Season 1

This article contains episode summaries for the first season of Once Upon a Time.

Season Summary
In the U.S., original episodes of season one aired from Sunday, October 23, 2011 to Sunday, May 13, 2012. The season consisted of a total of 22 episodes.

Overview
On her 28th birthday, Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison) meets Henry (Jared S. Gilmore), the son she gave up for adoption 10 years ago. Henry believes Emma is the daughter of Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Prince Charming (Josh Dallas), prophesied to break a powerful curse. Unconvinced, Emma returns Henry to Storybrooke, where she encounters the enigmatic Mr. Gold (Robert Carlyle) and clashes with mayor Regina Mills (Lana Parrilla) - the boy's adoptive mother - who Henry insists is none other than the Evil Queen!

Cast
For a breakdown of the characters' appearances, check here.

Starring
1 Also featured in archive footage in 1.02, accounting for 19 appearances; also played the role of Prince James in 1.06. 2 Series regular from 1.14 onwards; guest starred in 4 episodes prior to that. 3 Series regular through 1.07; guest starred in 1.22.
 * Ginnifer Goodwin - Mary Margaret Blanchard/Snow White (22/22)
 * Jennifer Morrison - Emma Swan (22/22)
 * Lana Parrilla - Regina Mills/Queen Regina (22/22)
 * Josh Dallas - David Nolan/Prince Charming (18/22) 1
 * Eion Bailey - August W. Booth/Pinocchio (11/22) 2
 * Jared S. Gilmore - Henry Mills (21/22)
 * Raphael Sbarge - Archie Hopper/Jiminy Cricket (9/22)
 * Jamie Dornan - Sheriff Graham/Huntsman (8/22) 3
 * and Robert Carlyle - Mr. Gold/Rumplestiltskin (19/22)

Recurring Guest Stars
1 Also featured in archive footage in 1.20, accounting for 18 appearances. 2 Also featured in archive footage in 1.20, accounting for 11 appearances. 3 Also featured in archive footage in 1.02 and 1.22, accounting for 11 appearances. 4 Also featured in archive footage in 1.02, 1.20 and 1.22, accounting for 11 appearances. 5 Also featured in archive footage in 1.02, 1.20 and 1.22, accounting for 10 appearances. 6 Also featured in archive footage in 1.02 and 1.22, accounting for 9 appearances; credited as Faustino di Bauda before 1.21. 7 Also featured in archive footage in 1.02 (credited), 1.20 and 1.22, accounting for 10 appearances; credited as David Paul Grove before 1.16. 8 Also featured in archive footage in 1.02 and 1.22, accounting for 9 appearances. 9 Also featured in archive footage in 1.02 and 1.22, accounting for 8 appearances. 10 Not credited. 11 ''Not credited for voice-only appearance in 1.17.
 * Meghan Ory - Ruby/Red Riding Hood (17/22) 1
 * Beverley Elliott - Granny (10/22) 2
 * Gabe Khouth - Tom Clark/Sneezy (9/22) 3
 * Lee Arenberg - Leroy/Grumpy (8/22) 4
 * Giancarlo Esposito - Sidney Glass/Magic Mirror (8/22)
 * Michael Coleman - Happy (7/22) 5
 * Faustino Di Bauda - Walter/Sleepy (7/22) 6
 * Anastasia Griffith - Kathryn Nolan/Abigail (7/22)
 * David-Paul Grove - Doc (7/22) 7
 * Mig Macario - Bashful (7/22) 8
 * Keegan Connor Tracy - Mother Superior/Blue Fairy (7/22)
 * Jeffrey Kaiser - Dopey (6/22) 9
 * David Anders - Dr. Whale (5/22)
 * Alan Dale - Albert Spencer/King George (5/22)
 * Tony Perez - Henry (4/22)
 * Tony Amendola - Marco/Geppetto (3/22)
 * Cinder - Pongo (3/22) 10
 * Emilie de Ravin - Belle (3/22)
 * Jarod Joseph - Billy (3/22)
 * Sebastian Stan - Jefferson (3/22)
 * Barbara Hershey - Cora (2/22) 11

Trivia

 * The first season introduces the central main cast of characters: Ginnifer Goodwin as Mary Margaret Blanchard/Snow White; Jennifer Morrison as her daughter, Emma Swan; Lana Parrilla as the main antagonist, Regina Mills/Evil Queen; Jared S. Gilmore as both Emma and Regina's son, Henry Mills; Josh Dallas as David Nolan/Prince Charming; and, rounding out the central cast, Robert Carlyle as Mr. Gold/Rumplestiltskin. Raphael Sbarge, in the dual role of Archie Hopper/Jiminy Cricket, is also a series regular for the season, despite being absent from most episodes. Additionally, Jamie Dornan, who played Sheriff Graham/The Huntsman, was billed under "starring" for the first seven episodes of the season, ultimately being killed off and let go of the credits in his seventh appearance, and was always listed as a guest star in ABC's press releases. Eion Bailey joined the supporting cast mid-season as August Booth, who would later be revealed to be Pinocchio, and was promoted to regular status for the last nine episodes of the season, when the show resumed production in 2012.
 * This is the only season to feature Bailey, Dornan and Sbarge as billed series regulars.
 * Goodwin, Morrison and Parrilla are the only actors to be featured in every episode of the season.

Gallery
Gallery of photographic posters used to promote the season.