When 'Once Upon a Time' first started it was highly addictive and made the most of a truly great and creative premise. Really loved the idea of turning familiar fairy tales on their heads and putting own interpretations on them and the show early on clearly had clearly had a ball. Watched it without fail every time it came on and it was often a highlight of the week. Which was why it was sad when it ran out of ideas and lost its magic in the later seasons.
Not everybody will agree but to me Season 1 was a solid season, with the weakest episodes (as far as previous episodes go) "True North" and "Dreamy" being still decent. "Hat Trick" is one of Season 1's most interesting episodes and in the better half. Pacing could have been a touch tighter at the start, with the story coming alive once Jefferson's true intentions are revealed and it got more to the point.
Jefferson brings a great antagonistic edge to a story that compels and leaves one on the edge of their seats. "Hat Trick" does even better with his fairy tale counterpart The Mad Hatter in the fairy tale flashbacks, his back story is one of the most interesting, heartfelt and gut-wrenching ones of the first season and leaves one angry and sad, it is very easy to feel sorry for The Mad Hatter and later on one kind of understands why Jefferson is the way he is while not in any way condoning his actions.
Visually "Hat Trick" is a very handsomely mounted episode, settings and costumes that are both colourful and atmospheric, not too dark or garish and never cookie-cutter. The effects are also above average, not exceptional but not bad. It is photographed beautifully and there is some make-up that suited the characters perfectly. The music is haunting, ethereal and cleverly used with a memorable main theme.
Regarding the writing, "Hat Trick" shows that it really has come on a long way. There is far less corn and instead the humour, emotional and tense elements and the balance between them are getting stronger. "Hat Trick" is perhaps the most surreal and oddball episode of Season 1 and this tone, while fairly unusual, fits very well. The guest characters are 'Alice in Wonderland' characters and that book is wonderfully weird a lot of the time so that it comes over here too is appropriate.
Can't fault the acting either. Ginnifer Goodwin and Jennifer Morrison make one root for the characters and care about their predicament. Goodwin has always been among the consistently great actresses in 'Once Upon a Time' and she proves it here with her effortless charm. Morrison took a little more time to settle and grow, like her character, but having more focus on her here than in previous episodes allows this growth.
Making even more of an impression are the guest cast, with a barn-storming turn from Sebastian Stan, one that's both menacing and poignant. Jennifer Koenig enjoys herself as the Queen of Hearts and The Who's (they even sneak in a nod to them) Roger Daltrey is an interesting Caterpillar.
Overall, another fine episode, back when 'Once Upon a Time' was addictive viewing. 9/10 Bethany Cox
Not everybody will agree but to me Season 1 was a solid season, with the weakest episodes (as far as previous episodes go) "True North" and "Dreamy" being still decent. "Hat Trick" is one of Season 1's most interesting episodes and in the better half. Pacing could have been a touch tighter at the start, with the story coming alive once Jefferson's true intentions are revealed and it got more to the point.
Jefferson brings a great antagonistic edge to a story that compels and leaves one on the edge of their seats. "Hat Trick" does even better with his fairy tale counterpart The Mad Hatter in the fairy tale flashbacks, his back story is one of the most interesting, heartfelt and gut-wrenching ones of the first season and leaves one angry and sad, it is very easy to feel sorry for The Mad Hatter and later on one kind of understands why Jefferson is the way he is while not in any way condoning his actions.
Visually "Hat Trick" is a very handsomely mounted episode, settings and costumes that are both colourful and atmospheric, not too dark or garish and never cookie-cutter. The effects are also above average, not exceptional but not bad. It is photographed beautifully and there is some make-up that suited the characters perfectly. The music is haunting, ethereal and cleverly used with a memorable main theme.
Regarding the writing, "Hat Trick" shows that it really has come on a long way. There is far less corn and instead the humour, emotional and tense elements and the balance between them are getting stronger. "Hat Trick" is perhaps the most surreal and oddball episode of Season 1 and this tone, while fairly unusual, fits very well. The guest characters are 'Alice in Wonderland' characters and that book is wonderfully weird a lot of the time so that it comes over here too is appropriate.
Can't fault the acting either. Ginnifer Goodwin and Jennifer Morrison make one root for the characters and care about their predicament. Goodwin has always been among the consistently great actresses in 'Once Upon a Time' and she proves it here with her effortless charm. Morrison took a little more time to settle and grow, like her character, but having more focus on her here than in previous episodes allows this growth.
Making even more of an impression are the guest cast, with a barn-storming turn from Sebastian Stan, one that's both menacing and poignant. Jennifer Koenig enjoys herself as the Queen of Hearts and The Who's (they even sneak in a nod to them) Roger Daltrey is an interesting Caterpillar.
Overall, another fine episode, back when 'Once Upon a Time' was addictive viewing. 9/10 Bethany Cox
