Breaking into song is an integral part of nearly all good Disney movies (most of the bad ones, too), but it’s not as natural to work vocals into an established TV show. Musical episodes are notorious; few shows have really pulled them off well, and the failures can be embarrassing, to say the least. I’m here to tell you that the Once Musical is no failure; show up if you’re ready for campy, magical fun.
As a whole, the episode works really well; the musical exists almost entirely in flashbacks, with some frantic wedding planning happening in present-day Storybrooke. It feels disjointed for a while, but they do tie together by the end, in both plot and theme. The whole thing is extremely campy, but camp is par for the course on Once. This is a difficult episode to preview, as there are three sneak peeks released, plenty of interviews (conveniently compiled for you here), and as far as I know, the entire soundtrack is already released on iTunes. Most of what’s left is too big a spoiler to reveal, but I can say: Henry only has one line in the musical, but he comes in clutch and is a crucial part of the episode. The Black Fairy is still a serious threat, and the end of the episode left me with chills.
I thought the songs were overall quite successful, all fulfilling one purpose or another, with only one number that really didn’t work. I still have the tunes stuck in my head, and not in a bad way! The lip-syncing can be a bit distracting- it’s most obvious with Ginny and Josh, even though they have absolutely amazing voices. Honestly, it was a huge highlight just to hear how talented everyone is- it’s beyond delightful to hear the PIPES on Grumpy, Geppetto, and Granny during those little vignettes in the Evil Queen’s song.
Hook’s song was absolutely wonderful; it’s very well-produced and feels the most natural, like an actual musical or Disney movie. The Charming’s song is bright and upbeat of course, with a sort of “The Wizard and I” optimistic sound to it. This naturally rivals the Evil Queen’s angry, destructive rock bit (she is NOT here for musicals, unsurprisingly), and this turns into a sing-off of sorts that is a lot of fun. Zelena’s song is the least successful, though not for lack of trying. Rebecca Mader sounds wonderful and has a blast, but the song itself is weirdly specific with dissonant lyrics and music, and it ultimately feels out of place in the episode. Emma’s song is the most emotional, and it pulls everything together for the fabulous final number.
Overall, it’s a job well done. As musical episodes go, I’d rank it a not-as-good-as-Buffy-but-way-better-than-Fringe-or-Grey’s. It's certainly a highlight of the series, and a fitting way to launch the Final Battle.
Lines to listen for:
"With all we've been through lately, I just... never thought we'd get a moment like this."
"Just wait for the second verse."
"I know you can do it."
"Are you okay? What was that?"
"I’d rather gouge my eyes out with a rusty fork."
"I’ll kill you!"
"You took our song from us!"
"Why? How does that help her?"
"She's not alone... she never was."
"It’s not your weakness, it’s your strength!"
How much of the soundtrack have you listened to? What are your favorite numbers? Least favorite? Feel free to discuss in the comments, and ask any questions you like about "The Song in Your Heart". If there's anything I missed (and if I have an answer that isn't too spoilery) I'd be happy to answer before the episode airs!
