Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-1916997-20150312220054/@comment-260553-20150825191849

The best example I can think of when it comes to illustrating exactly how a serialized television series such as Once Upon a Time is handled behind-the-scenes is J. Michael Strazynski's epic "novel for television" Babylon 5. The series was meticulously planned with a cohesive and singular narrative arc that spanned 5 seasons' worth of television, but said arc underwent several significant alterations over the course of the series' air-life. The end goal of the series and its overall narrative trajectory and foundation never changed, but the process by which said narrative trajectory was ultimately reached had to be because of factors beyond JMS' control and things that he never could've anticipated when designing the series in the 'creative vacuum' of his mind.

The same thing can very much be said of Once Upon a Time, particularly if/when you're aware of the fact that they actually developed the conceptual foundations for the series way back in 2002, and if you're paying attention to the myriad preliforation of clues, easter eggs, and narrative hints that were liberally sprinkled throughout the entirety of the first season and that have continued to be sprinkled throughout the subsequent seasons as well.

IOW, if you're paying attention, it's very easy to understand and see that Adam and Eddy do in fact know what they're doing and do in fact have a plan, even if they've been occasionally forced to alter that plan because of circumstances beyond their control.