When 'Once Upon a Time' first started it was highly addictive and made the most of a truly great and creative premise. Really loved the idea of turning familiar fairy tales on their heads and putting own interpretations on them and the show early on clearly had clearly had a ball. Watched it without fail every time it came on and it was often a highlight of the week. Which was why it was sad when it ran out of ideas and lost its magic in the later seasons.
Just when Season 2 and 'Once Upon a Time' in general were taking major strides in the right direction in terms of character development and story progression, the previous episode "In the Name of the Brother" signalled the first Season 2 disappointment (not everybody will agree, "Tallahassee" and "Child of the Moon" both had a mixed reception) and frustratingly saw the show take a few steps backwards. A frustrating feeling that continues in the not so tiny disappointment that is "Tiny".
Like "In the Name of the Brother", there is very little here that is propelled or moves the story forward, with a couple of exceptions like the ending. Characters that were becoming more complex and conflicted were here one-dimensional and like the writers had forgotten what "Queen of Hearts", "The Cricket Game" and "The Outsider" had done in adding more to the characters while staying consistent with what was already known about them.
Credit is due for trying to make Anton the Giant more interesting. It wasn't exactly necessary, but the effort in trying to do something with a character that was never one of the show's strongest was laudable. It is successful in giving better and easier to relate to material than in his first appearance "Tallahassee" to the character himself, but the story is too ho-hum and doesn't say much illuminating or anything story-progressing.
"Tiny" is also not one of the better-looking 'Once Upon a Time' episodes. Mostly it doesn't look too bad, but there are obvious short-comings with cheaply limited sets for Giant Land and Anton again looking goofy.
It may sound like "Tiny" was a terrible episode. It isn't, or at least to me. Mr Gold's story does have a good deal of heart and one of the few exceptions to the one-dimensional characters complaint. It may not have progressed very much or said much more than what is already known but it does show that "Tiny" is not a completely cold experience.
Despite the underwhelming writing for most of the characters, and some corny writing in the script, the acting is good. Even if one can't quite shake off Hurley out of their head, having associated Jorge Garcia with the character for so long, Garcia has largely improved from his previous outing as Anton. Josh Dallas is every bit as charming as his namesake and Robert Carlyle proves why he is a fan favourite. Colin O'Donoghue continues to impress as Hook.
Excepting the Giant Land sets and Anton, "Tiny" looks pleasing elsewhere. Colourful, atmospheric and beautifully photographed. The music is haunting, ethereal and cleverly used with a memorable main theme. The writing is inconsistent but there are moments here.
In conclusion, underwhelming but far from a complete waste. 5/10 Bethany Cox
