Best Once Upon a Time Characters

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The Top Ten

1 Regina Mills

The best villain and hero! Way better than any of the full good characters like Snow White and prince charming, but she is kind of good herself. Protecting her child, saving the town, and she also had a sassy side that you just gotta love!

I love her as a villain and a hero and we and even I knows more about her life

Regina is a character that you can really relate to. She's powerful and has a strong spirit, but she also has a soft side, especially when it comes to Henry.

The only reason I still watch the show

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2 Rumpelstiltskin Rumpelstiltskin

He is completely misunderstood. Bell is the only one he gets him. Okay, so from the beginning. He became the dark one to stop a horrible war and save his son. He never meant to let his son go and he spent around 200 years trying to get him back. That's a long time, he cared a lot. He might have done some bad things but he was trying to get back to his son. When he meets Bell he loves her so much, even if he messed up by making her leave. But, that's the thing, for someone to be my favorite character, and I thinks it's the same for a lot of people, based on the first three. They have to do some bad things. A character who is good at heart but does some bad things makes their character deep, and makes them awesome. That's why I hate Neal/ Baelfire, even though Rumpelstiltskin spent about 200 years looking for him, he couldn't forgive him. Even if he was just a villain( which he's not) with no good heart, he is would still awesome because he is funny, so manipulative and great with ...more

Best character by far. Comedy and a dark past mixed into a single story. Completely misunderstood and attractive in his own strange way. Not the main villain and yet the most feared, Regina is no match as even she is shown to fear the man.

He is by far the most complex and intriguing character in the show. His characterization is consistently interesting, whether his story was unfolding in present-time or via flashbacks.

Literally the best character. Everybody else can shut up.

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3 Captain Hook Captain Hook Captain James Hook is a fictional character, the antagonist of J. M. Barrie's play Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up and its various adaptations, in which he is Peter Pan's archenemy.

He's hilarious and has such a good heart.

Roast me, but he's so overrated in my opinion. He was pretty cool in the second season, then when they tried to redeem him, he became a boring lovesick teenager. His backstory felt incredibly forced to make him a good guy but it was very cliche just made him look more like a jerk. I hate how even after Emma told him their first kiss was a one-time thing he continued to pursue her and practically won her a prize for trading his ship. Season 5 was practically "Once Upon a Hook". - QueenRey

He is so funny and Colin O'Donoghue does a great job of portraying him. Plus, CaptainSwan, Flook, CaptainRodger, Captain Guyliner is the best ships ever.

His sarcastic humor makes him really special. Unlike other pirates, he has a heart and also, he is hot - BlueDiamondFromNowhere

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4 Emma Swan

The best character

Emma Swan is awesome

She's strong, brave, badass, fragile, scared, character on the show! , why is she only on the 4th Place?

How is she not above rumple? She is perfect in an imperfect way. She has many flaws and has gone through many hardships, but is still very heroic, but not in a Mary-sue type way. She resisted darkness, where all rumple ever does is go back and forth between being good or evil, claiming love for one of his sons or belle. Clearly he doesn't care enough about them to turn good. Also he doesn't have any development in character, he just randomly is good or evil for an episode, before he is on team good guy for the last episode.

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5 Red Riding Hood/Ruby

Beautiful chemistry between her and Dorothy, as well as the fact that she is layered and deep. Ruby will always be a favorite in my book.

Relevant
Underestimated
Beautiful
Young

Ruby was one of my favorites since the beginning, she has a heartbreaking back story. But she is a strong female character that is absolutely gorgeous.

Not only is she Red Riding Hood, but the Big Bad Wolf, too! She's so sweet and pretty!

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6 Belle

She's both strong-willed and compassionate, motivated towards goodness but still able to see light in characters like Rumple. I love the fact that she's not just a beautiful woman there to give the bad guy a love interest but a well rounded character, intelligent and independent, and not afraid to do what's right.

Sorry but after you pushed rumple over the line, you are not even in my top 100 goodbye

She is strong independent smart and gorgeous what's not to love about belle plus she makes it through everything and still loves and forgives

It's amazing how she could love Rumplestiltskin even after all he's done. I love how she sees the light in everyone and always is the better woman. She never wants revenge, but she still knows how to stand up for herself. Plus, she's gorgeous and really smart.

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7 Mary Margeret

I hate her. She always acts so innocent like "what could I ever do? " but then never faces up to it when she does anything.

Ugh. I really hate her in all seasons except the first. In the fist season she was awesome, and then...ugh

Snow White's the best, always and forever will be :D

Okay, Snow White/ Mary Margaret is my absolute favorite and always will be. She is the fairest of them all, obviously. I love her relationship with Charming and Emma, and she would die to protect her family.

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8 Baelfire/Neal Cassidy

Kind brave strong vulnerable and complex. An amazing relatable character since young till becoming Neil Cassidy.

BRING MY BOI BACK

He is dependable smart and courageous, he was perfect for Emma, and when he was in his teen years, he was kinda cute, like peter pan

Yes! He is one of my favorite characters. After all the ships/romances Emma has gone through, he is my favorite.

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9 Peter Pan

Peter Pan is my favourite Once Upon a Time character for many reasons. I'm really upset that he died, really quickly as well, he basically got killed twice once in season three and once in season 5 (he didn't technically die in season 5 but went to the river of lost souls) *SPOILER ALERT* Originally Peter Pan was a villain and Captain Hook wasn't in the story but instead they made Captain Hook the villain and Peter a hero, so I really like how they made him in the show. LONG LIVE THE NEVERLAND KING. "There are no kings in Neverland, just me. I'm Peter. Peter Pan."

Definitely the best character and villain on Once Upon a Time. He kept Wendy in order to make John and Michael (her brothers) do his bidding.Spoiler alert. He tricked Greg and Tamara into doing his work. He also took Henry's heart in order to make sure that the magic of Neverland does not run out. He also used his Lost Boys to attempt king the team after they cheated by using the map Pan had given to them and using a locator spell. The boy's arrows were laced with Dreamshade and it wounded David. Rumpelstiltskin had to sacrifice himself to defeat Pan (Even though he was revived due to Baelfire's sacrifice). Even though some people say Zelena killed Baelfire I think it was really Pan since it was because of defeating him that only one was able to survive. If you think about it, Pan was the only villain who needed a sacrifice in order to die and he was the toughest villain to beat.

I totally disagree that he is the worst Peter Pan is one of the best characters on the show I was so upset hen he died LONG LIVE PETER PAN plus robbie kay the actor who plays him is HOT

I loved Peter Pan on the show. It was nice to see a iconic character such as him be twisted and become evil. Pan was one of the only villains I found was pure evil and not had a good reason for being so, which is what I liked about him. Robbie played him so well, he is my favourite character for sure.

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10 Henry Mills

I really loved in Season 1 and Season 2. He thought for everything. The only thing I want to know is how exactly he left storybrooke, that in flashback would have been a cool episode, like the flashback in Save Henry where he got the book and how he just to battle with the idea that his mum didn't want him, but thought his faith and illegents he brings Emma to Storybrooke and tells her he understands that she gave him up because she wanted to give him his best chance. And in Season 2, he told Gold that his son might understand why he gave him away, and it was really cute when he had the hot-dog. Honesty they just to be so many cute Henry Scence, like in the Name of the Brother, Henry has a horse, but later in disappears, and I was like ' wow' Henry has a horse, but when Henry meets Vilot he doesn't seem sure about her horse, like what? - Tittattle

He is the heart and soul of this show. He deserves to be in the top 10s. - Daviddv0601

It's good to have some younger characters in shows and he fits that role perfectly

The truest believer, author and probably the first hero in storybrooke sadly he outshined with older more present characters but he is the only reason why the events of Once Upon A Time ever happened

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The Contenders

11 Prince Charming/David Nolan

David is the best he is so so so cool and really good at fighting

David/ Prince Charming makes the perfect ship when put up next to Snow White/Mary Margaret. He, like Snow, wants to do anything to protect him family, but tries to go about the right way of doing it. He is courageous, and may I mention...hot!

I really don't like him. Always trying to act like a hero but in fact he seems just stupid and childish to me.

He sucks at playing hero. He acts like a 5 year old in a grown mans body.

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12 Evil Queen/Regina Mills

I loved her in season one because that's when she tried to do her best to get rid of Emma, it was so awesome and sweet at the same time because she was trying to keep Emma from her son, who she cared about so much, and thanks to Cora, Regina was not able to have kids, which is why this is so sweet. It's awesome because I love when Regina goes all dark because she is so cool when she does, you can see how much she doesn't care. It shows that she would do anything to get what she wants, it shows how much effort she puts into what she wants. - Dearies

In season one, I really didn't like Regina all that much. Then I saw her episode with Daniel. My heart broke. Plus, she's much prettier than Snow could ever dream to be. She's had to go through so much, and she's stayed strong the whole time. Even if she did stray to the dark side, she's still in actuality just a broken teenage girl who lost the love of her life.

She is amazing she sort of has this scary like wow factor of her and she gives me the chills in all the scenes she's been in and she is all around amazing

The Evil Queen is interesting but I think that being good is a better path for her. If she does go evil again then she will lose Henry forever

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13 The Hunter

I felt awful for him when he died! It was sad because Emma was finally opening up to him, and then he died. :(

By far the best character, actually wanted to cry when he died

Everybody loves him. Is death was sad but not as much as what people say. He was a nice character but I think Neal and Killian are hotter. #SorryNotSorry

14 Zelena/Wicked Witch of the West

She was funny when she ran over the black fairy

She is the absolute best

She is the BEST

GO ZELENA

She is just so sassy and I love her character

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15 Mulan Mulan Fa Mulan, a character inspired by an actual historic figure is a character who appears in Walt Disney Pictures' 36th animated feature film Mulan, as well as its sequel Mulan II.

The part where it was revealed that she is in love with Aurora shocks me. It broke my heart when I saw the heartbroken look on her face when Aurora told her that she is pregnant, I loved her right there!

I love the character of Mulan!

She's so underrated.

Baelfire: "They made a movie about you. It's actually pretty good."
Mulan: "What's a movie? "

Seriously, if only she did know how much of a badass she really is! She is a determined warrior and does whatever needs to be done. I felt so sorry for her when she was heartbroken over Aurora revealing she was pregnant. Poor Mulan, not being able to tell her how she felt about her. Then when we thought she would have a happy ending with Ruby, Ruby ends up with Dorothy instead. Mulan stood there just chillin' while she is the series first lesbian character. GIVE HER A TRUE LOVE ALREADY! SHE DESERVES IT! - Daviddv0601

16 The Mad Hatter The Mad Hatter

Sebastian Stan is my all time favourite actor. He's been amazing in everything I've seen him in (most of his rolls) and I think that he played Jefferson perfectly. You can feel the pain he feels and see the pain in his eyes. I think the thing that made Jefferson the perfect character was how he says he's not crazy until the end where he freaks when Emma and Snow escape. It shows us how easily some metal patients can act. Perfectly calm at one moment and out the next. They need to bring Jefferson back. Plus Sebastian is an adorable puppy and everyone loves puppies.

Sebastian stan is an amazing actor and he plays jefferson very very very well! He is so talented. That's why I love his roles.

His insanity is what makes him awesome, and his love for his daughter Grace.

He was all right because all he was trying to do was get his daughter back since he loved her so much. - Dearies

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17 Hades

An absolutely twisted mastermind of a character, Hades knows just how to break anyone who gets in his way, from Hook all the way to Rumplestiltskin. - WonkeyDude98

He was easily my favorite villain in the show. He had the best backstory. Problem: he died to easily. All they had to do was point the crystal at him. Heart breaking for Zelena, but cheering for the others.

18 Robin Hood

(! ) SPOILERS(! ) Robin Hood was one of my favorite characters, sooo sad he died though, he was perfect for Regina

19 Sheriff Graham
20 Cruella de Vil Cruella de Vil Cruella de Vil is a fictional character who appeared in Dodie Smith's 1956 novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians, Disney's animated film adaptations 101 Dalmatians and 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure, and Disney's live-action film adaptations 101 Dalmatians and 102 Dalmatians as the main ...read more.

Of all the villians portrayed thus far, she is the ONLY one who doesn't have a motive to become evil. It's clearly stated that she was a troubled child. She poisoned her own father and both of her mothers follow up husbands. for no given specific reason. She was born a true sociopath, she takes the things you love and destroys them. She watched her own mother get ripped apart by dogs, and then killed them also. The only thing she wanted from The Author was what he took from her... The ability to kill again. She is a TRUE villain in this series so, in conclusion, she deserves the Evilest villain award.

Haha Cruella's a badass! I love the way she punched Emma for killing her lol

21 Tinker Bell Tinker Bell

Tinkerbelle is a really orginal character with in the show. She not my ' All time Favourite' but I think that someone should aknowledge her and no body has. Therefore I would like to point out the amaziness of Tinkerbelle. She is VERY Different from her Disney Version ( see profile picture) in that movie series; ' Disney Fairies Fanchieses' she is a tinker fairy ( To tinker - to mend) and the Belle ( a shiny object) but in Once Upon A Time she is a Tink ( meaning to meddle in love) and a Belle ( Beautiful.) and her backstory ( let face it Steathly does quite match up to the backstory Tinkerbelle gets, and Dreamy/Grumpy and Nova ( cool esposide) but singular not reappearing, same with Tiny ( a Tiny gaint - I heard it a millon times) sorry I still like Tiny and Dreamy ( Heard it a million times love between two spieces.) Airel was find ( by more Disney sterotypival - I dsaw a guty and fell in love with him - plus Airel and Snow relationship was a watered down Snow and Red) Therefore ...more

22 Lily

I love Lily because she is the daughter of Maleficent. I like that because it means that the generation of dragons is not over. - Dearies

She's badass

23 Pinocchio/August Booth

I absolutely loved this guy and was really upset when he died. Always hoped that Emma and August would become a couple

He's cool and I love how he got his happy ending by turning back into a boy.

He's August again - Ary33

24 The Mysterious Guy

Who's that?

Who? - jojen_reed

25 Elsa Elsa Queen Elsa of Arendelle is a fictional character who appears in Walt Disney Animation Studios' 53rd animated film Frozen.

He character on once was well written and had great chemistry with the cast especially with Emma & Regina.

My favorite character in Once Upon a Time!

26 Felix

He is a underrated

27 Dr. Victor Frankenstein/Dr. Whale

I just really, really liked his story. I have always been a huge fan of Frankenstein in every form, and this was no different! From Penny Dreadful to Ouat to the Mary Shelley classics- Frankenstein will always have a place in my heart.

WHY IS HE NOT HIGHER UPPP

28 Anna

I love Anna I hate Elsa

29 Cora Mills
30 Ingrid, the Snow Queen

It's not fair. She never ever even deserves to die and neither does nor did Helga. Neither does Gerda. Let's face it. Ingrid would've been there to meet her equally empowered niece, Elsa during Elsa's childbirth the same way Helga would've been there to meet her other niece, Anna during Anna's childbirth too if those stupid, idiotic, idiot writers of Once Upon A Time hadn't killed Helga off nor put Ingrid in that Urn back then before.

Her death is the saddest one by far. Agh!

Loved her.

31 Sidney Glass
32 Merida Merida Princess Merida is a fictional character from Pixar's first ever Disney Princess film, Brave. She is a talented archer who wishes that she were not destined to become the Elegant Queen of Dun Broch. She is forced into a marriage betrothal by her mother, with whom she has a very negative relationship. ...read more.
33 Ursula Ursula Ursula is a fictional character who appears in Walt Disney Pictures' 28th animated feature film The Little Mermaid.
34 Aurora
35 Ariel

One of the best character on the show!

36 Cinderella/Ashlynn
37 Peter Pan's Shadow

How did they make that shadow? ITs awesome!

It fit Peter Pan perfectly

38 Dr. "Archie" Hopper

He is so nice. I love him. - Daviddv0601

JIMINY FOR THE WIN!

39 Leroy

He is hands down the best reoccurring comic relief in the series. Constant off camera shouting about impending doom is enough to make any fan laugh.

40 August Wayne Booth
41 Owen Flynn/Greg Mendell
42 Mother Superior
43 Granny
44 Gepetto/Marco
45 King George
46 Abigail/Kathryn Nolan
47 Prince Phillip
48 William Smee
49 Tamara

Tamara is very bad and very hot!

50 Wendy Darling

She was adorable and beautiful I hope she comes back sometime maybe

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Top Remixes (19)

1. Rumpelstiltskin
2. The Hunter
3. Red Riding Hood/Ruby
Alpha101
1. Rumpelstiltskin
2. Baelfire/Neal Cassidy
3. The Mad Hatter
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1. Captain Hook
2. Prince Charming/David Nolan
3. The Hunter
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