Once Upon a Time

10 Best Episodes of Once Upon a Time

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.

Written by Sophie and last updated on feb 04, 2023.

PS: The following content contains spoilers!

PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!

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Once Upon a Time - S6E22

#15 - The Final Battle (2) (Season 6 - Episode 22)

With Fairy Tale Land crumbling around them, the characters race to save their stories, and Gold and Fiona face off in a fateful confrontation.

The episode was rated 8.18 from 868 votes.

Once Upon a Time - S1E18

#14 - The Stable Boy (Season 1 - Episode 18)

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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.

The episode was rated 8.25 from 1203 votes.

Once Upon a Time - S7E22

#13 - Leaving Storybrooke (Season 7 - Episode 22)

Wish Rumple’s evil plan is revealed and Regina realizes the only hope to stop him is by turning Wish Henry from his path for vengeance. Meanwhile, Tilly and Margot try to get help in Storybrooke. With his hope of ever being reunited with Belle fading, Weaver struggles to find a way to defeat his evil alter ego; and when Rogers’ life is threatened, he is faced with the ultimate sacrifice. Series Finale.

The episode was rated 8.25 from 654 votes.

Once Upon a Time - S1E7

#12 - The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (Season 1 - Episode 7)

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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.

The episode was rated 8.26 from 1412 votes.

Once Upon a Time - S1E21

#11 - An Apple Red As Blood (Season 1 - Episode 21)

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.

The episode was rated 8.27 from 1227 votes.

Once Upon a Time - S3E21

#10 - Snow Drifts (Season 3 - Episode 21)

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While Mary Margaret and David celebrate the naming of their son at a coronation in Granny's Diner, Emma and Hook are pulled into Zelena's time portal and find themselves in the Enchanted Forest of the past. But in their quest to discover a way back, they must be careful not to change anything or risk altering the lives of their friends and family - as well as their very own existence.

The episode was rated 8.27 from 1350 votes.

Once Upon a Time - S1E20

#9 - The Stranger (Season 1 - Episode 20)

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.

The episode was rated 8.28 from 1205 votes.

Once Upon a Time - S1E12

#8 - Skin Deep (Season 1 - Episode 12)

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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.

The episode was rated 8.28 from 1292 votes.

Once Upon a Time - S1E17

#7 - Hat Trick (Season 1 - Episode 17)

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.

The episode was rated 8.30 from 1232 votes.

Once Upon a Time - S1E15

#6 - Red-Handed (Season 1 - Episode 15)

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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.

The episode was rated 8.31 from 1236 votes.

Once Upon a Time - S2E22

#5 - And Straight on 'Til Morning (Season 2 - Episode 22)

Storybrooke's inhabitants brace themselves as Greg and Tamara activate the trigger within the curse; Mr. Gold mourns; Hook rescues Bae, who is being pursued by the Lost Boys.

The episode was rated 8.31 from 1352 votes.

Once Upon a Time - S4E23

#4 - Operation Mongoose (2) (Season 4 - Episode 23)

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As Emma, her parents, Hook and Regina scramble to stop them, the Author and Gold raise the stakes by turning the tables on heroes and villains alike.

The episode was rated 8.35 from 934 votes.

Once Upon a Time - S3E11

#3 - Going Home (Season 3 - Episode 11)

The race is on to stop Pan from enacting another curse on the residents of Storybrooke, which could kill every living soul in town.

The episode was rated 8.37 from 1492 votes.

Once Upon a Time - S1E22

#2 - A Land Without Magic (Season 1 - Episode 22)

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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.

The episode was rated 8.52 from 1321 votes.

Once Upon a Time - S3E22

#1 - There's No Place Like Home (Season 3 - Episode 22)

In the conclusion of two-part episode that serves as the season three finale, Emma and Hook must find a way to return to Storybrooke, but in their quest to return, they have to find a way not to interfere or tamper with the events that lead up to the first curse, or else they risk altering the entire timeline, and could end up warping the future existence of everyone involved, including Emma, Hook, as well as Emma's family back in present-day Storybrooke.

The episode was rated 8.55 from 995 votes.

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