Away from University? Too full up on mince pies to move, let alone negotiate the minefield that is Christmas TV. Speaking of which… where has our copy of the Radio Times slunk off to…?
FEAR NOT FRIENDS. THERE IS A SOLUTION. Why not just watch Once Upon A Time in Wonderland in full, filled with storybook fun to while away the hours with the noticeable lack of snow.
And personally I am still looking for bread-and-butter-flies… sigh…
First and foremost, genies are hot commodities (particularly if they all look like Peter Gadiot… ahem). Highly desired by good and evil magicians (naming no names… JAFAR… cough) they have the traditional genie powers of the 3 wishes. But unlike in Disney’s Aladdin, wishes can have very big consequences and the people of Agrabar and Wonderland alike are both very skilled in manipulating wishes to get their way.
On a similar note, genie bottles (their comfortable homes for all eternity) are coveted too. Jafar (Naveen Andrews) has a stylish collection of… three.
Well, two actually. He found it a good form of anger release to brutally smash one against the table.
Genies were originally humans, cursed for eternity to grant the wishes of others. It’s a hard life living in a fairytale. But not just for them. The lengths villains go to in order to get what they want is unbelievable. Turning the knave of hearts (Michael Socha) to stone, breaking bones, bullying rabbits… despicable.
Tweedles Dum and Dee are playing the field in terms of their masters – Red Queen vs. Jafar. Tough choice, but you need to keep in mind the punishment which will follow your betrayal. Should you ever want to leave a snide voicemail to an opponent you just beat, Wonderland’s Red Queen (Emma Rigby) has her own style…
Have you ever seen a rabbit family reunion? No?
You should be watching this show then…
Iggy Pop is of course not on set in a caterpillar costume. This show uses a heavy weekly dose of CGI to make the magic happen – flying castles, fire-breathing dragonflies, marshmallow marshes – the works. But the characters’ costumes really bring the show to life. The Red Queen’s wardrobe is a constant point of intrigue as is the question ‘how does she walk around in that without falling over?’ How about Jafar’s pointy toed shoes? Do they help him balance as he zooms around on his magic flying carpet? I wonder if I should get a pair to improve my balance?
1) Kissing under falling stars is lucky (even if you do get stabbed afterwards)…
2) Even if you appear to have everything, say you’re the Queen of Wonderland for example, there can still be something missing. Or someone. It just may take a while to appreciate the fine print when showered with riches and power at the start…
3) Never mess around with a fairy – she’ll drop you in the lake from a great height…
4) Don’t mess around with sorcerers or sorceresses either – not worth the hassle and you may end up as a fancy walking stick…
5) If possible avoid falling in love with a genie. I’m sure even Alice (Sophie Lowe) would say the same…
This show can tell you the smartest thing to do with a wishbone, how to use a forget-me-knot and how to get out of sticky situations with marshmallows. You are only hurting yourself by not watching.
The prime lesson learned from this first series is one that can be applied to everyday life:
BE VERY CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR.
2 examples I have for you:
If the Knave dies, Alice dies
Fair enough BUT it depends heavily on the situation – yes it saved his life in the palace maze when they were being tortured for information, but not so convenient when he is hit accidentally by a lightning strike…
I wish to end Alice’s suffering
Brilliant wish to rectify the previous one. But it doesn’t take into account the depth of the ‘suffering’ – separated from her love Cyrus due to his genie obligations. So guess who ends up a genie to bridge the empty bottle gap… uh hmmm. Oh you don’t know?
I know what you’ll be watching this Christmas then!
And I’m glad they have saved the bread and butter flies until Season 2 to keep us all hooked.
At least, I hope they have...