Other Side of the Mirror: A Once Upon a Time fan podcast

In this full recap of episode 3, Lost Girl, we deconstruct the current state of the Regina / Emma relationship (it’s complicated), diagnose the main problem with the war for the throne (we don’t know anything about Leopold or his kingdom) and praise the show for most of its Neverland direction.

This week in Neverland: Regina can't find the Marriott; Hook auditions to be Emma's boyfriend; Rumple channels Cat Stevens; Pan trolls everyone; Snow turns into Hover Mom; and Hook and David have a Brodown.

Meanwhile, in Flashback Land: Snow snaps into Braveheart mode; Bambi photobombs Snow and Charming; the dwarfs become official groupies; Medieval Cher trolls the Shepherd; Rumple picks up another trophy; and David lies to start a war and is rewarded with a makeout session.

This week in the Rumpleverse: Belle continues to play Imaginary Skipper to Rumple’s Barbie; Rumple’s Shadow buries the dagger; and Rumple confronts his past by trying to destroy his doll.

The show rebounded this week with an episode we really enjoyed from start to finish! Our instant reaction includes eight likes and three dislikes:

Likes: Emma's an Orphan; Pan wants to alienate Henry from his family; Parallels between Snow and Emma; So much shallow, so little time!

The Dwarves protecting Snow; The Charmings are total hover parents; Characters are realizing they are CHARACTERS IN STORIES! Emma and Regina trust each other but have a lot awkward

Dislikes: The Charmings vs Evil Queen, once more same as before; an offered Rumple a deal? Wait what???? No story for Belle

Other Side of the Mirror is a Once Upon a Time podcast with an emphasis on Regina Mills/Evil Queen. We focus on the show, theories, fandom and more. Suggest a topic for an upcoming fan episode and more. Call our voicemail line at (970) 510-6623, email feedback to [email protected] and follow us on Twitter @othersideONCE!

In our first full recap of the season, we discuss the major questions posed by the episode, including whether Regina sees herself as a villain, what Neal revealed about the Law of Traveling by Portals and the way exposition is used to launch new shows. Other topics include:

Alex was impressed that Charming was going to blow up some mermaids; Bri was reminded of Spongebob; a few moments of Evil Charming; “Shakespeare's Robin Hood”; Neal's Snow Globe and Foghorns. So many foghorns.

Other Side of the Mirror is a Once Upon a Time podcast with an emphasis on Regina Mills/Evil Queen. We focus on the show, theories, fandom and more. Suggest a topic for an upcoming fan episode and more. Call our voicemail line at (970) 510-6623, email feedback to [email protected] and follow us on Twitter @othersideONCE!

Generally we do five likes and five dislikes, but in this case we forgot to count! Dislikes: Our biggest dislike was Neal – everyone getting schmoopy over Neal, Mulan/Aurora/Philip only existing to prop up Neal, the Neal/Emma romance – all of it was like watching a brand new unappealing show.

We were disappointed with the show's decision to go all in on Emma v. Regina over Henry. Killing Tamara in that awful way, without answering any questions about the entire story arc from season 2 just makes us feel like no question will ever be answered.

Where is Belle? Is she only allowed out when Rumple needs her? Also Robin Hood. Who even cares?

Likes: Our likes included people discussing their baggage! Jared Gilmore/Henry getting a great storyline! Neverland so far! Snappy Regina lines! Mulan and Aurora exist!

Other Side of the Mirror is a Once Upon a Time podcast with an emphasis on Regina Mills/Evil Queen. We focus on the show, theories, fandom and more. Suggest a topic for an upcoming fan episode and more. Call our voicemail line at (970) 510-6623, email feedback to [email protected] and follow us on Twitter @othersideONCE!

We present a special summer episode. A minicast! Now we now know magic really does come with a price.... In this podcast we discuss the Dreaded Promo Pics Debacle! What are these photographs supposed to mean? Is the Once cast going back in time to 1990s Seattle? Will Emma appear on Toddlers & Tiaras? Are Rumple and Belle starring in a Harlequin Romance novel? Wait, is that Cher?!

Other topics include: Bri on one of her many Twitter questions to Adam Horowitz, Alex throws shade on Adam's obsession with calling Regina, and nobody else on the show, a “mass murderer," and in other promotion-related developments, the first trailer for season 3 reveals that ABC Promo Department thinks the entire show can be summed up by, “get out of my way, I'm gonna get my son!”

Other Side of the Mirror is a Once Upon a Time podcast with an emphasis on Regina Mills/Evil Queen. We focus on the show, theories, fandom and more. Suggest a topic for an upcoming fan episode and more. Call our voicemail line at (970) 510-6623, email feedback to [email protected] and follow us on Twitter @othersideONCE!

On this episode of the podcast we talk about TV in the Twitter Age! 2013's San Diego Comic Con is our jumping off point for discussion about the challenges facing showrunners and fans as the new critics. Topics include: How a fair question and a fair answer managed to reveal OUAT's tone deafness toward gay viewers. Reader response theory applied to TV – showrunner intent is not the whole story. How a slew of other shows and creatives handle fan criticism. How A&E's desire to be the M. Night Shyamalan of TV undermines the show and it's PR. Subtext, gay baiting and family shows, oh my!

Since this show covers a huge number of topics here are some timestamps:

Time Stamps 03:30 SDCC: Fair Question and Fair Answer 09:00 Hate Tweets directed to SQ & Adam's Total Twitter Meltdown 15:00 TV in the Twitter Age: It is Not 1995 22:00 Show Runner Roundtable – show runners from Dexter, Good Wife, Boardwalk Empire, Bates Motel and Scandal discuss how they draw from fan reax and criticism; OUAT adoption mess 38:00 We don't watch for the shocking surprise! 43:30 Subtext and its Cousin, Gay Baiting 48:30 OUAT and Teh Gayz: Bri talks about A&E's obsession with their own vision and unwillingness to talk about about anything until they are ready 53:00 We discuss how other shows handle gay issues and Alex goes in on OUAT for blowing it with gay fans 1:00:00 “Gays don't belong on OUAT” 1:03:30 “I support gays, blacks, vegetarians BUT” 1:08:40

Shows referenced include OUAT, Buffy, My Little Pony, Mad Men, The Sopranos, Lost, Tru Blood, St. Elsewhere, Twin Peaks, The Fosters, Orphan Black, OITNB, Law and Order: SVU, Felicity, Friends, Warehouse 13, Girls, Dexter, and more! We watch a lot of TV!

Other Side of the Mirror is a Once Upon a Time podcast with an emphasis on Regina Mills/Evil Queen. We focus on the show, theories, fandom and more. Suggest a topic for an upcoming fan episode and more. Call our voicemail line at (970) 510-6623, email feedback to [email protected] and follow us on Twitter @othersideONCE!

We're recapping the season 2 finale of Once Upon a Time! Well, it took 22 episodes but it seems Regina finally learned how to love. Topics include Granny and Her Crossbow should be an indie band from Canada, the Black Diamond Failsafe Switch O'Doom (TM), why we don't necessarily agree with the metaphor of Regina being an alcoholic, Regina vs Rumple: their paths to redemption, and we come full circle on Hook, discuss Regina writing a parenting blog, Bae, and more!

Other Side of the Mirror is a Once Upon a Time podcast with an emphasis on Regina Mills/Evil Queen. We focus on the show, theories, fandom and more. Suggest a topic for an upcoming fan episode and more. Call our voicemail line at (970) 510-6623, email feedback to [email protected] and follow us on Twitter @othersideONCE!

Live from our hotel room, in our instant reaction to Straight on Til Morning, we discuss our likes and dislikes plus our best prediction of the season, aka Henry could be Peter Pan. Likes include Regina's redemption feels earned, ALL THE THINGS between Henry and Regina! Emma and Regina! A lack of Tamara and Greg sucking face, Hook. Plus a bit of dislikes. Show Notes: In episode #44, our book club discussion for Peter Pan, we interviewed author Carey about her love for the novel. We also argued Henry should be Peter Pan. Look for Carey's novel "Doon" retelling Brigadoon in August 2013. Alex mentioned Jean Cocteau's surrealist masterpiece Beauty and the Beast, available on DVD through Criterion Collection.

Other Side of the Mirror is a Once Upon a Time podcast with an emphasis on Regina Mills/Evil Queen. We focus on the show, theories, fandom and more. Suggest a topic for an upcoming fan episode and more. Call our voicemail line at (970) 510-6623, email feedback to [email protected] and follow us on Twitter @othersideONCE!

In this our 50th episode we thought it was only fitting to feature your feedback/tweets/voicemails throughout the recap and at the end. We make this podcast for the fans and this would be no fun without your contributions! Second Star to the Right was an entertaining wreck that made us realize the plot is now a giant corn maze. Other topics include:

*Magical Visine, mustache-twirling villainy and shipping; Bri comparing Second Star to the Right to the Buffy episode Becoming; Alex praising Lana's Soap Diva Acting, which is a talent for turning ludicrous plot points into sugar. See our tumblr post for our summary of your hilarious feedback for this episode!

Other Side of the Mirror is a Once Upon a Time podcast with an emphasis on Regina Mills/Evil Queen. We focus on the show, theories, fandom and more. Suggest a topic for an upcoming fan episode and more. Call our voicemail line at (970) 510-6623, email feedback to [email protected] and follow us on Twitter @othersideONCE!

Our instant reactions, flails, huhs, and feels from the episode Second Star from the Right, including: What Lana herself said about Regina's love for Emma and how that applies to Emma and Neal What Mr. Gold did that should land him a guest starring role on Hannibal! Belle/Lacey you in danger girl! "It's a family show..." deconstructed. The Home Office... You mean Greg and Tamara are being handled by the same bosses as David Letterman? (link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Late_Show_Top_Ten_List)

Other Side of the Mirror is a Once Upon a Time podcast with an emphasis on Regina Mills/Evil Queen. We focus on the show, theories, fandom and more. Suggest a topic for an upcoming fan episode and more. Call our voicemail line at (970) 510-6623, email feedback to [email protected] and follow us on Twitter @othersideONCE!