Storybrooke Circus: A Once Upon A Time Podcast

Mackee
  • 4.9 (58)
  • TV REVIEWS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Every fairytale has a beginning. If Once Upon a Time meant something to you, this podcast is an invitation back to the magic. Episode-by-episode, let's revisit the series to explore its characters, flashbacks, and fairytale mythology, looking at how the story works, why it holds up, and what we might have missed the first time around. Whether you’re watching for the first time or returning to a favorite episode, step back into Storybrooke with fresh eyes. Pull up a chair. The stories may be familiar, but the conversation is just getting started.

  1. 2D AGO

    Family Business: Secrets Don’t Stay Hidden | OUAT S4E6 | Ep. 76

    In this episode of Storybrooke Circus, we revisit Once Upon a Time Season 4 Episode 6 to confront a dangerous question: what happens when the truth about your family is more destabilizing than the lie? As Belle searches for the missing pieces of her mother’s death and Anna risks everything to confirm whether Ingrid is truly her aunt, answers only deepen the fractures, culminating in a betrayal that silences the truth before it can surface. Meanwhile in Storybrooke, suspicion thickens and progress stalls, reinforcing the episode’s unsettling thesis that “family business” is never just about lineage. It’s about power, loyalty, and who controls the story when the past refuses to stay buried. S4E6: Family Business Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fanlist.com/thesbcpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Have something to say? Join the fanlist and send a voice memo or text to be featured in the Storybrooke Daily Mirror! Come join the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SBC DISCORD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!! https://discord.com/invite/rbGdThZxUQ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SBC Insta⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/thesbcpod/ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the Show Recording LIVE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://twitch.tv/mackeemousemedia || Email - thesbcpod@gmail.com

    2h 29m

  2. FEB 10

    Vulnerability Is the Risk That Matters | OUAT S4E5 | Ep. 75

    In this episode of Storybrooke Circus, we revisit Once Upon a Time Season 4 Episode 5 to ask whether strength is really about independence, or about the harder choice to stay when relationships stop being easy. As Emma and Regina resist their instinct to withdraw, Mary Margaret confronts the cost of isolating grief, and the Snow Queen’s past hints at wounds shaped by rejection, the episode argues that growth doesn’t come from escape, but from the risky, uncomfortable work of letting people matter even when it hurts. S4E5: Breaking Glass Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fanlist.com/thesbcpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Have something to say? Join the fanlist and send a voice memo or text to be featured in the Storybrooke Daily Mirror! Come join the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SBC DISCORD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!! https://discord.com/invite/rbGdThZxUQ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SBC Insta⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/thesbcpod/ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the Show Recording LIVE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://twitch.tv/mackeemousemedia || Email - thesbcpod@gmail.com

    2h 18m

  3. FEB 3

    Belief: Power or Pressure? | OUAT S4E4 | Ep. 74

    In this episode of Storybrooke Circus, we revisit Once Upon a Time Season 4 Episode 4 to examine how belief operates as both a safeguard and a liability, shaping who can access power and who collapses under its weight. This is also the episode where everyone tries very hard to blame an object, a curse, or destiny itself, instead of doing the extremely inconvenient thing of admitting their choices matter. Hook spends most of this episode convinced his hand has turned him evil, which is relatable, because we’ve all had a bad day and immediately assumed it meant we were fundamentally broken. Rumplestiltskin once again learns the hard way that “I deserve this” is not the same thing as “this belongs to me.” It’s an episode about belief, which means half the characters think they’re cursed, and the other half are just haunted by their own inner monologues.S4E4: The Apprentice Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fanlist.com/thesbcpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Have something to say? Join the fanlist and send a voice memo or text to be featured in the Storybrooke Daily Mirror! Let's jump start the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SBC DISCORD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ party again!! https://discord.com/invite/rbGdThZxUQ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SBC Insta⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/thesbcpod/ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the Show Recording LIVE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://twitch.tv/mackeemousemedia || Email - thesbcpod@gmail.com

    2h 37m

  4. JAN 27

    The Snow Queen Revealed: Manipulating Through Fear | OUAT S4E3 | Ep. 73

    In this episode of Storybrooke Circus, we revisit Once Upon a Time Season 4 Episode 4 to examine how the Snow Queen manipulates fear through insinuation and silence, turning suspicion into mob mentality and allowing a community to turn on Elsa without ever being told to. S4E3: Rocky Road Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fanlist.com/thesbcpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Have something to say? Join the fanlist and send a voice memo or text to be featured in the Storybrooke Daily Mirror! Let's jump start the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SBC DISCORD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ party again!! https://discord.com/invite/rbGdThZxUQ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SBC Insta⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/thesbcpod/ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the Show Recording LIVE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://twitch.tv/mackeemousemedia || Email - thesbcpod@gmail.com

    3h 2m

  5. JAN 20

    Frozen In Place: When Survival Isn't Enough | OUAT S4E2 | Ep. 72

    On Storybrooke Circus this week, we look at Season 4 Episode 2 of Once Upon a Time's exploration of whether mere survival is truly living. S4E2: White Out Elsa’s desperate search for Anna exposes how fear can keep someone technically safe while emotionally frozen [see what i did there?], mistaking isolation for protection. Emma continues to grow into leadership by choosing empathy and openness [finally!]. Let's break down the episode’s core message: that survival built on fear alone is not a life at all, and that real living begins only when characters risk connection, vulnerability, and trust.We've got a bit of an expanded format on the show here - I'm beginning to a go into a deeper dive into the writing of the show and what these episodes actually mean for the canon and possibly all of us as viewers. Let me know what you think! Opening and New Format: 00:00 Pre Show: 10:48 Show Breakdown: 23:55 Post Show: 01:57:47 Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fanlist.com/thesbcpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Have something to say? Join the fanlist and send a voice memo or text to be featured in the Storybrooke Daily Mirror! Let's jump start the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SBC DISCORD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ party again!! https://discord.com/invite/rbGdThZxUQ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SBC Insta⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/thesbcpod/ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the Show Recording LIVE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://twitch.tv/mackeemousemedia || Email - thesbcpod@gmail.com

    2h 10m

  6. JAN 13

    Fear, Growth, and Redemption Begin Season 4 | OUAT S4E1 | Ep. 71

    In this episode of Storybrooke Circus, we dive deep into Once Upon a Time Season 4 Episode 1, exploring how fear, restraint, and emotional growth reshape Emma, Regina, and Elsa. S4E1: A Tale of Two Sisters ELSA OF ARENDELLE makes her debut on the streets of our very own Storybrooke. Theres talk of fear responses, isolation, emotional growth, and what it's like to finally turn a corner and be the most mature person in the room for a change (I'm looking at you Swan, and frankly I could kiss you right on the mouth for being so great this episode). Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fanlist.com/thesbcpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Have something to say? Join the fanlist and send a voice memo or text to be featured in the Storybrooke Daily Mirror! Let's jump start the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SBC DISCORD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ party again!! https://discord.com/invite/rbGdThZxUQ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SBC Insta⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/thesbcpod/ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the Show Recording LIVE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://twitch.tv/mackeemousemedia || Email - thesbcpod@gmail.com

    2h 15m

  7. 12/19/2025 · BONUS

    BONUS: The Brookie Awards!!! | Ep. 70

    Get your tux and your ballgown out because it's time to walk the red carpet and experience the first annual Once Upon a Time Academy of Witchcraft and Fantasy BROOKIE AWARDS!!!! Check out all the winners, as well as an episode wide recap of everything that has happened for seasons 1-3. Once we're all caught up we'll reunite in the new year for SEASON 4 Frozen Ever After (is what its called in my mind)!!! Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fanlist.com/thesbcpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Have something to say? Join the fanlist and send a voice memo or text to be featured in the Storybrooke Daily Mirror! Let's jump start the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SBC DISCORD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ party again!! https://discord.com/invite/rbGdThZxUQ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SBC Insta⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/thesbcpod/ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the Show Recording LIVE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://twitch.tv/mackeemousemedia || Email - thesbcpod@gmail.com

    1h 41m

  8. 12/05/2025

    Choosing to Belong: Emma Stops Running from Home | OUAT S3E22 | Ep. 69

    In this episode of Storybrooke Circus, we dive deep into Once Upon a Time Season 3 Episode 22, exploring how Emma Swan stops running from her past and chooses belonging, family, and Storybrooke as her true home. S3E22: There's No Place Like Home It's the SEASON FINALE! This one hit me right in the feels for just so many reasons. It was an emotional rollercoaster from top to bottom, and maybe one of my favorite episodes of the entire show so far. Just when we thought Regina's redemption was as good as it gets, Emma's redemption hits even harder this week! We also get the debut of my sweet sweet 2-year-old daughter busting in my room because she loves the microphone. For the next episode we will be doing a fun Awards Show to celebrate the end of the season before we head into *SPOILERS* the FROZEN SEASON! Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠fanlist.com/thesbcpod⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Have something to say? Join the fanlist and send a voice memo or text to be featured in the Storybrooke Daily Mirror! Let's jump start the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SBC DISCORD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ party again!! https://discord.com/invite/rbGdThZxUQ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SBC Insta⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/thesbcpod/ || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the Show Recording LIVE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://twitch.tv/mackeemousemedia || Email - thesbcpod@gmail.com

    2h 42m
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4.9
out of 5
58 Ratings

About

Every fairytale has a beginning. If Once Upon a Time meant something to you, this podcast is an invitation back to the magic. Episode-by-episode, let's revisit the series to explore its characters, flashbacks, and fairytale mythology, looking at how the story works, why it holds up, and what we might have missed the first time around. Whether you’re watching for the first time or returning to a favorite episode, step back into Storybrooke with fresh eyes. Pull up a chair. The stories may be familiar, but the conversation is just getting started.

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