Storybrooke Circus: A Once Upon A Time Podcast

Mackee
  • 4.9 (59)
  • 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. 1d ago

    104. The Real Dark Hook Stands Up | OUAT S5E10

    Season 5 Episode 10 of Once Upon a Time finally gives us Dark Hook in full leather-and-vengeance mode, Emma trying to hold onto hope that love can still pull him back, Gold winning a duel clean only to lose Belle anyway, and the timeline finally catching up to present-day Storybrooke with answers to how Merlin died and how Excalibur ended up back in that stone — Storybrooke Circus breaks down why the past finally catching up might be the scariest villain this season's produced. Episode Review starts at 31:20 S5E10: Broken Heart __________ Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the Show Recording LIVE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://twitch.tv/mackeemousemedia || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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/ || Email - thesbcpod@gmail.com

    104. The Real Dark Hook Stands Up | OUAT S5E10

  2. Sep 15

    103. Merida and Flashbacks and Bears, Oh My | OUAT S5E9

    A story that never leaves its own past can still tell you everything about the present. On this week's Storybrooke Circus, we review Once Upon a Time S5E9, "The Bear King" — the series' only all-flashback episode! Merida inherits her dead father's unpaid magic-helm debt, recruits a debt-collecting Mulan and a wolf-cursed Ruby to track it down, and spends the whole hour making a case for leadership that doesn't need magic to be feared. Episode Review starts at 49:00 S5E9: The Bear King __________ Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the Show Recording LIVE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://twitch.tv/mackeemousemedia || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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/ || Email - thesbcpod@gmail.com

    103. Merida and Flashbacks and Bears, Oh My | OUAT S5E9

  3. Sep 8

    102. Two Births and a Funeral | OUAT S5E8

    Emma finally runs out of good options, and the choice she makes to keep her family alive is something none of us saw coming on Once Upon a Time. In this episode of Storybrooke Circus, Steph and I break down Merlin's grim ultimatum under Arthur's orders, the full-blown magical showdown that follows, and the fallout of Emma's last-resort plan. Meanwhile, back in Storybrooke, Zelena's pregnancy speeds toward the finish line and Hook turns interrogator, grilling the Dark Swan for answers she's nowhere near ready to give. It's an episode about what people become when the last good option disappears — and how fast a family will burn the whole kingdom down rather than lose each other. Episode Review starts at 47:48 S5E8: Birth __________ Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the Show Recording LIVE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://twitch.tv/mackeemousemedia || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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/ || Email - thesbcpod@gmail.com

    102. Two Births and a Funeral | OUAT S5E8

  4. Sep 1

    101. Merlin's Ex Becomes the First Dark One | OUAT S5E7

    Turns out the entire Dark One curse started because a guy fell in love with a woman holding a magic cup he told her not to drink from. Sound familiar? Once Upon a Time really said "let's do the forbidden fruit thing again, but Arthurian." In this episode of Storybrooke Circus, we break down Merlin and Nimue's 1,000-years-ago origin story, the exact moment she becomes the very first Dark One, and how none of it stopped Emma from needing to summon a literal warlord out of her own subconscious to finish the job. Meanwhile, back in Camelot's present, Merlin's team races to reunite the dagger with Excalibur before Emma loses herself completely. It's an episode about how every "I'm doing this to protect people" origin story eventually curdles into the exact villain it was trying to prevent — and why nobody in this universe ever learns that lesson the first time. Episode Review starts at [TBD] S5E7: Nimue __________ Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the Show Recording LIVE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://twitch.tv/mackeemousemedia || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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/ || Email - thesbcpod@gmail.com

    101. Merlin's Ex Becomes the First Dark One | OUAT S5E7

  5. Aug 25 ·  Bonus

    100. BONUS - Once Upon a Milestone | OUAT Bonus

    100 episodes. One rewatch. Zero regrets (mostly). We're celebrating The Storybrooke Circus's 100th episode the only way that makes sense — with cake-tier chaos. Social Media Guru Steph joins as cohost for this milestone, and I sit down with romance author Melissa Kendall to talk fairy tales, storytelling, and why we're all still obsessed with happy endings. Plus — a surprise video tribute from you, the listeners, that I absolutely did not see coming. It's an episode about gratitude, good company, and 100 episodes of overanalyzing a show about a woman who turned into the Dark One approximately four times. _________ Links: Watch the Show Recording LIVE - https://twitch.tv/mackeemousemedia || 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/ || Email - thesbcpod@gmail.com

    100. BONUS - Once Upon a Milestone | OUAT Bonus

  6. Aug 11

    99. Merida's Big Lesson in Bravery | OUAT S5E6

    Merida spends a whole flashback proving she's brave enough to save her own kingdom without magic. Cool lesson. Shame nobody in Storybrooke got the memo. In this episode of Storybrooke Circus, we break down Dark Swan's plan to manufacture a hero out of Gold, Merida and Belle's flashback mission to save her brothers with nothing but skill, and Gold pulling Excalibur from the stone. It's an episode about two very different tests of bravery—one earned, one forced—and what happens when the person setting the test doesn't care which one it is. Episode Review starts at 43:20 S5E6: The Bear and the Bow __________ Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the Show Recording LIVE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://twitch.tv/mackeemousemedia || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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/ || Email - thesbcpod@gmail.com

    99. Merida's Big Lesson in Bravery | OUAT S5E6

  7. Aug 4

    98. The Dark Swan Breaks Henry’s Heart | OUAT S5E5

    Henry’s first real romance should be one of the sweetest stories of the season. Unfortunately, his mother is the DARK SWAN NOW—and she needs his heartbreak for a spell. In this episode of Storybrooke Circus, we break down Regina and Emma finally freeing Merlin from the tree, Henry and Violet’s first date, Emma manipulating her own son to get what she needs, and the heroes discovering just how much she has been hiding from them. It’s an episode about manipulation, broken trust, and the dangerous moment when doing something for the greater good starts looking a lot like cruelty. Episode Review starts at 25:30 S5E5: Dreamcatcher __________ Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the Show Recording LIVE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://twitch.tv/mackeemousemedia || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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/ || Email - thesbcpod@gmail.com

    98. The Dark Swan Breaks Henry’s Heart | OUAT S5E5

  8. Jul 28

    97. Arthur Broke the Kingdom | OUAT S5E4

    We’re continuing Season 5 of Once Upon a Time with “The Broken Kingdom,” and Camelot’s shining king is starting to look a lot less heroic. In this episode of Storybrooke Circus, we break down Arthur’s obsession with repairing Excalibur, Guinevere and Lancelot’s secret history, David and Snow uncovering the truth about Camelot, and the magical twist that changes everything we thought we knew about their plan. Meanwhile, back in Storybrooke, Emma pushes Merida to turn Rumplestiltskin into the hero she needs — whether he is ready or not. It’s an episode about love becoming possession, heroes becoming villains, and the damage people cause when they try to force a broken story into a perfect ending. Episode Review starts at 9:00 S5E4: The Broken Kingdom __________ Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the Show Recording LIVE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - https://twitch.tv/mackeemousemedia || ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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/ || Email - thesbcpod@gmail.com

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4.9
out of 5
59 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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