Season 2

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The second season of the ABC television series Once Upon a Time was announced on May 10, 2012. It premiered on September 30, 2012 and concluded on May 12, 2013.

The season's plot follows the introduction of magic by Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold into Storybrooke, leaving the fate of both the real world and the Fairytale Land that was, intertwined, resulting in new threats emerging. Furthermore, Rumplestiltskin locates his son, only to find he is Henry Mills' father, and outsiders Greg Mendell and a woman named Tamara arrive in Storybrooke with the intention to remove magic and the town. They eventually fail to destroy Storybrooke, though they kidnap Henry and take him to Neverland to the unknown Peter Pan, leading the main characters to follow them to retrieve him, setting the premise for the third season. New characters introduced in the season include Baelfire (the son of Rumpelstiltskin) under his new alias Neal Cassidy - who is also the father of Henry Mills - Captain Killian "Hook" Jones, Princess Aurora, Mulan, Prince Phillip, Robin Hood, and the Darling Family.

The season premiere was watched by 11.36 million viewers, achieving an adult 18-49 rating/share of 3.9/10.0. These numbers sunk to a low of 7.08 million viewers in February 2013, but remained stable above 7 million throughout the remainder of the season with, a season finale viewership of 7.33 million and a 2.3/7 adult 18–49 rating/share.

## Summary

Following the breaking of the curse, Emma is still in shock at realizing her parents are fairy tale characters. In revenge for imprisoning Belle, Mr. Gold sends a wraith to kill Regina; however, Emma is able to use Jefferson's hat to open a portal to the Enchanted Forest to banish it. However, the wraith pulls her and Snow into the portal. David takes Emma's place as sheriff to maintain order in Storybrooke, especially after it's revealed that magic being brought to town causes everyone to forget their true selves once they cross the townline. Regina attends sessions with Archie to help better herself and become a worthy mother for Henry. In the Enchanted Forest, Emma and Snow are captured by Mulan and Aurora, who blame them for the wraith killing Prince Phillip; the hostility between them is extinguished due to the threat of Regina's mother, Cora, and Captain Hook, who are wishing to head to Storybrooke (Cora for Regina; Hook for revenge on Mr. Gold).

Despite setbacks, Snow and Emma get back to Storybrooke. However, Cora and Hook follow after them, framing Regina for the faked murder of Archie to draw her back to the darkness. Mr. Gold calls in the favor Emma owes him. Emma and Henry accompany Gold to Manhattan, where it's discovered Emma's ex-lover, Neal, is Gold's son. In Storybrooke, Cora and Regina trick Snow and David into giving them the Dark One dagger; however, Hook followed Gold to Manhattan and poisoned him. With Gold dying, Snow decides to use a magic candle to give him Cora's life to save her family from the evil woman. Regina tries seeking revenge, but is convinced by Henry not to as it would perpetuate nothing more than a senseless cycle of murder and revenge. Seeing Regina is prone to giving into her evil side, everyone decides to keep the magic beans they're growing a secret, so they can leave her behind in Storybrooke and head back to the Enchanted Forest.

At the same time, two newcomers arrive in Storybrooke, Greg Mendell and Tamara; Tamara is posing as Neal's fiance as part of the duo's plan to destroy magic, which they think is "unholy". Greg actually was there when Storybrooke came into being; Regina attempted to force him and his father to stay to end her dull life. Greg fled, prompting Regina to kill his father. They capture and torture Regina, taking the self-destruct device for Storybrooke from her; Emma joins her magic with Regina's to deactivate it. However, Greg and Tamara kidnap Henry, who their boss has been looking for a long time. Gold tracks Henry to Neverland, where there's an evil greater than anyone Emma, Snow, David, and Regina have ever faced. They head off in the Jolly Roger to rescue Henry.

## Cast and character

### Regular

* Ginnifer Goodwin as Snow White / Mary Margaret Blanchard
* Jennifer Morrison as Emma Swan
* Lana Parrilla as Evil Queen / Regina Mills
* Josh Dallas as Prince Charming / David Nolan
* Emilie de Ravin as Belle / Lacey
* Colin O'Donoghue as Captain Hook / Killian Jones
* Jared S. Gilmore as Henry Mills
* Meghan Ory as Red Riding Hood / Ruby]]
* Robert Carlyle as Rumplestiltskin / Mr. Gold

### Recurring

* Lee Arenberg as Grumpy / Leroy / Dreamy
* Michael Raymond-James as Baelfire / Neal Cassidy
* Beverley Elliott as Widow Lucas / Granny
* Barbara Hershey as Cora / Queen of Hearts
* Jeffrey Kasier as Dopey
* Michael Coleman as Happy
* Mig Macario as Bashful
* Faustino Di Bauda as Sleepy / Walter
* David Paul Grove as Doc
* Sarah Bolger as Princess Aurora
* Ethan Embry as Owen Flynn / Greg Mendell
* Jamie Chung as Mulan
* Keegan Connor Tracy as Blue Fairy / Mother Superior
* Raphael Sbarge as Jiminy Cricket / Dr. Archie Hopper
* Sonequa Martin-Green as Tamara
* David Anders as Dr. Victor Frankenstein / Dr. Whale
* Gabe Khouth as Sneezy / Tom Clark
* Tony Amendola as Geppetto / Marco
* Chris Gauthier as William Smee
* Alan Dale as King George / Albert Spencer
* Jorge Garcia as Anton
* Sebastian Stan as Mad Hatter / Jefferson
* Julian Morris as Prince Phillip

### Guest

* Bailee Madison as Young Snow White
* Rachel Shelley as Milah
* Eion Bailey as August Booth
* Tony Perez as Henry
* Dylan Schmidt as Young Baelfire
* Jamie Dornan as Huntsman / Sheriff Graham Humbert
* Tom Ellis as Robin Hood
* Freya Tingley as Wendy Darling
* Parker Croft as Felix
* Gabrielle Rose as Ruth
* Eric Keenleyside as Sir Maurice / Moe French
* Noah Bean as Daniel Colter
* Rose McGowan as Young Cora
* Sinqua Walls as Sir Lancelot
* Annabeth Gish as Anita
* Ben Hollingsworth as Quinn
* Gregory Itzin as Alphonse Frankestein
* Chad Michael Collins as Gerhardt Frankestein
* Cassidy Freeman as Jack
* Lesley Nicol as Johanna
* Rena Sofer as Queen Eva
* Joaquim de Almeida as King Xavier
* John Pyper-Ferguson as Kurt Flynn
* Benjamin Stockham as Young Owen Flynn
* Tzi Ma as the Dragon

## Production

### **Development**

On May 10, 2012, ABC renewed *Once Upon a Time* for a second season, which premiered on September 30, 2012.

Co-creators Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis spoke about the repercussions of the first season finale's events, stating, "Magic as we know always comes with a price and we are introducing it to a world where it has never been before and I think that’s going to have unpredictable results. It’s going to affect everybody this season because that’s what’s more fun." said Kitsis. On everyone in Storybrooke's memories returning Horowitz commented, "One of the things that’s interesting to us to explore is this notion that just because the memories have returned does not mean that the past 28 years did not happen. Those memories, the Davids, the Mary Margarets, the Mr. Golds, all those people, who they were existed and what they did actually happened and those are the things that will have to be dealt with."

The show still bounced back-and-forth between the fairy-tale world and Storybrooke, although there were slight differences compared to season one. It was hinted that another form of narrative was introduced during the season.

### **Casting**

In June 2012, it was reported that season one recurring actresses Meghan Ory (Red Riding Hood/Ruby) and Emilie de Ravin (Belle/Lacey) had both been promoted to series regulars for the second season. In July 2012, it was announced that *Pretty Little Liars* star Julian Morris would be guest starring as Prince Phillip, an altruistic hero and adept warrior, while *Teen Wolf* actor Sinqua Walls was cast as Sir Lancelot, a former member of the round table. In the same month, it was announced that *The Tudors* star Sarah Bolger and *The Hangover Part II* actress Jamie Chung had joined the recurring cast as Princess Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) and Chinese warrior Mulan. On August 3, 2012, *The Rite* actor Colin O'Donoghue booked the recurring role of Captain Killian "Hook" Jones, the prime antagonist of J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan. O'Donoghue joined the main cast during the second half of the season.[35] The same day, it was reported that *True Blood's* Michael Raymond-James had joined the season's recurring cast in an unknown role, described only as "mysterious". This was later revealed to be Neal Cassidy (Rumplestiltskin's son Baelfire, Emma Swan's ex-boyfriend and Henry Mills' father). *Lost* alum Jorge Garcia recurs as Anton the Giant, referenced from Jack and the Beanstalk. Garcia was originally scheduled to appear in only one episode, but his character was later expanded. Actor Raphael Sbarge, who portrays Jiminy Cricket, was made part of the recurring guest cast this season, as opposed to being included in the first season's main cast. The L Word actress Rachel Shelley played the recurring role of Milah, Rumplestiltskin's wife. *Eureka* actor Christopher Gauthier is recurring throughout the season as Mr. William Smee, Captain Hook's right-hand-man. In October 2012, *Can't Hardly Wait* star Ethan Embry joined the recurring cast as an unknown visitor to Storybrooke. Eion Bailey (Pinocchio/August Booth) made guest appearances in episodes six and 18. Tony Perez (Prince Henry) and Alan Dale (King George/Albert Spencer) both made recurring appearances in some capacity throughout the season.

Actor Noah Bean reprised his role as Daniel, the Evil Queen's love-interest, during episode five, "The Doctor". *The X-Files* actress Annabeth Gish guest starred as Anita, the leader of a pack of werewolves, in *Child of the Moon*. *The Christmas Card* actor Chad Michael Collins and *24* veteran Gregory Itzin appeared in *In the Name of the Brother* as Gerhardt/Frankenstein's Monster, Dr. Frankenstein's younger brother and as Alphonse, the boys' father, respectively. *Scream* and *Charmed* actress Rose McGowan portrayed a young Cora in *The Miller's Daughter*. Lesley Nicol, of *Downton Abbey* fame, was cast as Johanna in *The Queen is Dead* which also featured *Heroes* vet Rena Sofer as Queen Eva, Snow White's mother. It was implicated that the role has the potential to become recurring. *Caprica* actor John Pyper-Ferguson guest starred in *Welcome to Storybrooke* as Kurt Flynn, a widower who longs to aid his son after experiencing the loss of his mother. Season one co-star Jamie Dornan also reprised his role as Sheriff Graham Humbert in the episode.

Since the first season, *Kings* actor Sebastian Stan had portrayed Jefferson/The Mad Hatter in a recurring role; he has since departed from the show with obligations to the Broadway play Picnic and the feature film *Captain America: The Winter Soldier*. It was reported that ABC was set to recast the role with the potential for a possible spin-off based on the character. However, Stan's recasting was repudiated by series co-creator Adam Horowitz, saying that Stan "is a very busy man, I don't know when he will be making his way back toward us". He later confirmed that Stan would definitely not be re-appearing in 2013.

### **Filming**

Principal photography for the season began in Vancouver, British Columbia on July 16, 2012 and completed on April 5, 2013. The town of Steveston doubles as Storybrooke for the series.