Once Upon a Time: Snow White/Mary Margaret
Snow vs. Mary Margaret
Snow White, along with various other fairy tale characters, finds herself trapped inside Storybrooke, a quaint town in 'the real world'. There, she is known as Mary Margaret. Instead of hanging out with dwarfs, she's a teacher educating children. Henry, another one of the main characters, is in her class. She gives him a storybook that unlocks secrets about the fairy tale world. He becomes one of the few in Storybrooke, Maine to know the truth about its citizens.
In Snow White's world, she is wooed by Prince Charming, while in the alternate universe, Mary Margaret is alone. That soon changes when she starts to feel a connection with a man in a coma. It sounds crazy, but it's actually her true love from the alternate universe. The fateful twist is that he's already married to another woman.
This show is comprised of more than just that of star-crossed lovers. Mary Margaret also has to deal with the likes of Mr. Gold (Rumplestiltskin), a mastermind of blackmail and wheeling and dealing, who owns the town's pawn shop and finds a way to control everyone's lives with a smirk and devious elegance. Also, Regina (the Evil Queen) is the town's mayor who spends her time trying to keep David (Prince Charming) and Mary Margaret as far apart as she can. In fact, her very existence relies on making everyone around her unhappy. After all, this was her spiteful plan all along. As the Evil Queen, she was the one that sent everyone into a broken world that we call reality.
Role Reversal
When I picture Snow White (of the Disney variation), I think of a beautiful young lady that is kind, but somewhat meek and submissive. She depends mostly on Prince Charming for her happiness and well-being. Contrary to this, the Snow of Once Upon a Time is portrayed as a strong, independent woman that fights for her happy ending. This seems to be a more modernized characterization of Snow White compared to most fairy tales. What is equally strange, is that Mary Margaret is completely the opposite in 'the real world'. Instead of being a self-reliant, contemporary woman, she is depicted as a lonely school teacher that embodies more of a 'girl next door' vibe.
While this role reversal is fascinating, everything really hinges on one truth: none of the characters in Storybrooke know that they were once fairy tale characters. If Mary Margaret knew she was some type of warrior princess, then she would defeat Regina (the Evil Queen) and then everyone could to return to their joyous storybook life. If she knew that David (Prince Charming) was her true love in both universes, then she would not let anything get in the way of them being together forever. The real power in Once Upon a Time is that we are discovering each character's secrets right along with them.
End of Season 1
After Emma breaks the spell, David and Mary Margaret finally remember that they are actually Prince Charming and Snow White. Rumplestiltskin and Belle also reunite. They confess their love for each other and then he pours an unknown liquid into a magic well. Then purple smoke emerges and begans to engulf Storybrooke. Rumplestiltskin utters to Belle, "Magic is coming." She asks, "Why?" With a gleam in his eye he answers, "Why? Because magic is power." Like a billowing storm of destruction, the purple smoke swallows the entire town. Snow and Charming hold onto each other tightly, bracing against the unknown to come.
Ginnifer Goodwin on Season 2
Season 2
Snow White and Mary Margaret have become one now that magic has returned to Storybrooke. Also, she takes on the new role of mother to Emma and grandmother to Henry. Still, the story is segmented. Where will Snow eventually stay? Storybrooke or fairy tale land? Only time will tell as new characters are revealed and more back stories are covered.
More Once Upon a Time
- Once Upon a Time: Prince Charming/David
Prince Charming and David Nolan (played by Josh Dallas) are described in this analysis of ABC's 'Once Upon a Time'.