Once Upon a Time

Overview

Someone convinced Disney to make a show about their characters in a twisted and demented way that kind of made sense for two seasons and then took a turn.

Sadly the show is known for queerbaiting. There’s sexual tension between Emma Swan and Regina Mills that is incredibly powerful, but it’s clear they’ll never go anywhere. Meanwhile, the show kept promising to throw a queer bone and the best they came up with was Mulan who had a crush on Aurora.

It’s was the worst drunken princess mashup ever and Mulan has never actually said a thing about it, it was all implied.

Finally, they gave the ship “Ruby Slippers” – Little Red Riding Hood (Ruby) and Dorothy Gale of the Silver Slippers fame (they’re silver in the book).

When they kissed, a rainbow broke out.

Not long after that, the show was rebooted and Robin Hood’s daughter hooked up with Alice, as of In-Wonderland Alice, and Robin Hood as in Merry-Men. That turned out to be the death note for this show, and it ended in 2018.

Queer Plotline Timeline

While the show teases that is gay (to the point that everyone is sure she is and is in love with Aurora), it’s not until season 5 we discover it’s Ruby and Dorothy who are in love.

In season 7, they did a soft-reboot with a new curse and new identities. In that season, it was broadly hinted there would be an LGBT character. This time they addressed it in the midseason finale.

Notable Queer-Centric Episodes

Season 5, Episode 18 – “Ruby Slippers” – Ruby goes to the Underworld to find Zelena. In flashbacks, Ruby, Mulan, and Dorothy meet.
Season 7, Episode 10 “The Eight Witch” – Robin and Alice are revealed to be each other’s true love.
Season 7, Episode 14 “The Girl in the Tower” – Robin and Alice first meet.