It’s funny how stories evolve, isn’t it? Sometimes, just when you think you know the ending, the narrative takes a sharp turn, introducing new characters, new challenges, and a whole new world to explore. That’s precisely the magic that unfolded with Once Upon a Time Season 7.
After the dramatic conclusion of the sixth season, which saw many of our beloved fairytale characters find their happy endings, the showrunners decided to embark on a bold new journey. Season 7 wasn't a complete reboot, mind you, but more of a significant shift, a continuation that felt fresh and invigorating. The core idea was to explore the lives of the characters years later, under a new curse, in a new city.
The heart of this new chapter beats in Seattle, where an adult Henry Mills is living a seemingly ordinary life. He’s a writer, struggling for inspiration, far removed from the epic adventures of his past. But as fate would have it, his world is turned upside down when his daughter, Lucy, arrives with a storybook and a plea for help. She reveals that their family needs him, that a new curse has fallen, and that familiar faces are living new lives, their memories wiped clean.
This is where the real intrigue begins. We see Regina, once the Evil Queen, now Roni, a bar owner, and Captain Hook, now Rogers, a police officer. They’re all in Seattle, unaware of their true identities or their shared past. The season masterfully weaves between this modern-day struggle to break the curse and flashbacks to a slightly altered Enchanted Forest, offering glimpses into how these characters arrived at their new realities.
While some familiar faces like Snow White and Prince Charming took a step back from being mainstays, the showrunners managed to bring back key players like Lana Parrilla as Regina/Roni and Robert Carlyle as Rumplestiltskin/Weaver, alongside Colin O'Donoghue as Hook/Rogers. Andrew J. West stepped into the shoes of the adult Henry, and Dania Ramirez joined as Jacinda, the new Cinderella and Henry's wife.
The music, too, played its part in setting the mood for this new era. The original score for Season 7, released in 2018, featured compositions by Mark Isham, Michael D. Simon, and Cindy O'Connor, adding another layer to the emotional tapestry of the season.
Season 7 premiered on October 6, 2017, and ran for 22 episodes. It was a season that dared to ask: what happens when the storytellers themselves become part of a new narrative? It explored themes of destiny, memory, and the enduring power of family, even when faced with the most daunting of curses. It was a testament to the show's ability to reinvent itself while staying true to the magic that first captured our hearts.
