Existing fictional characters introduced to the series during the season include Captain Hook, Princess Aurora, Mulan, Prince Phillip, Robin Hood, the Darling family, and the Lost Boys.

When Rumplestiltskin / Mr. Gold successfully introduces magic into the real world, some of the Storybrooke residents try to figure out how to return home, leading to an incident with the Mad Hatter's teleporting hat that causes Emma and Snow White / Mary Margaret to be accidentally transported to the Enchanted Forest.

Meanwhile, Rumplestiltskin works to bypass the protective boundary and leave Storybrooke to find his missing son Baelfire, who is revealed to be Henry's father.

[24] Co-creators Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis spoke about the repercussions of the first season finale's events, stating, "Magic as we know always comes with a price and we are introducing it to a world where it has never been before and I think that's going to have unpredictable results.

[31] In the same month, it was announced that The Tudors star Sarah Bolger and The Hangover Part II actress Jamie Chung had joined the recurring cast as Princess Aurora and Mulan.

[32][33] On August 3, 2012, The Rite actor Colin O'Donoghue booked the recurring role of Captain Killian "Hook" Jones, the prime antagonist of J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan.

[35] The same day, it was reported that True Blood's Michael Raymond-James had joined the season's recurring cast in an unknown role, described only as "mysterious".

[41] In October 2012, Can't Hardly Wait star Ethan Embry joined the recurring cast as an unknown visitor to Storybrooke.

[43][44] Tony Perez (Prince Henry) and Alan Dale (King George / Albert Spencer) both made recurring appearances in some capacity throughout the season.

[52] Caprica actor John Pyper-Ferguson guest starred in "Welcome to Storybrooke" as Kurt Flynn, a widower who longs to aid his son after experiencing the loss of his mother.