Once Upon a Time

"Once Upon a Time" (Sundays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC)

Watcher: Jeff Michael Vice

What's it about? At the behest of the son she gave up for adoption, Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison) arrives in the community of Storybrooke. The boy tries to convince his biological mother that she ... more may be a fairy-tale character, and that other Storybrooke residents may be as well (such as Snow White and the Evil Queen).

Positives: The cast. Ginnifer Goodwin, who was probably the most underrated aspect of HBO's "Big Love," is this show's version of Snow White. And Lana Parrilla is good as the boy's (apparently evil) adopted mother. Also, "Once Upon a Time" has Jane Espenson consulting. She previously worked on the cult classics "Battlestar Galactica" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

Negatives: There are some eerie similarities between this show and the DC Comics/Vertigo series "Fables," which was in development as a series (or pilot) at ABC Family at one point. Plus, the flashback/fantasy sequences can get confusing and, surprisingly, they are less captivating than the supposed "everyday" dramatic ones.

Verdict: Pass. Judging by the ratings and the commitment to a second season, ABC definitely has confidence in this show, and we can't really blame them for doing so. Unlike the like-minded "Grimm," there's a lot more humor, which makes it considerably more appealing. This cast deserves a hit, and the show definitely deserves a look.

(ABC)