5 Times Once Upon a Time Improved on the Disney Fairytale & 5 Times They Ruined a Classic

5 Times Once Upon a Time Improved on the Disney Fairytale & 5 Times They Ruined a Classic

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the times “Once Upon a Time” did our favorite Disney characters justice and the moments when they should have left the characters we know and love alone. “OUAT” had so many characters, so we'll be focusing only on those who crossed over with the Mouse House. If you haven’t seen the series there are some spoilers ahead.

#5: Improved: Robin Hood

Look, we love a Fox outlaw who steals from the rich and gives to the poor as much as the next Disney fan. Some folks might find his honor, charm, and courage downright foxy, no matter what form he takes. Disney nailed his signature traits, but “Once Upon a Time” gave him a richer, more complex backstory. Sure, Robin aimed to be honorable, but it wasn’t always easy. He showed us, time and again, that your past doesn’t define you. He also helped Regina learn that lesson, opening her heart once more. Yet the course of true love never did run smooth. Robin’s greatest heist wasn’t just stealing Regina’s heart – he stole ours, too.

#5: Ruined: Aladdin

This Diamond in the Rough is a shadow of the character we knew. Jasmine seeks his help to free the Sultan from Jafar’s control, and Aladdin discovers he has light magic, becoming the savior. But when the pressure gets to him, he severs those bonds. He also helps Belle and Zelena steal from Rumpelstiltskin, but when the magic lamp turns out to be empty, he becomes the Genie and ends up in the wrong hands. Disney’s Aladdin would never give up the chance to be a force of good for others. While we’re on the subject, there’s no way Jasmine would fall for Jafar’s tricks—she’s way too smart. We wish they’d left these characters alone.

#4: Improved: Belle

Belle is one of Disney’s most headstrong and down-to-earth characters, but she can also be impulsive and a bit too forgiving of her captor. “OUAT”’s Belle shares some of these traits but she’s more defined outside her relationship with her beast, a.k.a Rumplestiltskin. In fact, it’s her strong sense of self that makes their relationship one to root for. Like most of Storybrooke’s residents, Belle faces many trials and tribulations, but all curses aside, she never loses sight of who she is. As kids, we might have wanted to grow up to be Disney’s Belle, but as adults, we want to be this Belle. She’s resilient, independent, and always true to herself.

#4: Ruined: Princess Aurora

Disney really did Aurora dirty with just 18 lines in her own film. So, it’s hard to imagine how anything could be more of a disservice. Snow and Emma meet Aurora in the Enchanted Forest, and she’s got some beef with Snow at first. After they settle their differences, they team up, but Aurora mostly serves to advance the heroes’ storyline. There’s not much depth to her character, so when Snow and Emma leave the forest, we hardly miss her. Her one redeeming quality is her loyalty to her new friends, even after being abducted and imprisoned. However, she does betray them later to save her unborn child. Come on, a real hero would’ve found another way.

#3: Improved: Captain Hook

Who’d have thought Captain Hook would make us swash-buckle at the knees? This pirate has one of the most intriguing character arcs of them all. When we first meet him, he’s in cahoots with Cora, ready to double-cross our heroes in a revenge mission against the crocodile—though it’s not an actual crocodile. Killian Jones used to be a good guy, but life threw him one too many curveballs, sending him down a dark path. Emma’s light magic ends up guiding him down the bumpy road back toward goodness. He went from being the villain we loved to hate to the hero we could cheer for. One thing’s for sure: he’s no codfish.

#3: Ruined: Cinderella

In this fairytale remix, we got two Cinderellas. But let’s focus on season seven’s Ella, whose role was more prominent. Honestly, that final season felt like watching Cinderella’s carriage turn into a pumpkin at midnight—and this character suffered a similar fate. She often felt boxed in and lacking depth. She is more like a damsel in distress, always relying on others to shape her destiny. Thank goodness for Sabine/Tiana! Instead of growing into a fully realized character, she mainly served as a plot device in her step-family’s drama and as a link to the original cast. If “A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes,” we’ll keep on dreaming for a better story arc.

#2: Improved: Snow White

Snow White may have been the pioneer of Disney princesses, but she often pales in comparison to her successors. In “OUAT,” Snow is kind, compassionate, and big-hearted, but she's also a total badass. After fleeing the castle when her stepmother takes over, Snow becomes a bandit who does whatever it takes to survive. She learns to fend for herself and becomes a strong woman who always stands up for what's right. Her romance with Prince Charming is deeper than a quick peck on the lips too. This Snow White doesn’t need anyone to rescue her; she and Charming make a formidable team, fighting for the greater good and striving to be strong leaders for their people.

#2: Ruined: Peter Pan

Growing up, we realized Peter Pan isn’t the charming hero we thought he was. He’s kind of bratty and selfish. We even start to feel a bit sorry for Captain Hook! “Once Upon a Time” took this to the extreme, turning Peter into a straight-up villain. Like a twisted Pied Piper, he lures kids to Neverland just because he’s bored of being alone. He chose this lonely life! Peter also deceives Henry to steal “the heart of the truest believer” for immortality. Plus, that father-son reveal is totally unhinged. We know the “OUAT” family tree is wild, but this was next-level. We wish the gang had never landed in Neverland. What a complete train wreck.

#1: Improved: The Evil Queen

Few characters went on as big of a journey as Regina, a.k.a. The Evil Queen. Her vendetta against Snow White isn't as superficial as in the Disney classic, but it's her villain origin story. After losing her true love, Regina's heart hardens, and her hatred for Snow White grows until she’s willing to kill her own father for revenge. Once the curse is broken, Regina shows what it means to be human. Sure, her dark side is extreme, but she proves people are flawed, and even good intentions can go awry. Despite everything, she strives to be her best self. We're still upset they took Robin away. While not everyone loved her ending, she'll always be the Queen of our hearts.

#1: Ruined: Mulan

Disney’s Mulan broke the mold of what we expected from their female heroines. She taught us about being loyal, brave, and staying true to your heart, even when the odds are against you. “Once Upon A Time” tried to instill these values in their Mulan, but she ends up mainly as Aurora’s protector, with her motives revolving around that role. Mulan was also the series’ first LGBTQIA+ character, which would’ve been great if her story had gone beyond unrequited love for Aurora. She later joins Red and Dorothy in Oz, and while those two get their happily ever after, we can’t help but wonder about Mulan. They really did her dirty, as Mushu might say: “Make a note of this: dishonor on you, dishonor on your cow”

Which character did you think had the best arc, and who do you wish they’d left in the Disney vaults? Let us know in the comments.