Once Upon a Time: The Complete Fifth Season

The fifth season of ABC's imaginative, visually extravagant modern take on Fractured Fairy Tales has as its overarching theme the question of whether heroine Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison), who was turned to the dark side at the end of the previous season, can be restored to her former goodness, and whether her love for the handsome Captain Hook (Colin O'Donoghue) can save him from his own demons. As usual, twists in the plot allow for the introduction of new versions of familiar Disney characters—in this case, Brave's Merida (Amy Manson)—as well as literary figures, such as Dr. Jekyll (Hank Harris) and Mr. Hyde (Sam Witwer). Season five also continues the pattern of dividing into two halves, the first set in Camelot, where Emma's friends seek help from Merlin (Elliot Knight), and the second in the Underworld. The initial arc features newcomers Arthur (Liam Garrigan) and Guinevere (Joana Metrass), while the second introduces Hades (Greg Germann) and Hercules (Jonathan Whitesell). Once Upon a Time, known for altering traditional stories of well-known characters, features an idiosyncratic mythology that has grown extraordinarily complex over half a decade (and viewers would be wise to start at the beginning). Presenting all 23 episodes from the 2015-16 fifth season, extras include episode commentaries, behind-the-scene featurettes, and a blooper reel (exclusive to the Blu-ray edition are deleted scenes). Recommended. (F. Swietek)