. I didn't mind the time lapse or getting right back to how things were so to speak, but they could improve a little. The Rumpelstiltskin back story was the best part of the episode and gave some juicy details along with hints of whats to come. I loved the irony of Rumpelstiltskin's existence and how Desperate Souls can lead to trouble! The sheriff election story line was ok, but the speeches were very short and unprofessional, very story book, but I'm over it and moving on. There was a ton of character and plot development, laying foundations I suspect for future episodes. I look forward to watching the next episode!!!!!!!!!moreless
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Disappointing Episode

5.0

By OrsonWright, Jan 10, 2012

This episode focused on Rumplestiltskin's origin story in the flashbacks and the election for the next sheriff in the present-day.

After the cliffhanger of Regina snuffing out Graham's life, I was expecting more emotional fall-out from the death, but there was too little of that. I did like a few of the scenes between Henry and Emma, and it was interesting how dejected Henry was. I didn't like seeing Emma played by Mr. Gold, and now owing him a favor, though I liked how resolute Emma was against playing dirty. Regina accepting Emma as the Sheriff at the end makes little sense. On the one hand, she is so evil, but she's just going to let this one slide? Why didn't she rig the ballots or something?

The flashbacks should have been interesting, but I thought they were strangely dull. The Dark One didn't seem to fit into the Fairyland world. He reminded me of the evil guy in "Star Wars" with his force field. It also made little sense that the Duke would leave that dagger unguarded, and it was unclear why the fire would help when Rumplestiltskin could have himself gotten killed in the fire. The flashback dialogue didn't sound that natural.

It wasn't a horrible episode; just a lacklustre one.moreless
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I really want to like this series ...

7.0

By lilmisstx, Jan 09, 2012

I really want to like this series. I like the concept, most of the actors, and think it is an excellent premise. The fact that it comes from "Lost" producers is the icing on the fairy-tale cake.

Or so I thought.

Upon watching this episode, I'd have to agree with the reviewer below. What made Lost great was that at the core, most of the episodes consisted of a mental workout where things were left to the audience member to decifer. With OUaT, everything is spelled out as if it really was a storybook tale one were telling a seven-year old. I understand that perhaps young audience members exist, but if the target audience is someone in their twenties or thirties, I don't think so much explanation is required. I believe that most of us WANT to watch something that keeps our minds working and not just something that is explained in tedious fashion.

That said, I'll keep watching because I do want to know what happens next, I've enjoyed the episodes so far, and as already mentioned, I like most of the actors and characters.

That, and I'm a sucker for happy endings.

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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Ginnifer Goodwin	Snow White/Mary Margaret Blanchard
Jennifer Morrison	Emma Swan
Lana Parrilla	Evil Queen/Regina Mills
Robert Carlyle	Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold
Josh Dallas	Prince Charming/David Nolan
Raphael Sbarge	Jiminy Cricket/Dr. Archie Hopper

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Patti Allan	Miss Ginger	Guest Star
Dylan Schmid	Baelfire	Guest Star
Conner Dwelly	Morraine	Guest Star
Meghan Ory	Ruby/Red Riding Hood	Recurring Role
Beverley Elliott	Granny	Recurring Role
Giancarlo Esposito	Magic Mirror/Sydney Glass	Recurring Role

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Episode Photos

Lana Parrilla on Once Upon a Time from "...

© 2011 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.
Jared Gilmore and Jennifer Morrison on O...

© 2011 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.
Lana Parrilla on Once Upon a Time from "...

© 2011 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.
Lana Parrilla, Jared Gilmore, and Jennif...

© 2011 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (2)
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- Trivia: Among the box of Graham's belongings that Gold has is a graduation certificate, confirming that his last name was Humbert.
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- Trivia: Behind the opening title, the Dark One can be seen.
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QUOTES (13)
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- Gold: You enjoy these with your boy. Your time together is precious, you know. That's the thing about children. Before you know it... you lose them.
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- Mary Margaret: Toaster broken?
  Emma: Wasn't when I started with it. Pretty sure it is now.
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- Emma: And guess what, Madame Mayor. I'm running.
  Regina: Fine. So is Sydney.
  Sydney: I am? (Regina glares) I am.
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- Rumplestiltskin: There'll be no fleeing now.
  Old Beggar: No. You need to find another way. You need to choose a different path.
  Rumplestiltskin: Choose? What choice do I have?
  Old Beggar: Everyone has a choice.
  Rumplestiltskin: I'm the town coward. The only choice I have is which corner to hide in. I'm lame. Friendless. The only thing I've got is my boy. And they're going to take him away from me. They take him away, I will truly, truly become dust.
  Old Beggar: You may as well say diamonds.
  Rumplestiltskin: You may as well say diamonds.
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- Gold: Regina. Shall I move some things, make a bit of space for your rage?
  Regina: You found that loophole in the town charter.
  Gold: Legal documents. Contracts, if you like. Always been a fascination of mine.
  Regina: Yes, you like to trifle with technicalities.
  Gold: I like small weapons, you see. The needle. The pen. The fine point of a deal. Subtlety. Not your style, I know.
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- Emma: (reading a newspaper) Then let's throw this out and we will get our news from something more reliable. Like the Internet.
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- Baelfire: But if the law says I'm to fight, I--I can fight.
  Rumplestiltskin: No, no, that's--the law doesn't want you to fight, son, the law wants you to die. That's not battle, that's... a sacrifice, son. Look at that red in the sky. That's not the fires of the battlefields. That's the blood of our people, son. The blood of children. The blood of children like you.
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- Mary Margaret: Is this really just about beating Regina?
  Emma: It's just...
  Mary Margaret: Henry.
  Emma: I want to show him that good can actually win.
  Mary Margaret: That's why you want to win it for him, but why do you want to win the election for yourself?
  Emma: That is why. I want to show him that a hero can win. If I'm not... if I'm not a hero and I'm not the savior, what part do I have in his life?
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- Old Beggar: My life was such a burden. You'll see. Magic... always comes with a price. And now it's yours to pay.
  Rumplestiltskin: Why me? Why me?
  Old Beggar: I know how to recognize... a desperate soul.
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- Archie: (to a crowd) So without further adieu I'd like to introduce you to candidates Sydney Glass and Emma Swan. Glass. Swan. Sounds like something that a decorator would make you buy. Heh heh. (dead silence) Wow, crickets.
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- Regina: You didn't pick a great friend in Mr. Gold, Miss Swan. But he does make a superlative enemy. Enjoy that.
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- Baelfire: Papa? What has happened to you?
  Rumplestiltskin: You're safe, Bae. Do you feel safe, son?
  Baelfire: No. I'm frightened.
  Rumplestiltskin: I'm not. I've protected what belongs to me. And I'm not scared of anything.
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- Emma: You knew I'd agree.
  Gold: Oh yeah. I know how to recognize a desperate soul.
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NOTES (4)
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- Music: Kool Thing (Sonic Youth)
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- Injoke: The Dark One's name, Zoso, refers to a nickname for Led Zeppelin guitarist/songwriter Jimmy Page, who was represented on Led Zeppelin's fourth (unnamed) album by a symbol resembling the letters ZoSo. This episode premiered on the night before Page's 68th birthday.
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- As of this episode, Jamie Dornan is no longer credited as a series regular.
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- International Airdates:
  Canada: January 8, 2012 on CTV
  UK: May 20, 2012 on Channel 5
  Germany: October 24, 2012 on Super RTL
  Slovakia: November 16, 2012 on JOJ
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ALLUSIONS (0)
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