When people think about Dorothy Gale, they usually picture Judy Garland in a gingham dress, clutching a basket and singing about rainbows. But if you grew up watching ABC’s Once Upon a Time, your version of Dorothy is probably a lot grittier. Honestly, the show’s take on the character was a total 180 from the classic 1939 film. Instead of a lost child, we got a "warrior for good" who wasn't afraid to go toe-to-toe with Zelena, the Wicked Witch of the West.
It’s kind of wild how much the show tweaked the lore.
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Most fans remember Dorothy Gale in Once Upon a Time as a recurring figure who first popped up in season 3. At first, she was played by Matreya Scarrwener, capturing that young, innocent Kansas vibe. But by the time she returned in season 5, the character had aged up and was played by Teri Reeves. She wasn't just a farm girl anymore. She was a hardened survivor of the Oz political landscape.
The Kansas-to-Oz Pipeline Nobody Expected
In the Once universe, Dorothy’s story begins similarly to the books—a tornado, a house, and a dead witch. But things get messy fast. When she lands in Oz, she meets Glinda and Zelena. Here’s the kicker: Zelena is actually terrified of her because of a prophecy claiming a "child of Kansas" will defeat her.
You’ve probably noticed that Once Upon a Time loves a good prophecy.
Dorothy ends up "killing" Zelena with a bucket of water, but it’s a fake-out. Zelena survives, poses as the Wizard, and tricks Dorothy into leaving Oz using those famous silver slippers.
Why the Time Jump Matters
A big point of confusion for viewers was Dorothy’s age. If she visited Oz decades ago, why wasn't she an old woman by season 5? The show sort of hand-waves this by implying that time moves differently in Oz or that the magic of the slippers kept her young. Basically, the writers needed her to stay in her twenties so she could participate in the season 5 B-plot in the Underworld and beyond.
When we see the adult Dorothy, she’s become a legitimate threat. She’s leading a resistance against Zelena and has traded her pigtails for a leather-clad, crossbow-wielding aesthetic. It’s a bit jarring if you’re a purist, but it fits the show’s "fairytales with an edge" brand.
The "Ruby Slippers" Relationship That Divided the Fandom
We have to talk about the episode "Ruby Slippers." This is where Dorothy Gale in Once Upon a Time becomes a major piece of television history. In this episode, Dorothy meets Ruby (Red Riding Hood), and they realize they’re both outcasts looking for a place to belong.
It was the show’s first canon LGBTQ+ relationship.
- The Nicknames: Dorothy calls Ruby "Wolfie," and Ruby calls her "Kansas." It’s cute, if a bit fast-paced.
- The Curse: Zelena puts Dorothy under a Sleeping Curse.
- The Kiss: Ruby travels to the Underworld and back to Oz to deliver True Love’s Kiss.
Now, look, some fans felt this was rushed. They meet and fall in "True Love" within about forty minutes of screen time. Compared to the years-long slow burn of Snow White and Prince Charming, it felt a little like the writers were checking a box. However, for others, seeing a classic character like Dorothy find happiness with another woman was a huge win for representation. It remains one of the most talked-about moments in the later seasons.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Dorothy’s Powers
There’s a common misconception that Dorothy has magic. She doesn't. Not really. In the Once Upon a Time world, Dorothy’s "power" is basically just her courage and her status as the "blessed" protector of Oz. Unlike Regina or Zelena, who can throw fireballs, Dorothy relies on her wits and her dog, Toto.
Speaking of Toto, did you know the dog was actually a gift from a Munchkin in this version? Little details like that are easy to miss.
Fact Check: The Silver Slippers vs. Ruby Slippers
If you’re a book nerd, you know Dorothy had silver shoes in the original L. Frank Baum novels. The ruby red ones were a creation for the Technicolor movie. Once Upon a Time actually tries to honor both. They start out as silver, but the show calls the Dorothy/Ruby ship "Ruby Slippers" as a meta-nod to both the movie and Red Riding Hood’s name. It’s clever, actually.
Why Dorothy’s Ending Feels Unfinished
After the big kiss in season 5, Dorothy and Ruby basically vanish. They stay in Oz to rule/protect it, and we rarely hear from them again. For a character as iconic as Dorothy Gale, it felt like a bit of a quiet exit. We never see her interact with the main Storybrooke crew in a meaningful way after that.
If you're looking for closure, here is the "as-is" reality:
- Dorothy is alive and well in Oz.
- She is in a committed relationship with Ruby.
- Zelena eventually redeems herself (sort of), meaning their blood feud likely cooled off off-screen.
Honestly, the way the show handled Dorothy was a mixed bag. She was a strong, queer-coded warrior who broke the mold of the "damsel," but she suffered from the typical late-season OUAT problem of being introduced just to fulfill a specific plot point and then sidelined.
How to Re-Experience the Oz Arc
If you’re planning a rewatch to focus specifically on Dorothy Gale’s journey, you don't need to watch the whole series. You can get the gist by sticking to these specific episodes:
- Season 3, Episode 20 ("Kansas"): This gives you the origin story and the first meeting with Zelena.
- Season 5, Episode 16 ("Our Decay"): This establishes the adult Dorothy and her rivalry with Zelena in the "present" day.
- Season 5, Episode 18 ("Ruby Slippers"): This is the essential episode for her relationship with Ruby and the conclusion of her main arc.
Dorothy Gale in the Once universe might not be the girl you remember from the old movies, but she’s a fascinating example of how modern television can take a 100-year-old character and make her relevant to a whole new generation. She’s tough, she’s complicated, and she finally got to click her heels and find a home that wasn't just a farm in Kansas.
To really understand the nuance of this version, pay attention to the dialogue in "Ruby Slippers"—it’s where the writers stop treating her like a prop and start treating her like a person with actual agency.