Ep 3. Sleeping Beauty

In the second season of Faerie Tale Theatre, episode 3 brings to life the beloved and classic tale of Sleeping Beauty. Directed by award-winning actress Bonnie Bedelia, this episode captures the whimsy and magic of the original story.

The episode begins by introducing the main character, Princess Aurora, who is cursed at birth by a wicked fairy. The curse states that on her fifteenth birthday, the princess will prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and die. The only hope for the princess is that a good fairy can use her magic to soften the curse to a hundred years of sleep instead.

As the story progresses, we see Princess Aurora grow into a lovely young woman, full of life and laughter. However, the curse looms over her head, and the king and queen are determined to prevent it from coming true. They order all the spinning wheels in the kingdom to be destroyed and have guards posted at the castle gates to prevent any spindles from entering.

Despite these precautions, the curse comes to fruition. Aurora is drawn to a mysterious room in the castle where a spinning wheel is hidden, and she pricks her finger, falling into an eternal slumber.

The good fairy who had softened the curse returns to the castle and puts everyone else to sleep for one hundred years, so that Aurora will not be alone. She then retreats to the forest to wait out the hundred years, knowing that when she wakes up, Aurora will need her to break the curse.

During this time, the forest becomes overgrown and dark and enchanted creatures begin to roam about. We see owls, rabbits and hedgehogs dance around on screen, but they are no match for the wicked fairy who cursed Aurora in the first place. She returns to the castle to ensure that the princess never wakes up, but the good fairy who was waiting in the forest puts her plan into action.

The good fairy uses her magic to wake up a handsome prince who had also been enchanted for a hundred years in his castle. He embarks on a quest to find the sleeping princess, and with the help of the good fairy, he makes it safely past all the obstacles in the castle grounds. When he finds Aurora under the sleeping curse, the prince kisses her and wakes her up, breaking the curse forever.

The two of them run to the prince’s castle to start their happily ever after, but the good fairy stays behind to ensure that everything in Aurora’s kingdom is set right. She returns to the enchanted creatures in the forest and restores everything to its former glory, ensuring that it becomes the magical place it once was.

Faerie Tale Theatre season 2 episode 3 - Sleeping Beauty is a beautiful re-telling of this classic fairy tale. The acting is superb, capturing the whimsy and magic of the story. The costume design and set pieces are breathtaking, transporting the viewer to a world of wonder and enchantment. The expert direction of Bonnie Bedelia allows the story to unfold in a natural and fluid manner, without any awkward or abrupt moments. Overall, Faerie Tale Theatre season 2 episode 3 is a must-see episode for anyone who loves classic fairy tales.