The Best Episodes of Once Upon a Time Season 1
Every episode of Once Upon a Time Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Once Upon a Time Season 1!
There is a town in Maine where every story book character you've ever known is trapped between two worlds, victims of a powerful curse. Only one knows the truth and only one can break the spell. Emma Swan is a 28-year-old bail bonds collector who has been supporting herself since she was abandoned as a baby. Things change for her when her son Henry, whom she abandoned years ago, finds her and asks for her help explaining that she is from a different world where she is Snow White's missing daughter.
Season 1 Ratings Summary
The best episode of "Once Upon a Time" season 1 is "Pilot", rated 8.1/10 from 4127 user votes. It was directed by Mark Mylod and written by Edward Kitsis, Adam Horowitz. "Pilot" aired on 10/23/2011 and is rated 0.2 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "The Thing You Love Most".
8.1/10 4,127 votes#1 - Pilot
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 10/23/2011
Emma's life turns upside down when she is visited by Henry, the 10-year-old child she long ago gave up for adoption; Emma brings Henry back to his foster mother in a strange town called Storybrooke.
Director: Mark Mylod
Writer: Edward Kitsis, Adam Horowitz
7.9/10 3,065 votes#2 - The Thing You Love Most
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 10/30/2011
Regina does everything in her power to force Emma out of Storybrooke and out of her and Henry's lives forever. Meanwhile, the chilling circumstances of how the Evil Queen released the curse upon the fairytale world is revealed.
Director: Greg Beeman
Writer: Edward Kitsis, Adam Horowitz
8.0/10 2,913 votes#3 - Snow Falls
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 11/6/2011
At Henry's urging, Emma convinces Mary Margaret to pay a visit to a comatose John Doe in the hospital and to read to him from the storybook. But Mary Margaret is stunned at the outcome of her visit. Meanwhile, back in the fairytale world, Prince Charming meets Snow White for the first time in a most unexpected way.
Director: Dean White
Writer: Liz Tigelaar
7.8/10 2,733 votes#4 - The Price of Gold
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 11/13/2011
Emma tries to help a young pregnant woman escape from the clutches of Mr. Gold. Meanwhile, back in the fairytale world that was, Cinderella makes a regrettable deal with Rumplestiltskin.
Director: David Solomon
Writer: David H. Goodman
7.8/10 2,559 votes#5 - That Still Small Voice
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 11/27/2011
As Sheriff Graham deputizes Emma, the ground shakes and a giant sinkhole mysteriously appears at the edge of town. But a curious Henry’s life is placed in danger when he decides to explore the innards of the sinkhole to see if its contents can link the inhabitants of Storybrooke to the fairytale world. Meanwhile, back in the fairytale world, Jiminy Cricket yearns to leave the family business and transform into the person he wants to be.
Director: Paul A. Edwards
Writer: Jane Espenson
7.7/10 2,461 votes#6 - The Shepherd
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 12/4/2011
David - aka John Doe - must choose between staying with Kathryn or leaving her to be with Mary Margaret, with whom he's fallen deeply, and inexplicably, in love; and Emma catches Sheriff Graham in a lie. Meanwhile, back in the fairytale world that was, Prince Charming is about to encounter a life-changing event that will forever alter his destiny.
Director: Victor Nelli Jr.
Writer: Andrew Chambliss, Ian B. Goldberg
8.6/10 2,878 votes#7 - The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 12/11/2011
One of the town's residents begins to remember their fairytale past, and Storybrooke mourns the loss of one of their own. Meanwhile, in the fairytale world that was, the Evil Queen attempts to find a heartless assassin to murder Snow White.
Director: David Barrett
Writer: Edward Kitsis, Adam Horowitz
8.2/10 2,508 votes#8 - Desperate Souls
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 1/8/2012
Regina and Mr. Gold play dirty politics and take opposite sides when Emma runs for a coveted Storybrooke public office against Sidney. Meanwhile, back in the fairytale world that was, Rumplestiltskin tries to track down the ultimate power source in order to help his son avert the horrors of a meaningless war.
Director: Michael Waxman
Writer: Jane Espenson
7.8/10 2,401 votes#9 - True North
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 1/15/2012
Feeling their pain from having lived through the same experience, Emma desperately tries to help two homeless children find their birth father before they’re separated and put into the foster care system. Meanwhile, back in the fairytale world that was, the Evil Queen coerces Hansel and Gretel into stealing an important artifact from a blind witch.
Director: Dean White
Writer: Liz Tigelaar, David H. Goodman
8.1/10 2,398 votes#10 - 7:15 A.M.
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 1/22/2012
Mary Margaret and David continue to grapple with their unrequited love, and Emma and Regina grow suspicious over a mysterious new stranger in town. Meanwhile, in the fairytale land that was, Snow White yearns to ease her breaking heart as Prince Charming’s wedding to King Midas’s daughter approaches.
Director: Ralph Hemecker
Writer: N/A
7.8/10 2,288 votes#11 - Fruit of the Poisonous Tree
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 1/29/2012
A dejected Sidney enlists the aid of Emma to help uncover evidence that could expose Mayor Regina as the corrupt person she really is to the townspeople of Storybrooke. Mary Margaret and David continue their secret rendezvous while trying to figure out a way to unleash their forbidden love. Meanwhile, back in the fairytale land that was, King Leopold, who is the father of Snow White and married to the Evil Queen, stumbles upon a magic lamp and is granted three wishes by a Genie - who warns the king to be careful what he wishes for.
Director: Bryan Spicer
Writer: Andrew Chambliss, Ian B. Goldberg
8.7/10 2,952 votes#12 - Skin Deep
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 2/12/2012
After Mr. Gold's house is robbed, Emma keeps a close eye on him when it looks like he wants to track down the criminal and dole out some vigilante justice as payback, and Valentine's Day finds Mary Margaret, Ruby and Ashley having a girls' night out. Meanwhile, in the fairytale land that was, Belle agrees to a fateful deal to give up her freedom in order to save her town from the horrors of the Ogre war.
Director: Milan Cheylov
Writer: Jane Espenson
7.7/10 2,212 votes#13 - What Happened to Frederick
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 2/19/2012
With their love for each other growing stronger, David finally agrees to tell Kathryn about his relationship with Mary Margaret and put an end to his loveless marriage. Meanwhile, in the fairytale land that was, while runaway groom Prince Charming searches for Snow White, he agrees to aid Abigail on a dangerous mission to recover something precious that was lost to her.
Director: Dean White
Writer: David H. Goodman
7.9/10 2,291 votes#14 - Dreamy
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 3/4/2012
Unlikely allies Mary Margaret and Leroy team together for a good cause to help the Storybrooke nuns sell their candles during the town's Miner's Day festival. But Leroy makes a promise to a nun, Astrid, that he may not be able to keep; and Emma looks into the mysterious disappearance of David's wife, Kathryn. Meanwhile, in the fairytale land that was, Grumpy finds forbidden love with beautiful but clumsy fairy Nova.
Director: David Solomon
Writer: Edward Kitsis, Adam Horowitz
8.5/10 2,411 votes#15 - Red-Handed
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 3/11/2012
After Ruby quits Granny's diner and with her self-esteem at an all-time low, Emma hires her as an assistant in order to help Ruby discover what it is in life that she's good at; and Emma continues questioning David about the disappearance - and possible murder - of Kathryn. Meanwhile, in the fairytale land that was, Red Riding Hood yearns to run away with her true love. But she, along with her fellow townspeople, are virtual prisoners when a bloodthirsty wolf continues on its relentless killing spree.
Director: Ron Underwood
Writer: Jane Espenson
8.1/10 2,150 votes#16 - Heart of Darkness
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 3/18/2012
Mary Margaret hires Mr. Gold as her attorney when Emma is forced to arrest her for the suspected murder of David’s wife, Kathryn. Meanwhile, back in the fairytale land that was, Prince Charming sets out to stop a determined and unhinged Snow White, whose memory is still clouded by Rumplestiltskin’s potion, from assassinating the Evil Queen.
Director: Dean White
Writer: Andrew Chambliss, Ian B. Goldberg
8.5/10 2,505 votes#17 - Hat Trick
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 3/25/2012
While searching for a missing Mary Margaret, Emma is kidnapped by a man whose affinity for hats has him teetering on the edge of madness. Meanwhile, viewers will be transported outside of the fairytale land that was for the first time when the Evil Queen persuades a skillful man of magic to come work for her one last time and travel to Wonderland in order to help steal something from the Queen of Hearts.
Director: Ralph Hemecker
Writer: David H. Goodman
8.5/10 2,361 votes#18 - The Stable Boy
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 4/1/2012
Emma continues her exhaustive search for evidence that will prove Mary Margaret's innocence in the murder of David's wife, Kathryn. Meanwhile, in the fairytale land that was and before evil blackened her soul, Regina must choose between betraying her mother, Cora, and marrying for true love, or betrothing royalty and living a regal - but loveless - life; and the event that caused the Evil Queen to loathe Snow White is revealed.
Director: Dean White
Writer: Edward Kitsis, Adam Horowitz
8.1/10 2,135 votes#19 - The Return
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 4/22/2012
Mr. Gold attempts to uncover the true identity of August, Emma confronts Regina about her involvement in Kathryn's disappearance, and David tries to apologize and reconcile with Mary Margaret. Meanwhile, in the fairytale land that was, Rumplestiltskin agrees to comply and do whatever it takes if his son can find a way for him to safely give up his powers and turn back into the loving man he used to be.
Director: Paul A. Edwards
Writer: Jane Espenson
8.3/10 2,115 votes#20 - The Stranger
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 4/29/2012
August tells Emma how to beat Regina and how she can get custody of Henry, while Regina hatches a plot to seduce David now that Mary Margaret is back at work. In the fairy-tale world, a plan to save Snow White and Prince Charming’s daughter unfolds and is agreed to by Geppetto, who has his own child’s safety in mind.
Director: Gwyneth Horder-Payton
Writer: Andrew Chambliss, Ian B. Goldberg
8.4/10 2,195 votes#21 - An Apple Red As Blood
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 5/6/2012
Henry pleads with Emma to stay in Storybrooke and continue her quest as the savior of the fairytale dwellers, and Regina concocts a plan that could rid her of Emma forever. Meanwhile, back in the fairytale land that was, Snow White enlists the aid of her fellow fairytale cohorts to attack the Evil Queen and save Prince Charming's life.
Director: Milan Cheylov
Writer: David H. Goodman, Jane Espenson
8.9/10 2,881 votes#22 - A Land Without Magic
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 5/13/2012
Emma and Regina team together in order to find a way to save Henry's life. Meanwhile, in the fairytale land that was, Prince Charming attempts to escape from the Evil Queen's clutches in order to reunite with Snow White who, unbeknownst to him, has already taken a bite of the Queen's poison apple.
Director: Dean White
Writer: Edward Kitsis, Adam Horowitz