Down the Rabbit Hole

"Down the Rabbit Hole" is the first episode of Season One of ABC's Once Upon a Time in Wonderland. It was written by Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz, Zack Estrin, Jane Espenson and directed by Ralph Hemecker. It is the first episode of the series overall and premiered on October 10, 2013.

Synopsis
Alice returns home to her father telling her that everyone thought she was dead. Her imaginative stories about a talking White Rabbit and a mystical place called Wonderland end up getting her admitted into an asylum where Dr. Lydgate convinces her to have a procedure that will allow her to forget her pain. Right before the operation is set to take place she is rescued by the Knave of Hearts who takes her to the rabbit who informs her that her true love Cyrus is still alive. As the trio then jumps into the portal returning to Wonderland, Alice sets out on a quest to find him but the villainous Jafar and the Red Queen have other plans for her.

Starring

 * Sophie Lowe as Alice
 * Michael Socha as Knave of Hearts
 * Peter Gadiot as Cyrus
 * Emma Rigby as the Red Queen
 * Naveen Andrews as Jafar
 * John Lithgow as The White Rabbit (Voice)

Guest Starring

 * Lee Arenberg as Leroy
 * Jonny Coyne as Dr. Lydgate
 * Keith David as the Cheshire Cat (Voice)
 * Iggy Pop as the Caterpillar (Voice)
 * Jessy Schram as Ashley Boyd

Co-Starring

 * Michael Q. Adams as Doctor #2
 * Millie Brown as Young Alice
 * Ben Cotton as Tweedle #2
 * Kevin Derksen as Orderly #2
 * Ryan Elm as Doctor #1
 * Matty Finochio as Tweedle #1
 * Michael Smith as Orderly #1
 * Shaun Smyth as Alice's Father

Uncredited

 * Unknown as Emma Swan

Production Notes

 * This episode takes its name from the first chapter of the novel "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland".
 * The Red Queen's crown was made by Vancouver-based accessories designer Medicina Designs.

Event Chronology

 * The Wonderland events take place in various places of the overall timeline.
 * The Land Without Magic events occur concurrently with the Once Upon a Time episode "Broken".
 * The Victorian England events take place in various places of the overall timeline.

Disney

 * Young Alice wears a dress similar to the same outfit in the 1951 Disney film, Alice in Wonderland.

Fairytales and Folklore

 * This episode is a rendition of the Alice in Wonderland story, focusing on Alice's journey down the rabbit hole.
 * Also included are the Caterpillar, the Cheshire Cat, the Knave of Hearts and the White Rabbit from the same story.
 * Also featured are Tweedledee, Tweedledum and the Red Queen from the story's sequel as well as the genie and sorcerer from the Aladdin story.

Pop Culture

 * While sinking into the Mallow Marsh, Knave remarks he and Alice are going to die like s'mores.