Once Upon a Timestar Jamie Chung looks back on Mulan’s ending and near-relationship with Aurora. Starting in season 2 of the ABC fantasy series,Chung played Mulan, offering a fresh take on the beloved Disney character. Her storyline primarily intersected with that of Aurora (Sarah Bolger), with the two embarking on a quest in early season 2 that resulted in Mulan developing feelings for the princess. However, before she could confess the truth, Aurora revealed she and Prince Phillip (Julian Morris) were expecting a baby. From then on, Mulan appeared sporadically onOnce Upon a Timeand never gained another love interest.
In an interview withScreen Rant’s Rachel Foertsch for her episode of Fox’sAccused, Chung looked back on Mulan’sOnce Upon a Timearc, particularly when it involved Aurora.Chung shared that she hopes Mulan found her own person to love, and described an upside to her unrequited feelings for Aurora. Adding that it was a choice she opted to make herself, the actor said she believes Mulan and Aurora’s relationship might’ve gone a different way if she confessed her love. Chung’s conversation withScreen Rantis below:
Screen Rant:Looking back at Once Upon a Time, what do you think happened to Mulan? She had a bit of an open ending.
Jamie Chung:Oh, she really did. I’d like to think that she found her person. She realized that Princess Aurora found her person, and she’s going to leave that where it is. I think she left heartbroken, but I think it kind of fueled her passion. It led her to be more vulnerable, because I think, had she been vulnerable with Princess Aurora, I think it would’ve had a different ending if she just spoke her truth. But I think she continued on with the broken heart, and she found joy and happiness after. That’s what I’d like to think. Or she died a warrior. So either or.
Screen Rant:Now I’m curious. What do you think Mulan’s ending would’ve been if she was honest with Aurora?
Jamie Chung:I think it really would’veled Aurora to make a really tough decision. An interesting decison.
Screen Rant:I know fans loved that relationship.
Jamie Chung:I really did too. I don’t think it was written like that on the page, butthat’s the choice that I made because it’s more interesting, is it not?I love that they allowed me to play that version of the character’s choice because I found it to be far more interesting than just letting her go.
What Chung’s Comments Mean For Once Upon A Time
Chung Understands Her Character Well
The relationship between Mulan and Aurora, affectionately dubbed “Sleeping Warrior,” has long been a favorite amongOnce Upon a Timefans, particularly because it was the first time the show touched upon queer themes. However, outside of the scene where Mulan walks away from Aurora, crestfallen after learning about the baby,Once Upon a Timedid little to expand on the potentialof this romance and how it impacted Mulan’s character as a whole. Chung’s comments show what a missed opportunity this was.
While most keyOnce Upon a Timecharactersreceived proper endings, Mulan is one recurring figure whose presence on the show dwindled and ultimately didn’t get any clear resolution. That Chung is left to theorize about her character’s ending demonstrates how much untapped potential Mulan had, something that is further shown by Chung being the one to make the decision about the heroine’s feelings for Aurora. At the same time, Chung’s comments also highlight how, even though it was brief,the Mulan and Aurora dynamic proved to be one ofOnce Upon a Time’s best.
Our Take On Once Upon A Time’s Mulan Story
Mulan Deserved A Proper Ending
Considering how one ofOnce Upon a Time’s hallmarks was the value of a happy ending, I’ve always found it sad that Mulan never got proper closure. Chung was a great addition to the cast and played the character well, andher quiet feelings for Aurora made her even more compelling. It would’ve been nice to seeOnce Upon a Timeexplore this in greater depth, whether by bringing back Aurora or by showing Mulan finding love elsewhere in her adventures.
Still, Chung’s comments on the topic are refreshing, since they show she feels the same amount of fondness for the Mulan/Aurora pairing that fans do. Though nothing is in the works, a few stars have recently commented on the possibility of aOnce Upon a Timerevival, and while one isn’t necessary, it would at least provide an opportunity to give this storyline proper closure. Chung has a great sense of Mulan’s character, and it would be wonderful to see her step into the role one more time.
Once Upon A Time
Cast
Once Upon a Time is an adventure fantasy-drama series created for ABC that features fairy tale characters and their Disney incarnations in a modern setting. When Emma Swan and her son Henry accidentally drive into the town of Storybrooke, they soon discover the inhabitants are those from fairy tales, and they have no knowledge of the modern world inhabited by Emma and Henry. Robbed of their pasts and given new identities by the Evil Queen known as Regina, the hope of the town’s residents lie solely in the hands of Emma, who has stronger connections to the town than she knows.
