Quick Take on Once Upon A Time, Grimm, and American Horror Story.

Three new shows started in October and each of them intrigued me in different ways.

Once Upon A Time
  

 
I have always been a big fan of fairy tales and Walt Disney animated films so as soon as a read the pilot description last winter I was interested. I got even more interested when I watched the trailer.
The first two episodes did not disappoint. They did an amazing job casting the show. Jennifer Morrison is a great lead even if she is overshadowed by other cast members. Lana Parrilla as the Evil Queen is brilliant in her scenes as both the mayor and as the Evil Queen. She does enough to make you wonder how much she remembers. The same can be said about Robert Carlyle as Rumpelstilskin. He steals any scene he is in and I hope they choose to use him more in the future.

The actor who really owns the show is Jared Gilmore as Henry. He does such a great job beside all the older experienced actors and delivers his lines so well that you want to believe everything he says.

The show does a great job of splitting episodes between reality and the fairy tale world. While they have introduced some iconic characters like Grumpy and Little Red Riding Hood in small doses you want to see how they continue to use them while also bringing in other favorites like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty.  I like how they have also introduced characters without showing us who their fairy tale counter part is. This opens up lots of speculation which doesn't surprise me since it is from some of the writers of Lost. I promised myself I would not let myself speculate to much like I did with Lost but they make it so hard. I got hooked early and now all I can do is watch every little thing and wonder if it has greater meaning.

They better not introduce numbers.

Grimm 

Like the above show this also revolves around fairy tales. These ones are primarily Brothers Grimm stories.
The show almost feels like a cop show with a twist that the main character can see some people's true self. The show revolves around the idea that the Grimm stories were real and that they fought to destroy these monsters. This trait was passed down to the next living descendant as they aged finally reaching the main character.

I love the concept but I didn't love the pilot. It did have some great moments. Silas Weir Mitchell was great as a good Big Bad Wolf. He offered great comic relief and I was glad to learn he would be in more episodes. I was not overly impressed with the main actor but am willing to give the show the chance to grow the character and give the actor more to work with. I did also enjoy the twist at the end of the pilot.

My only real problem is that I don't see the show lasting. In the battle of Fairy Tale shows I think Once Upon a Time is the safer bet in the long run as it is more family friendly. But Grimm is on NBC so average ratings would get it a second season.

American Horror Story

Honestly the show only interested me because Connie Britton was cast. I loved her as Tami Taylor on Friday Night Lights and thought I'd give the show a chance.

My major reason for not watching was the creators. I have not liked how they ran their other shows I've watched. Especially Glee which has become unwatchable in my opinion. But its the new cool show to watch. I may not have smoked a ciggarette but I bow to peer pressure when it comes to TV shows.
With that said I really did not like this show. I forced myself to watch the pilot twice. I gave it a second chance because people seem to love it and it was on the dvr.

It wasn't that the acting was bad. It's more that they show absolutely makes no sense. If someone tells me their was a Murder/Suicide in the house I want to buy I am not buying the house. I'm walking back out the door as quickly as possible. Also in this age of everything being on the internet someone would have posted something about that house online. Obviously more then two people have died there so I would have done some research before buying.

I did like the concept of the maid looking different to each character. I wanted the wife to find the husband with the maid just to see the reaction. Most of the time the pilot simply bored me. With that and the fact that I have little faith in the creators making the show more interesting, there is no good reason for me to keep watching.