2. Acting: Christina Chong leads the adventure
Christina Chong gives the episode its heart. La’An’s reserved personality has always been part of what defines her, but Chong makes the emotion underneath that reserve easy to see. "Once La'An a Time" also gives her plenty of room to play the comedy of someone deeply uncomfortable as a fairy-tale heroine without losing the pain behind it.
La'An scenes with Prince Dashing are especially effective. Played by Paul Wesley with the face of James T. Kirk, Dashing brings the romance and charm that La’An usually keeps at arm’s length.
Wesley embraces Dashing’s exaggerated bravado, delivering a highly entertaining homage to Westley from The Princess Bride and classic "himbo" fantasy archetypes, while Chong keeps La’An grounded.
La'An and Dashing's banter is fun, but his secret werewolf identity adds another layer to the story’s theme of hidden selves. Both characters worry that revealing who they really are could change how others see them.
Anson Mount brings similar warmth and humor to Sir Amand Rauth, giving Pike’s Elysian counterpart recognizable qualities without turning him into an imitation. Together, the performances keep the episode playful while giving its emotional story real weight.
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