Once Upon A Time returned to ABC for the beginning of the second half of its fourth season, featuring a new wave of uninspired villains following a lackluster plot.

At the start of the episode, the show brings fans back to their beloved and now peaceful Storybrooke. Because the heroes destroyed the evil ice queen in the mid-season finale, the characters settle back into their normal lives. About five minutes in, however, Storybrooke citizens fall into one of Rumpelstiltskin’s intricate traps by accidentally releasing a nightmarish gargoyle from the wizard’s hat, bringing the sense of serenity to a screeching halt.

This cement villain made its first appearance in Disney’s Fantasia, just as the nameless wizard, Anna, Elsa, Ursula, Cruella De Vil, and Maleficent also all come from Disney’s various animated films. I, along with most Once Upon A Time fans, love these characters; those that they have adored since childhood drew viewers to the show from the very first season. They do not, however, want to relive their youth. If they did, they could simply watch the original movie or read the story.

Up until this season, the writers rearranged the storyline, creating a more compelling plot and elaborate characters. As this newest episode progresses, however, fans noticed that the Disney villains present no special twist. They seem as though the writers took them directly out of the movies they originally came from. While still proving interesting, it ruins the unique feel of the show.

In spite of the boring and unimaginative new characters, the show’s longstanding favorites wow fans in this new half of the season. Regina and Emma finally stand together in all of their strong, womanly power. In past seasons, they detested each other and constantly argued, but for the first time they finally work towards a common goal: saving Storybrooke. When the dynamic duo confronts Mary Margaret and David about the plan to let Ursula and Cruella De Vil into the town, the charming couple shows a darker side to their characters when they express their disapproval of the two villains. None of this compares to the wonderful character development of the second season, but at least we finally get to witness the progression of some of the more important relationships in the series.

Compared to previous seasons, the show definitely falls flat this time. The underdeveloped characters disappoint longstanding Once Upon A Time fans, and although not atrocious, the plot proved unchanging. By the end of this newest episode I found myself unimpressed and dissatisfied.

The Chant’s Grade: C-