Prince Charming

"There's more to life than living for the next fight. Life is made up of moments. Good ones, bad ones, but they're all worth living."

- David Nolan to Emma Swan

Prince David, better known as Prince Charming, alias Prince James, currently known as David Nolan, and formerly known as John Doe, is a character on ABC's Once Upon a Time. He débuts in the first episode of the first season. He is portrayed by special guest star Josh Dallas and co-star Luke Roessler. He is the main reality version of King David.

Prince Charming is based on the Prince from the fairytale "Snow White", the Disney film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and the fairytale "Rapunzel", as well as the Pauper from the novel, The Prince and the Pauper. He also takes the place of Hamlet from The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.

Trivia

 * -|Character Notes=

Etymology

 * The name "David" is of Hebrew origin derived from the word "dwd" that means "beloved".
 * Prince Charming shares his name with another former shepherd, King David of the Bible. Ruth was the name of King David's great-grandmother and also the name of Charming's mother. Prince Charming was betrothed to Princess Abigail. King David's third wife was also named Abigail.
 * The name "James", which is a variant of Jacob, can mean "follower" or "supplanter". A supplanter is someone who takes the place of another person, place, or thing. This is fitting, as Prince Charming supplanted his twin James.
 * Strictly speaking, "Prince Charming", in Disney canon, refers to Cinderella's prince, while Snow White's prince is credited simply as "The Prince". Both are variations of the stock character in fairy tales.
 * This is alluded to when Cinderella asks if Prince Thomas is charming, which causes Snow White to mention that the name "Charming" is already taken by somebody else.
 * Snow White was the one who gave Prince Charming his nickname.
 * The surname "Nolan" is of Irish origin derived from the word "nuall" that means "noble, famous".
 * David is one of the few characters from the first curse who is confirmed to have the same real name in Storybrooke as his Enchanted Forest counterpart; the others being Regina, Jefferson and Mother Superior.

Character Notes

 * He is the first character to appear in the series. The opening scene of the pilot features him rushing to meet Snow White.
 * Prince Charming is at least four years younger than her wife, Snow White. This is proven in "Murder Most Foul", where David is six years old and Rumplestiltskin uses a crystal ball to locate his twin brother James. This is the exact same crystal ball that Jefferson acquired for Rumplestiltskin in "The Doctor", an episode which takes place after the events of "The Stable Boy", where Snow was ten years old, according to "Shattered Sight" and "Sympathy for the De Vil".
 * According to the Storybrooke Daily Mirror, David is in his early thirties by the time he wakes up from his coma.
 * His cell number is 555-0105.

Storybook Notes

 * Henry's storybook contains an excerpt from the story about Charming and Snow White trekking through the woods in "Snow Falls:

[image begins]ny woman [image begins] Prince [image begins]know who she [image begins] agility, cun- [image begins] woman. And [image begins]ce the mud is [image begins] on the idea [image begins] Prince leaps [image begins]e on the [image begins]w he must [image begins] his armor [image begins] the dagger [image begins]al for battle, are [image begins] oot chase. And the thief is so [image begins]ne seems to glide over the foliage and [image begins]ppear into the thickets. As the Prince moves deeper into the forest the trees [image begins]ock out the sunlight. The woodland creatures whisper [image begins]eir echoing songs. They are on her side, he thinks to [image begins]mself. She is companions with the wild. Perhaps she's [image begins]scendant of wolves. Of unwanted children abandoned in the [image begins] only to be adopted by the most terrifying of beasts [image begins]ised in the traditions of hunting raw [image begins] This is who she could be he decided, and knew


 * The storybook contains an untold story about how Prince Charming set the trap for Snow White:

[image ends] This thief was quick and [image ends] [three illegible words], it was that she [image ends] place inside and out... and he did not. [illegible word] Prince would charge through the front door only to discover that she had fled through a secret back door. He would need a better plan. And as he gazed skyward, the Prince noticed a sturdy tree limb extended directly over the entrance to the hideaway. It gave him an idea. Inside the Prince's travel pack was a number of useful tools, from daggers and hooks to salves and oint- ments to soothe a variety of burns and wounds. But the pack also contained rope and netting for setting traps. [image ends]nd if the Prince worked carefully and used his materials [image ends]perly, he could construct a trap large enough to catch [image ends] thief. The Prince worked quickly and quietly, think- [image ends] entire time of the priceless ring that was so close [image ends] yet so far out of reach. Finally, the trap was [image ends] he swung the rope over the tree branch and [image ends] trap high above the entrance to the thief's [image ends] Then he tied an expert snare and laid it [image ends] doorstep. [image ends] allowed himself a tiny smile as he pictured [image ends]uld look like swinging gently in the [image ends]nd no honor, and woman or not, the [image ends] giving her a much-deserved comeup- [image ends] his sword and hid behind a nearby [image ends]


 * The storybook contains an excerpt from the wedding scene from "Pilot":

The Queen paced back and forth, filling the [illegible word - presumably "audience"] with fear as she declared her evil [four illegible words; presumably "intentions to the king-"] dom. "Soon, everything you love, everything [illegible/page ends; presumably "all of you"] love, will be taken from you. [illegible/page ends; presumably "And from your"] suffering, will rise my victory. The Queen [image ends] to face Charming and Snow. I shall [illegible/page ends; presumably "destroy your happi-"] ness if it is the last thing I do. Having made her wows, the Queen [image ends] to walk away. But Charming [image ends] Queen's threat go unanswered [image ends] threw it at the evil woman. [image ends] her, however, the Queen [image ends] smoke. The sword hit [image ends] Queen was gone.


 * (The rest of the page, contains an excerpt from the fairytale of "Snow-White and Rose-Red".)
 * A slightly different version appears in "The New Neverland" and "Operation Mongoose Part 2":

The Queen then turned to [image ends] shall destroy your happiness [image ends] Having made her vows [image ends] to walk away. But Charming [image ends] Queen's threat go [image ends] threw it at the evil [image ends] her, however, the Queen [image ends] smoke. The sword [image ends] Queen was gone. [image ends]


 * The storybook contains an untold story about how Prince Charming found Snow White's hideout. Note that the last sentence is repeated earlier in the text:

[image begins]oneome [image begins]bits and other [image begins]s. He discovered [image begins]nd most importantly [image begins]cks of a person living [image begins]o a woman. He followed the [image begins]ent oak trees where they suddenly [image begins]or a moment he was bewildered and [image begins]sort of magic this woman-bandit could [image begins] Prince searched til nightfall when hope of [image begins]g his family's treasures finally began to leave [image begins] Until he spotted something strange. A light. Small, [image begins]ickering, unnatural. The lights seeped between the bark of an oak tree, making it seem as if there might be fire inside it. But there was no smoke. No great heat from the massive trunk. He realized this must be it. The perfect hiding place for a bandit − almost in plain sight. But the pack also contained rope and netting for setting traps. And if the Prince worked carefully and used his material properly. For a moment he was bewildered and wondered what sort of magic this woman-bandit could posses.


 * Another scene from "Snow Falls" reads (note that the opening words, are repeated later in the text):

[image begins] Evil Queen said she was. Holding out the bag of gold he mutters "So... You probably want this." Snow turns to him with the jewels, "And you can't get married without this." He spills the jewels into his palm. The wedding ring glistens in his hand. Snow eyes it. "Not your style?" the Prince chides her. "Only one way to find out." Snow takes it from his hand and slips it on her finger. It glistens. A perfect fit and for a moment she thinks... but no. "Yeah. Not me at all," and she dismisses the butterflies inside her stomach. The Prince, grateful that she returned to save his life now knew that Snow White could never be what the Evil Queen said she was. Hold- ing onto the bag of gold he mutters, "So...You probably want this. "So... You probably want this." [sic] Snow turns to him with the jewels.

[illegible word] would be safe in the kingdom. To fall in love he would have sacrifice his station to live like a fugitive. He would have to forsake his family and break vows which would lead to a war between nations. There are lives on the line, she told herself. The responsibility of a royal is great. Bigger than one's self. And though she was no longer of the court and her kingdom seemed to have turned against her, Snow was none the less raised as a princess and expected to be a queen one day. This would never be taken from her. She knew instinctively the [image ends]e she must make. Snow takes the ring off her finger and hands it to him. [illegible word]. Where ever you go from here, if you need me, I will find you", the Prince offers, "always." And Snow wants to believe it. "Goodbye, Prince Charming," Snow replies. [image ends] Charming grins, "I told you. It's James." Snow [image begins]urns to leave, "I like Charming better." She [image begins] back over her shoulder and they stare into each[image ends] [image begins] other's eyes, they didn't need words to express what they felt in their hearts. For it was here, in the shadow of the Troll Bridge, that their love was born. Where they knew, no matter how they were separated, they would always find each other, and true love.


 * A retelling of a scene from "Pilot" reads:

P    rince Charming [illegible word] the Evil Queen's Dark Knights, fighting his way towards the wardrobe Gepetto [sic] had fashioned, the one that would carry Emma to safety. In one hand, the Prince held his sword, slicing [illegible adverb] at his enemies, while in the other he held his newborn baby girl, clinging to her for dear life. Having vanquished the knights, Charming opened the door to the magical dresser. Tears in his eyes, the Prince placed Emma inside the small opening. "Find us," he said, and kissed her on the forehead. Charming closed the door to the dresser, knowing that this would be the last time he would see his beloved baby for twenty-eight years. But deep down, the Prince knew that this was the only way. He had to let Emma go in order to save her. He also knew that one day, Emma would return to save them all. As Charming closed up the dresser, he was [illegible word] ambushed by two unforeseen Dark Knights. The Prince tried to fight them off, but they proved too formidable for him. One of the knights pierced Charming's stomach with his sword, and the Prince fell to the ground, [illegible word] death. The knights checked inside the wardrobe, only to [image ends] [three illegible words] [image ends] happily ever after. The end!


 * The final page that the Author was transcribing, says:

[blurred] and [illegible word], could not be burdened by such a cursory thing, and walked right through it. "There was no way we could have known. The Apprentice hid the truth from us," the prince tried once again to assure her. Inside, he felt as she did, but pangs of helplessness at the sight of his love so forlorn compelled him to comfort her. She was about to reply when a bluebird settled on a branch up ahead. The princess averted her gaze. She imagined its whispers of judgment in her ear echoing her own disappointment in her actions and was relieved when the bird flew off rather than perch on her shoulder. She had thought before that she had known true depths of sorrow with the heinousness of the evil queen's betrayal of her family. But in that moment the princess knew that the greatest betrayal of all is that of a hero [blurred]


 * -|Production Notes=

Production Notes

 * Prince Charming was originally supposed to die in the first episode in the first season. According to Edward Kitsis, ABC president of entertainment Channing Dungey, who was ABC head of drama during the show's development, is at the origin of this change. She sent a note to Kitsis and Horowitz saying that for a series about hope, there is not a lot of hope in killing Charming.
 * David Anders, who plays Dr. Whale and his Enchanted Forest counterpart Victor Frankenstein, auditioned for the role of Prince Charming.
 * David was supposed to be mentioned in the Season Seven premiere as having agreed on Henry's plan to leave Storybrooke after realising that "stubborness runs in the family". That part of the dialogue, however, did not make to the final cut.
 * -|Cultural References=

Lost

 * David asks Mary Margaret to meet him by the Toll Bridge at 8 P.M, a reference to the second Lost number.
 * As he and Mary Margaret discuss their dark secret involving Maleficent, David pours himself a glass of MacCutcheon Scotch Whiskey, a fictional brand featured on Lost.
 * There is a close-up of Snow White and Prince Charming's eye when the they touch the unicorn's horn. This is a recurring theme from Lost.
 * There is a close-up of David's eyes as he awakens from the coma, a recurring theme on Lost.

Popular Culture

 * The book David is reading in Granny's Diner is Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. This book is a tragic story about a married aristocrat and her affair with another man. David, who is, at the time, married to Kathryn and having an affair with Mary Margaret, even remarks that he can't wait to see how the book ends.
 * David mentions the ice cream flavor Rocky road when he offers to give Regina a ride home with her groceries.
 * After being warned not to drink Regina's tea that is to be used for a seance, David states he prefers Earl Grey.


 * -|Set Notes=

Props Notes

 * David drives a brown Ford F-Series from the early sixth generation, 1973-1975.
 * The Valentine's Day card David buys for Mary Margaret has a prince and princess on it.

Set Dressing

 * King George's coat of arms is argent (silver/white) with a chevron (V-shaped pattern) gules (red). It depicts a lion rampant (depicted in profile standing erect with forepaws raised) langued (having the tongue visible), surrounded by seven heraldic roses (a rose with five symmetrical lobes, five barbs and a circular seed). The roses are red with a blue border. The royal knights' armor, and King George's own armor, is emblazoned with a modified version with white roses. When Prince Charming and Snow White take over the kingdom, they adopt the same coat of arms, with the white roses.
 * In heraldry, the white rose symbolizes love and faith, charm and innocence. The flower crest is similar to Emma's wrist tattoo.
 * If you look closely at the exterior of the Duke's castle, which Rumplestiltskin breaks into to steal the dagger, you can see the same coat of arms on a flag sitting at the top of a tower.
 * The rampant lion is a common motif in real-world heraldry, and also in the Enchanted Forest. King Leopold's 's father's coat of arms, Robin Hood's tattoo and King Arthur's armor also feature this motif.

Costume Notes

 * Prince Charming's cuffs are made by Vancouver's Oceandrive Leather, which also designed several of Emma's leather jackets.
 * The doublet, west and undershirt worn by Prince Charming at his honeymoon in "The New Neverland" are the same as the ones that adult Henry wears for the royal ball in "Hyperion Heights". Note that the shoulder pieces on Charming's west were shortened for Henry.
 * The brown doublet and white undershirt worn by Prince Charming in several episodes, starting with "The Tower", was later worn by Robert in "Greenbacks". Robert's west is closely modeled on the west Charming wears over the doublet in the same episodes.
 * The ensemble Prince Charming is wearing during and after the events of the sleeping curse that was placed on Snow White is the same attire worn by his Storybrooke counterpart in "Leaving Storybrooke".
 * Despite the fact that Prince Charming wore a wedding ring for his wedding in "Pilot", "The Thing You Love Most" and "The New Neverland" and David wears one during his marriage to Kathryn during the first curse, he does not wear a wedding band after the curse is broken and his memories about his real wife are returned. When asked about this, Josh Dallas said that David and Mary Margaret never got it back in Storybrooke and he does not know why.
 * During Season Two, David dons a custom leather jacket designed by Vancouver's Oceandrive Leather, which also designed several of Emma's leather jackets.
 * The shirt David is wearing during his son's announcement ceremony is also worn by him in "A Tale of Two Sisters", "Rocky Road", "Breaking Glass", "Heroes and Villains", "Darkness on the Edge of Town", "Unforgiven", "Enter the Dragon", "The Brothers Jones" and "Our Decay."
 * His grandson Henry also wears the shirt in the Season Seven episodes "Knightfall" and "The Girl in the Tower".
 * The ensemble David is wearing during Roni's coronation is the same attire worn by his Enchanted Forest counterpart in "Pilot" and "A Land Without Magic".
 * -|Goofs=

Goofs

 * In "The Shepherd", in camp, David is preparing for the journey to fight the dragon and unsheathes his sword for King Midas to see. When King Midas says, "You do this and you'll be a legend", the camera zooms for a close-up of David's face, which shows a visible scar on the right side of his chin. Before and after this scene, he has no scar.
 * In "Murder Most Foul", while under the sleeping curse, David has been being seen taking deep breaths, even though it is said that one cannot show any sign of life under that curse.

Appearances
Note: "Archive" denotes archive footage.