New Characters for Season Three

Season three is only a few weeks away and I couldn't be more excited!  The cast has been filming for a few weeks now and we are starting to get info about new characters that will appear.  When the season ended, the characters were in three different locations.  Belle and many of the recurring characters, such as Granny, Red, Archie, Dr. Whale, and the dwarves were in Storybrooke.  Neal, after having been shot, fell through a portal into Fairytale Land, where he was discovered by Prince Phillip, Mulan, and Aurora.  Hook, Emma, Snow, Regina, Charming, and Rumple took a ship to Neverland to rescue Henry from Greg and Tamara.

Most of the new cast, of course, are characters that will appear in Neverland.  Tinkerbell (Rose McIver) and Ariel (Joanna Garcia) have been cast along with a lost boy (Robbie Kay) who may actually be Peter Pan. There is a bit of confusion there.  Robin Hood is also set to appear for several episodes, though he will be played by a new actor (Sean Maguire).  Robin Hood, I believe, was last seen in Fairytale Land.

We know that most of the first half of the season will revolve around the majority of the characters (the Charmings and the villains) trying to rescue Henry in Neverland.  Obviously, since Belle (Emilie de Ravin) and Neal (Michael Raymond-James) are main characters and we will see them as well, though probably not as much.  Since Robin Hood will be part of the season, I wonder if he will team up with Phillip, Mulan, and Aurora to help Neal return home.  Hopefully, in the second half of the season, we will see Rumbelle reunite as well as Neal and Emma.  Is it September yet?

Will You Watch Wonderland?

"Once Upon a Time" season three isn't the only thing to look forward to this fall.  "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" will also be airing this fall.  Unlike the original series, "Wonderland" is a thirteen-episode mini-series.  Many people (myself included) complained about the scheduling last season for "Once".  We would sometimes only get one or two episodes, following by a several week break.  It make it very hard to follow the story and many viewers lost interest.  This season, a new plan was created to split the season in to two smaller seasons, with very few breaks in between.  Not only does this create almost two complete mini-seasons without breaks, but it leaves a large gap (probably from December to almost March) where a thirteen-episode series can be shown.  That is where "Wonderland" came in.

The plan didn't last for long, and ABC decided that "Wonderland" would begin in October and air on Thursdays instead.  So, we don't know what will air during the break, but we do get two potential awesome series to watch at once.

"Wonderland" is, of course, about Alice.  Originally, there had been talk about the series revolving around the Mad Hatter, played by Sebastian Stan, but he was unavailable.  The series takes place in modern-day Wonderland, with flashbacks to a time when perhaps Cora was queen.  What is different about this Alice, as opposed to the cartoon, is that Alice is being treated by doctors who think she is insane.  She also has a love interest in this series named Cyrus who I believe I heard is a genie.  Much of the series will involve Alice trying to rescue Cyrus.  The white rabbit will appear, along with a new red queen, and a villain you might not expect - Jafar from "Aladdin".  Jafar is played by Naveen Andrews, from Lost.  I am quite curious how he will fit into this story.

This series, we are told, will have a beginning, middle, and end.  That does not mean that the series will be over after thirteen episodes.  If it does well and is renewed, there will be a new story next year.  Will we need a second season with Alice or will we want to explore a new land?  We know that the original series will focus on Neverland the first part of its season, but where else do we want to visit?  Oz?  Agrrabah?

So, will you be watching?