Once Upon a Time Ruby and Dorothy: A Deep Dive into One of Television's Most Beloved Fairy Tale Romances
Introduction
Once Upon a Time is an American fantasy drama television series that aired on ABC from 2011 to 2018, captivating audiences with its modern-day retelling of classic fairy tales and folklore. Among the many enchanting relationships that unfolded across the show's seven seasons, the romance between Ruby Mills (also known as Red Riding Hood) and Dorothy stands out as one of the most heartfelt and culturally significant storylines. Ruby and Dorothy's love story transcended the boundaries of traditional fairy tale storytelling, offering viewers a powerful narrative about identity, acceptance, and the courage to love openly. Their relationship became a landmark moment in television history, particularly for LGBTQ+ representation in the fantasy genre. This article explores the full depth of Ruby and Dorothy's journey, their individual character arcs, the significance of their romance, and why their story continues to resonate with fans years after the series concluded It's one of those things that adds up. Surprisingly effective..
The Characters: Ruby Mills and Dorothy Explained
Ruby Mills — The Red Riding Hood of Storybrooke
Ruby Mills is the modern-day counterpart of the fairy tale character Little Red Riding Hood in the world of Once Upon a Time. That said, played by actress Meghan Ory, Ruby is introduced in the first season of the show as a seemingly ordinary young woman living in the fictional town of Storybrooke, Maine. Still, as the series progresses, it becomes clear that Ruby carries a much deeper identity. In the fairy tale realm, she is known as Red Riding Hood, a brave and independent young woman who is also secretly a werewolf. This dual nature becomes a central part of her character, symbolizing the idea that people often carry hidden aspects of themselves that they fear to reveal It's one of those things that adds up..
Real talk — this step gets skipped all the time Easy to understand, harder to ignore..
Ruby's storyline in the show is rich with themes of transformation, self-acceptance, and the struggle between her human side and her wolf side. She grapples with the fear that her true nature makes her dangerous or unworthy of love. That's why this internal conflict mirrors the experiences of many people who feel they must hide parts of their identity to be accepted by others. Her journey toward embracing her full self — both human and wolf — sets the stage for one of the most meaningful relationships in the series.
Dorothy — The Girl from Oz
Dorothy, the beloved protagonist of The Wizard of Oz, also finds her way into the world of Once Upon a Time. Portrayed by Matreya Scarrwener and later by other actresses across different timelines, Dorothy is a kind-hearted, courageous young woman whose story begins in the magical land of Oz. In the fairy tale world, Dorothy is known for her journey along the Yellow Brick Road, her encounters with the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion, and her eventual return home. In the show, Dorothy's story takes on additional layers, particularly as she becomes entangled in the fairy tale curse and the struggles of the Enchanted Forest inhabitants.
Dorothy's character represents hope, resilience, and an unwavering sense of compassion. She is not defined by her circumstances but rather by her ability to find goodness and courage in the face of adversity. When her path crosses with Ruby's, the connection between the two women is immediate, genuine, and deeply transformative for both characters Most people skip this — try not to..
The Ruby and Dorothy Romance: A Step-by-Step Breakdown
Meeting in the Enchanted Forest
The romance between Ruby and Dorothy begins in the Enchanted Forest, the magical realm where many fairy tale characters originally lived before being cursed by the Evil Queen. Their meeting is not accidental — it is a convergence of two strong, independent women who recognize something special in each other. Unlike many fairy tale romances that follow a heterosexual narrative, Ruby and Dorothy's connection is built on mutual respect, shared experiences of loss, and a deep emotional understanding.
The Development of Their Relationship
As the series progresses, Ruby and Dorothy's relationship develops gradually. They support each other through personal struggles, with Dorothy offering Ruby a sense of stability and acceptance that she has not always found elsewhere. For Ruby, Dorothy represents someone who sees her not as a monster or a cursed creature, but as a whole person worthy of love. Dorothy, in turn, finds in Ruby a partner who understands the weight of carrying a hidden identity and the courage it takes to live authentically.
Challenges and Triumphs
Like any meaningful relationship, Ruby and Dorothy's love faces obstacles. In practice, the fairy tale curse, the machinations of villains, and the ever-present danger of the Enchanted Forest all test their bond. On the flip side, their love proves resilient. The show handles their relationship with sincerity and respect, never reducing it to a mere plot device but instead treating it as a genuine, deeply felt romance that deserves the same narrative weight as any heterosexual love story in the series.
The Impact of Their Love Story
The significance of Ruby and Dorothy's romance extends far beyond their individual characters. By centering a same-sex love story within a fairy tale framework, Once Upon a Time challenged long-standing conventions in the genre. Fairy tales have traditionally been heteronormative, and the show's decision to give Ruby and Dorothy a meaningful, canon romantic relationship was a bold and progressive move. It demonstrated that love stories between women could be just as epic, emotional, and central to a narrative as any other romance That alone is useful..
Why Ruby and Dorothy's Story Matters
LGBTQ+ Representation in Fantasy Television
The representation of Ruby and Dorothy's relationship in Once Upon a Time was interesting for its time. Even so, the show aired at a period when LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream television was growing but still uneven, particularly in the fantasy and fairy tale genres. By placing a lesbian romance at the heart of its storytelling, the show sent a powerful message: love is love, regardless of the genre or the gender of the people involved Worth keeping that in mind..
For many viewers, especially young LGBTQ+ audiences, seeing Ruby and Dorothy's love story validated their own experiences and feelings. It showed them that they deserved to see themselves reflected in the stories they loved — in fairy tales, in fantasy, and in the kind of sweeping romantic narratives typically reserved for heterosexual couples Simple, but easy to overlook..
The Symbolism of Ruby's Werewolf Identity
Ruby's werewolf identity adds a rich layer of symbolism to her relationship with Dorothy. Practically speaking, the wolf represents Ruby's true, unfiltered self — the part of her that she fears the world will reject. Dorothy's acceptance of Ruby in both her human and wolf forms becomes a powerful metaphor for unconditional love. Dorothy does not ask Ruby to hide or suppress who she is; instead, she embraces every part of her. This message of total acceptance is one of the most beautiful aspects of their relationship.
Challenging Fairy Tale Norms
Fairy tales have long been a cornerstone of Western storytelling, but they have also traditionally reinforced rigid social norms, particularly around gender and sexuality. It asks the audience to reconsider who gets to be the hero, who gets the love story, and what a "fairy tale ending" really looks like. In practice, ruby and Dorothy's relationship challenges these norms head-on. By giving Ruby and Dorothy a happy, fulfilling romantic arc, the show reclaims the fairy tale for a more inclusive audience Still holds up..
Real-World Impact and Fan
Response:
The legacy of Ruby and Dorothy’s relationship in Once Upon a Time extends beyond the screen, inspiring a broader cultural shift toward inclusive storytelling. Their romance became a touchstone for LGBTQ+ advocacy, proving that same-sex love could thrive even in genres historically resistant to such narratives. And fans celebrated the show for normalizing queer relationships without reducing them to tokenism or tragedy, a rarity in mainstream media. Their story also sparked conversations about the importance of representation in shaping societal attitudes, particularly for younger audiences navigating their identities The details matter here..
By embedding their love story within a fairy tale, Once Upon a Time redefined what these timeless tales could represent. It showed that inclusivity and progressiveness need not come at the expense of tradition but can instead enrich the genre’s emotional depth. But ruby and Dorothy’s journey—marked by courage, vulnerability, and unwavering loyalty—proved that love, in all its forms, is the ultimate fairy tale ending. Their relationship remains a testament to the power of storytelling to challenge norms, encourage empathy, and affirm that every love story deserves to be told.
