Once Upon a Time mocks its complicated storylines

Entertainment Weekly

The first hour of the two-part series finale had a special treat for longtime fans of the ABC fairy tale drama -- a meta joke about the show reputation for complicated storylines. “One of the consequences of the show having had such a long run — seven seasons and more than 150 episodes — is that our characters’ lives, and the stories we’ve told with them, have become, well, complicated,” says executive producer David H. Goodman, who wrote this week's episode. “We talk about the show’s timeline in the writers’ room constantly. So as we closed out the series, it seemed like a good opportunity to poke some fun at ourselves and tip our hats to the audience. We’re incredibly thankful that they’ve come along with us for such a wild ride.”