episode 1 pilot - Latest News & Reviews

SummaryHenry locates his birth mother, whom he believes can save Storybrooke, which is a town of fairy tale characters that do not remember their lives in the fairy tale parallel world.

Directed By:Mark Mylod

Written By:Edward Kitsis, Adam Horowitz

❮ Once Upon a Time

S1 • Episode 1

Pilot

Air Date:

Oct 23, 2011

User score

Universal Acclaim

Based on 8 User Ratings

8.4

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Episode 1 • Oct 23, 2011 • 42 m

Emma Swan is taken to a strange town by her son Henry, who she gave up for adoption years ago, and who tells her of a curse cast by the Evil Queen.

Episode 2 • Oct 30, 2011 • 41 m

The Thing You Love Most

Regina tries to get Emma out of Henry's life and out of the town of Storybrooke, while flashbacks detail information about the Evil Queen's curse.

Episode 3 • Nov 6, 2011 • 42 m

At Henry's urging, Emma convinces Mary Margaret to pay a visit to a comatose man in the hospital and read to him from the storybook. Meanwhile, the flashbacks show how Snow White and the Prince Charming first met.

Episode 4 • Nov 13, 2011 • 45 m

The Price of Gold

Emma tries to help a young pregnant woman escape from the clutches of Mr. Gold, as flashbacks show when Cinderella made a regrettable deal with Rumplestiltskin.

Episode 5 • Nov 27, 2011 • 45 m

That Still Small Voice

As Graham makes Emma a deputy, a mysterious sinkhole appears at the edge of town and Henry's life is placed in danger, while flashbacks show Jiminy Cricket's yearning to leave the family business.

Episode 6 • Dec 4, 2011 • 45 m

David is caught between his feelings for Mary Margaret and his marriage to Kathryn, as flashbacks detail information about Charming's life.

Episode 7 • Dec 11, 2011 • 45 m

The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter

Graham starts to remember details about his life before Storybrooke, while flashbacks show when the Evil Queen sent an assassin to kill Snow White.

Episode 8 • Jan 8, 2012 • 45 m

Desperate Souls

Gold and Regina play dirty politics and take opposite sides when Emma runs against Sidney for Sheriff, as flashbacks show Rumplestiltskin desperately try to find a way to save his son from being enlisted into war.

Episode 9 • Jan 15, 2012 • 45 m

Emma tries to save two children from foster care by trying to find their birth father, as flashbacks show the Evil Queen coercing Hansel and Gretel into stealing an important artifact from a blind witch.

Episode 10 • Jan 22, 2012 • 45 m

Mary Margaret and David struggle with their feelings for each other, while Emma and Regina become suspicious of a mysterious arrival in Storybrooke.

Episode 11 • Jan 29, 2012 • 45 m

Fruit of the Poisonous Tree

A dejected Sidney asks Emma for help uncovering evidence that could expose Regina's corruption, while Mary Margaret and David start seeing each other in secret.

Episode 12 • Feb 12, 2012 • 45 m

Emma suspects Gold is planning vigilante justice when his house is robbed, as flashbacks show when Belle made a deal with Rumplestiltskin.

Episode 13 • Feb 19, 2012 • 45 m

What Happened to Frederick

David finally agrees to tell Kathryn about his relationship with Mary Margaret, as flashbacks show Charming helping Princess Abigail with a dangerous mission.

Episode 14 • Mar 4, 2012 • 45 m

Emma investigates Kathryn's sudden disappearance and Mary Margaret and Leroy help the Nuns sell candles at the Miner's Day festival, as flashbacks show when Grumpy fell in love with a fairy.

Episode 15 • Mar 11, 2012 • 45 m

David faces questions about Kathryn's disappearance and Emma gives Ruby a job as her assistant, as flashbacks show Red Riding Hood attempt to kill a wolf preying on her village.

Episode 16 • Mar 18, 2012 • 45 m

Heart of Darkness

Mary Margaret hires Gold as her attorney when she is arrested for the suspected murder of Kathryn, while flashbacks show Charming try to find Snow, whose memory is clouded by Rumplestiltskin's potion.

Episode 17 • Mar 25, 2012 • 45 m

During her search for Mary Margaret, Emma finds herself trapped in the home of a strange man, as flashbacks show the Mad Hatter helping the Evil Queen in exchange for his daughter's safety.

Episode 18 • Apr 1, 2012 • 45 m

Emma continues to search for evidence that will prove Mary Margaret's innocence, as flashbacks reveal the reason behind the Evil Queen's hatred for Snow White.

Episode 19 • Apr 22, 2012 • 45 m

Regina's plan for Mary Margaret is thwarted following Kathryn's sudden re-appearance and Gold becomes wary of August, as flashbacks show what happened to Baelfire after Rumplestiltskin became the Dark One.

Episode 20 • Apr 29, 2012 • 45 m

August's real identity is revealed as his condition worsens. Regina tries to seduce David to spite Mary Margaret.

Episode 21 • May 6, 2012 • 45 m

An Apple Red as Blood

Regina works with Jefferson on a plan to get rid of Emma, as flashbacks show Snow attempt to reunite with Charming after he is kidnapped by the Evil Queen.

Episode 22 • May 13, 2012 • 45 m

A Land Without Magic

Emma and Regina are forced to work together in order to save Henry's life, while flashbacks show Charming's mission to save Snow's life after escaping from the Evil Queen.

Ginnifer Goodwin

Ginnifer GoodwinMary Margaret Blanchard, Snow White, Queen Snow White

Jennifer Morrison

Jennifer MorrisonEmma Swan

Lana Parrilla

Lana ParrillaRegina Mills, Evil Queen, Roni

Robert Carlyle

Robert CarlyleMr. Gold, Rumplestiltskin, Weaver

Jared Gilmore

Jared GilmoreHenry Mills, Prince Henry

Josh Dallas

Josh DallasDavid Nolan, Prince Charming, Prince James

Colin O'Donoghue

Colin O'DonoghueCaptain Killian 'Hook' Jones, Rogers

Emilie de Ravin

Emilie de RavinBelle Gold, Belle French, Lacey

Rebecca Mader

Rebecca MaderZelena, Kelly West

Beverley Elliott

Beverley ElliottGranny Lucas, Granny, The Granny

Sean Maguire

Sean MaguireRobin Hood, Robin of Locksley

Lee Arenberg

Lee ArenbergLeroy, Grumpy, Dreamy

Meghan Ory

Meghan OryRuby Lucas, Red Riding Hood

Raphael Sbarge

Raphael SbargeDr. Archie Hopper, Dr. Archibald 'Archie' Hopper, Jiminy Cricket, Jiminy Cricket (voice)

David AvalonDoc

Faustino Di BaudaSleepy, Walter

Gabe Khouth

Gabe KhouthSneezy, Mr. Clark, Tom Clark

Michael ColemanHappy

Keegan Connor Tracy

Keegan Connor TracyMother Superior, Blue Fairy, Zelena

Mig Macario

Mig MacarioBashful

User Reviews

User score

Universal Acclaim

Based on 8 User Ratings

8.4

88% Positive
7 Ratings

13% Mixed
1 Rating

0% Negative
0 Ratings

Jun 7, 2026

Clever, subversive, well acted, well written, original, and captivating. It truly is hard to find something truly wrong with this episode. One of the finest Pilots I've ever seen, and it left me scrambling for more.

See All 8 User Reviews

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