Pilot (Once Upon a Time)

The "Pilot" is the first episode of the American fantasy drama television series Once Upon a Time, which premiered on ABC on October 23, 2011. It introduces the core premise of the series: that fairy tale characters have been transported to a real-world town called Storybrooke, Maine, where they are stripped of their memories and true identities due to a curse cast by the Evil Queen (Regina Mills).

The episode primarily focuses on Emma Swan, a bail bonds person with a troubled past, who is visited by her biological son, Henry Mills. Henry believes that Emma is the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming, and that she is the only one who can break the curse.

The "Pilot" establishes the dual narrative structure of the series, interweaving flashbacks to the Enchanted Forest with the present-day events in Storybrooke. These flashbacks depict the events leading up to the Evil Queen's curse, showcasing iconic characters like Snow White, Prince Charming, Rumpelstiltskin, and the Evil Queen herself.

Key plot points introduced in the episode include:

• The introduction of Emma Swan and her initial skepticism towards Henry's claims.
• The setting of Storybrooke and its peculiar inhabitants.
• The first glimpses of the Enchanted Forest and the impending curse.
• Regina Mills's position as the Mayor of Storybrooke and her apparent control over the town.
• The significance of the storybook that Henry possesses, which contains the true histories of the fairy tale characters.

The episode concludes with Emma deciding to stay in Storybrooke, marking the beginning of her journey to uncover the truth and potentially break the curse. The "Pilot" received generally positive reviews and set the stage for the rest of the series.