Once Upon a Time: Frozen

★★★☆☆

I wanted to like this half-season more than I did, but it just dragged on.

Weaving the past and future from Frozen into Once Upon a Time’s mythology has been interesting, particularly the way the Snow Queen was set up. Anna is probably the best cast – she’s absolutely the same character as in the movie, and even when her actions or speech should seem affected, it comes off as being natural for her. Elsa comes off as a slightly different, but still valid, interpretation. Kristoff (when he shows up) is just awkward.

But way too often, characters do things because the plot requires it…or stand there not doing something because the plot (or a commercial break cliffhanger) requires it. Regulars, side characters, and guest stars alike. Except when the character motivation is the plot motivation, in which case rather than show it through action, they announce it loudly like a character in a fighting game.

And they are totally wasting the Knave of Hearts. He was great in Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, but he’s been nothing but a one-note joke (and figuratively wasted as well) here.

Update: I stuck through to the end of the arc. It was kind of interesting to see elements of Andersen’s Snow Queen story brought in (the mirror-shard curse), but all the messing with time, freezing Arrendelle to line up with the curse timeline, messing with memories, jumping around realms and tossing soul jars around just got annoying by the end. I think Elizabeth Mitchell did the best she could with the role of Ingrid, but even with a tragic backstory, the present-day version was too one-note.

I watched the first episode or two of the following “Heroes and Villains arc,” but it wasn’t enough to keep me on board.

Update 2: Frozen II was so much better.