It was a risky move. Honestly, it was more than risky—it was borderline suicidal for a show that had built six years of deep, intertwined lore around Emma Swan and the original Storybrooke crew. When ABC announced that once a upon a time season 7 would basically hit the reset button, moving the action from the foggy woods of Maine to the rain-slicked streets of Hyperion Heights in Seattle, fans lost it. Most people saw the mass exodus of series regulars like Jennifer Morrison, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Josh Dallas as the death knell. But if you actually sit down and watch it now, away from the immediate sting of those casting changes, you'll find a season that was surprisingly bold, deeply emotional, and arguably more creative than the formulaic patterns the show had fallen into during the Underworld or Jekyll and Hyde arcs.
The Hyperion Heights Gamble
Hyperion Heights wasn't Storybrooke. That was the whole point, but it’s also why it felt so jarring. Instead of a town trapped in time where everyone was a baker or a sheriff, we got a gentrifying urban neighborhood. The curse didn't just wipe memories; it shoved our beloved icons into the "real world" in a way that felt grittier.
Regina Mills wasn't the Mayor anymore. She was Roni, a bar owner with a denim jacket and a "don't mess with me" attitude that felt like a fresh breath of air for Lana Parrilla. It’s funny because, by season six, Regina had become so "good" that she almost lost her edge. Roni brought that sass back without the genocidal tendencies of the Evil Queen. Then you had Rumplestiltskin—or "Weaver"—acting as a corrupt detective. Watching Robert Carlyle play a noir-inspired version of the Dark One was a masterclass in acting. He wasn't just giggling in a cell; he was playing a long game that felt genuinely dangerous again.
The story centered on an adult Henry Mills, played by Andrew J. West. It’s a tough sell to ask an audience to accept a new face for a character they watched grow up for six years. Jared Gilmore was Henry. But West captured that "Believer" spirit while adding the weary cynicism of a guy who thinks his family died in a fire. The season kicks off when his daughter, Lucy, knocks on his door in Seattle, mirroring the pilot episode from 2011. It's cyclical. It's poetic. It’s exactly what the show was always about: the persistence of hope against overwhelming odds.
Why the New Cinderella Actually Worked
A lot of the initial backlash toward once a upon a time season 7 focused on Dania Ramirez as Jacinda/Cinderella. People were attached to the "original" Cinderella from season one (played by Jessy Schram), and the show’s explanation of "New Fairy Tale Land" and different versions of the same stories felt like a bit of a reach to some. However, the chemistry between West and Ramirez eventually found its footing.
This wasn't a damsel-in-distress story.
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This Cinderella was a struggling mom in a cursed city trying to make rent while dealing with a nightmare stepmother, Victoria Belfrey (Gabrielle Anwar). Gabrielle Anwar played the villain role with a cold, corporate precision that made her a fantastic foil for Roni and Henry. She wasn't throwing fireballs; she was filing eviction notices. In a weird way, that felt more villainous because it’s a horror we actually face in the real world.
The Breakout Stars of the Reboot
If there is one reason to revisit this season, it’s Tiana and Alice. Mekia Cox stepped in as Sabine/Tiana and brought a level of groundedness the show desperately needed. Her friendship with Jacinda was the emotional backbone of the "real world" segments.
But Adelaide Kane as Ivy (Drizella) and Rose Reynolds as Alice? They stole every single scene.
- Alice (Tilly): Her relationship with Detective Rogers (the Wish-Realm version of Hook) is genuinely one of the most touching father-daughter dynamics in the entire series. Her madness was portrayed with such whimsical tragedy.
- Drizella (Ivy): She wasn't just a "wicked stepsister." She was a victim of a mother who never loved her, and her descent into villainy felt earned. Watching her trade barbs with Regina was like watching a heavyweight boxing match.
Addressing the "Wish Realm" Confusion
Let’s be real: the timeline got messy. To make once a upon a time season 7 work, the writers had to lean heavily on the "Wish Realm" concept introduced in season six. This allowed Colin O'Donoghue to stay on the show as a version of Killian Jones who wasn't married to Emma Swan.
This "Nook" (New Hook) was searching for his lost daughter. It gave O'Donoghue something new to play. Instead of the reformed villain living his "happily ever after," we got a desperate, aging father with a drinking problem and a heart literally weighed down by a curse. It was poignant. It allowed the show to explore themes of redemption from a different angle. You weren't watching Hook find love; you were watching him find his family.
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The "New Fairy Tale Land" (or the United Realms, as it eventually became) also introduced the idea that these stories are infinite. Just because we knew one Snow White didn't mean there weren't others. It expanded the multiverse before Marvel made it cool. Some found it confusing, sure. But for those willing to follow the breadcrumbs, it added a layer of cosmic scale to the show's mythology.
The Mid-Season Turn and the Return of the King
The first half of the season was a bit of a slog. It’s okay to admit that. The "Gothel" plotline felt a bit thin, and the Coven of the Eight was a group of villains that never quite reached the heights of Peter Pan or Zelena. But then, something happened around episode 10. The show remembered its heart.
The stakes shifted from "how do we break the curse?" to "how do we save Rumplestiltskin’s soul?"
The series-long arc of Rumple has always been the show’s most complex element. In once a upon a time season 7, we finally got the payoff. His journey to reunite with Belle in the afterlife—to finally be "clean" enough to move on—is some of the best writing the show ever produced. The episode "Beauty" is a tear-jerker that rivals the first ten minutes of Pixar's Up. It gave the character the closure he deserved, something that might not have happened if the show had ended with season six.
The Final Episodes: A Love Letter to Fans
The finale, "Leaving Storybrooke," is widely regarded as one of the best series finales in modern fantasy TV. It managed to bridge the gap between the new Seattle characters and the original Maine cast.
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Seeing Jennifer Morrison, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Josh Dallas return for those final moments felt earned. It wasn't just a cameo for the sake of a ratings boost; it was the final piece of the puzzle. Regina’s coronation as the "Good Queen" of all the realms brought her character full circle. She started the show by casting a curse to tear families apart, and she ended it by casting a spell to bring every world together.
The growth was immense.
If you stopped watching after Emma left, you missed the actual conclusion of Regina's redemption. You missed the final fate of the Dark One. You missed the show finally defining what a "Happy Ending" actually looks like. It’s not just a wedding or a kiss; it’s the peace that comes from knowing you’ve finally become the person you were meant to be.
Moving Forward: How to Watch it Today
If you’re planning a rewatch or checking it out for the first time, here is how to approach it. Don't look for the Storybrooke you lost. Look for the themes of identity and legacy that the writers were trying to explore.
- Patience is key: The first five episodes are heavy on world-building and can feel slow. Stick with it until the Belle/Rumple episode.
- Focus on Alice and Rogers: Their bond is the highlight of the season. It’s the most "Once" thing about the reboot.
- Appreciate the Noir: Notice the cinematography. Hyperion Heights is shot with deeper shadows and more neon than Storybrooke ever was. It’s a different vibe, but it’s stylish.
- The Finale is the Reward: Everything in season 7 is a setup for those final two hours. It makes the entire journey worth it.
Once a upon a time season 7 wasn't a mistake. It was an ambitious, flawed, but ultimately beautiful coda to a story about the power of belief. It proved that even when you lose your memory, your home, and your magic, you can still find your way back to the people you love.
To get the most out of your viewing experience, try watching the season 6 finale and the season 7 premiere back-to-back. You’ll notice the deliberate parallels in the "Adult Henry" transition, which makes the time jump feel much more intentional. Pay close attention to the background details in Roni’s bar; the walls are covered in easter eggs that reference the previous six years, proving the creators never forgot where they came from, even as they moved into a new neighborhood.