Once Upon a Time (season 1)
Episodes

Once Upon a Time (season 1)

Section Title: Episodes
Table Section Text: None

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	US viewers (millions)

1	1	"Pilot"	Mark Mylod	Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz	October 23, 2011	12.93

For bail bonds collector Emma Swan, life has been anything but a happy ending. But on the night of her twenty-eighth birthday, an encounter with a child claiming to be the son she gave up for adoption ten years earlier leads her to a town shrouded in mystery where fairytales are to be believed.

2	2	"The Thing You Love Most"	Greg Beeman	Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz	October 30, 2011	11.74

Regina does everything in her power to force Emma out of Storybrooke and out of her and Henry's lives forever while the events surrounding the completion of the Dark Curse are revealed along with a revelation that forces the Evil Queen to choose between exacting her revenge or protecting the thing she loves most.

3	3	"Snow Falls"	Dean White	Liz Tigelaar	November 6, 2011	11.45

Emma gets a bigger reaction than she expected after convincing Mary Margaret to read to a comatose John Doe while the events surrounding the fateful first encounter between Snow White and Prince Charming are revealed along with an enterprising quest that promises to forever change their lives.

4	4	"The Price of Gold"	David Solomon	David H. Goodman	November 13, 2011	11.36

Emma tries to help a young woman after learning that her unborn child is caught in the center of a dangerous transaction while a series of events are revealed in which a servant girl struggles to break an impulsive deal she made after unearthing a sinister ulterior motive.

5	5	"That Still Small Voice"	Paul Edwards	Jane Espenson	November 27, 2011	10.69

Emma settles into her new role as Deputy Sheriff only to find herself thrust to the front lines and Henry places his life in danger after his beliefs are shattered while a series of events are revealed in which a young man is presented with a choice that could help him become the person he wants to be, but at a price that promises to haunt him forever.

6	6	"The Shepherd"	Victor Nelli	Andrew Chambliss & Ian Goldberg	December 4, 2011	9.66

David struggles with his personal demons as he attempts to balance his strained marriage to Kathryn and his blossoming relationship with Mary Margaret while a series of events are revealed in which a meek shepherd receives a shattering revelation that forces him to choose between living a life of royalty or forging his own destiny.

7	7	"The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter"	David M. Barrett	Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz	December 11, 2011	8.92

Graham calls his well-being into question as the lines separating fantasy from reality suddenly start to blur while a series of events are revealed in which the Evil Queen recruits a heartless assassin to execute Snow White and sparks a chain of events that threaten to come with consequences for everyone involved.

8	8	"Desperate Souls"	Michael Waxman	Jane Espenson	January 8, 2012	10.35

Emma makes the decision to run for a coveted Storybrooke public office following a devastating tragedy and Regina engages in dirty politics after Gold makes a bold move while a series of events are revealed in which a cowardly spinner embarks on a quest to help his son avert the horrors of a meaningless war.

9	9	"True North"	Dean White	David H. Goodman & Liz Tigelaar	January 15, 2012	9.83

Emma reaches into her scarred past as she helps two homeless children search for their biological father while a series of events are revealed in which two children are coerced into stealing a prized artifact from a witch who is more than she appears to be.

10	10	"7:15 A.M."	Ralph Hemecker	Story by : Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz Teleplay by : Daniel T. Thomsen	January 22, 2012	9.33

Mary Margaret grapples with her feelings for David and Emma grows increasingly suspicious of the Stranger while the events surrounding Prince Charming's wedding are revealed along with Snow White's struggle to ease her breaking heart and an offer that sets her on a path from which there is no coming back.

11	11	"Fruit of the Poisonous Tree"	Bryan Spicer	Ian Goldberg & Andrew Chambliss	January 29, 2012	10.91

Emma finds herself forced to work with Daily Mirror editor Sidney Glass after he offers to help her expose Regina's corruption while a series of events are revealed in which a Genie is freed from the confines of a magic oil lamp and provokes an undeniable passion that threatens to destroy his chance of finding love.

12	12	"Skin Deep"	Milan Cheylov	Jane Espenson	February 12, 2012	8.65

Emma sets out to prevent Gold from seeking vigilante justice after one of his most prized possessions is stolen and Mary Margaret plans a Valentine's Day-themed girls' night while a series of events are revealed in which a courageous noblewoman makes a fateful deal and forges a personal bond that blossoms into something more.

13	13	"What Happened to Frederick"	Dean White	David H. Goodman	February 19, 2012	9.84

David faces a difficult decision about his future; Regina sets a plan in motion to keep David and Mary Margaret apart; and Emma becomes more intrigued with the Stranger while the events surrounding Prince Charming's search for Snow White are revealed along with a mission to help his ex-fiancée recover something precious that was lost to her.

14	14	"Dreamy"	David Solomon	Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz	March 4, 2012	10.67

Mary Margaret works with resident drunk Leroy to organize the Miner's Day Festival and Emma questions whom she can trust as she looks into Kathryn's disappearance while Grumpy's backstory is revealed along with a forbidden romance that forces him to choose between loyalty or love.

15	15	"Red-Handed"	Ron Underwood	Jane Espenson	March 11, 2012	9.29

Emma struggles to help resident party girl Ruby discover what she's good at in life and David exhibits behavior that forces him to question whether or not he hurt Kathryn while Red Riding Hood's backstory is revealed along with a series of dangerous events involving her devoted sweetheart, her determined grandmother, and a ferocious wolf on a relentless killing spree.

16	16	"Heart of Darkness"	Dean White	Andrew Chambliss & Ian Goldberg	March 18, 2012	8.69

Emma arrests Mary Margaret for Kathryn's suspected murder after the investigation turns into something infinitely more sinister; David questions everything and everyone he thought he could trust; and Gold convinces Mary Margaret to accept his legal services while the events surrounding Prince Charming's search for Snow White continue to be revealed along with his quest to prevent her from assassinating the Evil Queen.

17	17	"Hat Trick"	Ralph Hemecker	Vladimir Cvetko & David H. Goodman	March 25, 2012	8.82

Emma and Mary Margaret struggle to stay alive when a cartographer with an affinity for hats and a sinister ulterior motive abducts them while a series of events are revealed in which a man of magic is coerced into stealing a prized artifact from the villainous Queen of Hearts.

18	18	"The Stable Boy"	Dean White	Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz	April 1, 2012	8.36

Emma searches for evidence that will prove Mary Margaret's innocence and Regina initiates the final stage of her vendetta while the events surrounding the fateful first meeting between Snow White and the Evil Queen are revealed along with a devastating betrayal that promises to forever define their relationship.

19	19	"The Return"	Paul Edwards	Jane Espenson	April 22, 2012	9.08

Gold sets out to learn more about August after unearthing a connection to his past; Emma confronts Regina about her involvement in Kathryn's disappearance; and David tries to reconcile with Mary Margaret while a series of events are revealed in which Rumplestiltskin agrees to help Baelfire find a way to safely give up his powers.

20	20	"The Stranger"	Gwyneth Horder-Payton	Ian Goldberg & Andrew Chambliss	April 29, 2012	9.20

August makes it his mission to help Emma break the curse while a series of events are revealed in which Geppetto agrees to help devise a plan that will protect Snow White and Prince Charming's unborn daughter from the Evil Queen's Dark Curse on the condition that his son be spared as well.

21	21	"An Apple Red as Blood"	Milan Cheylov	Jane Espenson & David H. Goodman	May 6, 2012	8.95

Henry takes drastic measures to prevent Emma from leaving Storybrooke and Regina devises a last-minute scheme while a series of events are revealed in which Snow White spearheads a quest to save her true love and defeat the Evil Queen in one fell swoop.

22	22	"A Land Without Magic"	Dean White	Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz	May 13, 2012	9.66

Emma and Regina forge an alliance in an attempt to save Henry's life; Mary Margaret and David face a difficult decision about their future; and Gold makes a bold move while the events surrounding Prince Charming's search for Snow White reach a dramatic conclusion.

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