This article is about the Once Upon a Time character. For the Sofia the First character, see Prince James. For other characters with the name, see James.
Prince James is a character on ABC's Once Upon a Time, and the deceased twin brother of David/Prince Charming. He is portrayed by starring cast member Josh Dallas, and does not have a Storybrooke counterpart. He is the biological son of Ruth though was given up to King George and his wife, who couldn't have children. James was raised by King George and grew up as a prince and died when fighting.
Following his death, James resides in the Underworld due to unfinished business, where he finally meets his brother David, whom James hates. James and David have a fight near the docks, which leads to James spending eternity in the River of Souls as he could not move on from the resentment he had of his brother.
History[]
Before the First Curse[]
Prince James is born to Ruth and her husband Robert, along with his twin David. He is traded to Rumplestiltskin to save the family farm. Rumplestiltskin gives the infant to King George, who needs a heir due to his wife being barren and unable to conceive a child. King George names him James and raises the child as his own.
However, James doesn't like the prince life or George's plans to make him a killer and runs away. George, believing he was abducted, promises a reward for the one who can find him. Robert, deciding to take him back to his true family, learned from Rumple that his son is on Pleasure Island. Pinocchio gives him a hand to in finding his son and James learns the truth about his origins. While Pinocchio distracts the Coachman and his minion, Robert and James flee, only to run into King George. After Robert defiantly refuses the reward or to hand over his son, George has his men murder him while covering it up as an accident. With that, James remains as prince, with his morality tainted by George's corrupt influence.
Prince James grows up to be spoiled and irresponsible. He pursues a romantic relationship with Jacqueline, but King George wants James to focus on helping the kingdom, as it is in economical disarray. James and Jack go after the giant, Anton, and they give him a magical mushroom that shrinks him to human size. Jack and James take him to a tavern where Anton enjoys music. Jack tells Anton about the kingdom debts, and Anton decides he wants to help the kingdom with gold by giving them treasure. However, they betray Anton, and climb up the beanstalk to fight a battle to slaughter all the giants and steal their beans. Jack stabs Arlo with her poisoned sword, and he does the same to her. Dying of her the stab wound, Jack calls to James for help, but he refuses to save her and hastily leaves to climb down the beanstalk after gathering a bag of treasures. Anton is the only survivor of the massacre.
Much later on, Prince James spars with Behemoth in a sword fight. After winning the match, the prince meets with King George and King Midas. The three come to an arrangement wherein if the prince can defeat a dragon that has been ravaging Midas' kingdom, Midas will supply George's kingdom with gold using his golden hand, which turns any object into gold upon contact.
After Midas has departed, Behemoth unexpectedly rises and stabs the prince through the torso, killing him. This event necessitates the grieving King George into making an additional deal with Rumplestiltskin. He trades the whereabouts of the Fairy Godmother to the wizard in exchange for the dead prince's twin brother to masquerade in his place.
After his death, his spirit is sent to the Underworld due to having unfinished business. He learns how his brother took his place, growing resentful and hateful towards his brother, although its unclear how James learns of his brother taking his place.
During the Alternate Reality[]
When the author creates an alternate reality with the Heroes and Villains book, James remains dead in this new world, but queen Snow White has her memories altered so she remembers being in love with him. James' death was a result of Regina spilling a secret.
After the Third Curse[]
James becomes Sheriff of the Underworld and begins a sexual relationship with Cruella after her death.
A resentful James knocks David down, ready for the final blow.
Years after his death, James is stuck in the Underworld and enters Granny's Diner where he finds his sister-in-law Mary Margaret. Mistaking him for his brother David, she asks why he changed his clothes and he kisses her. He reveals his identity and realises that if Snow's in the Underworld, so is David. He tells Mary Margaret to tell his brother that there is a new sheriff in town, and leaves right as his twin comes in to catch a glimpse of him.
James and Cruella flirting
Weeks later, while David and Snow are looking for ways to defeat Hades, David poses as James in his sheriff office to try to trick Cruella, who reveals she knows David isn't actually James, after kissing him passionately. James ambushes David as he's bringing supplies. David is apprehensive as Cruella hinted that James resents him for being chosen to be kept by their parents. The underworld sheriff reveals that the diva was wrong; he really angry his brother stole his identity and got everything he would've had if he wasn't killed. He tasers David and locks him in the sheriff station and impersonates him. His disguise easily fools Emma and once they meet up with Robin and his baby daughter, he slaps a cuff to limit her magic. It was all part of a plan by him and Cruella to use the newborn as leverage against Hades (as he's in love with the infant's mother) in order to return to life since the Author, James' great-nephew, refuses to do so. Before James can sentence his niece to eternity in the River of Lost Souls at the harbor, David comes to the rescue with Captain Hook. While Cruella retreats, the twins have a fist fight with David having the upper hand. He tries to reason with his embittered sibling that he can help him move on and find peace, but James exclaims that the former's death is his unfinished business. Refusing to escape with Cruella, he tries to stab his brother with a knife hidden in his sock. However, David redirects James' movement, sending him off the edge of the pier. The vengeful prince plummets into the river and dissolves into it, much to his brother's dismay, who mourns him. Emma tells her father that James clearly could not ever move on from feeling hateful towards David. Although he understands, David expresses his sadness by mentioning that James was still his brother, despite everything.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- James is portrayed by Josh Dallas, who portrays Prince David/Charming.
- James is one of the several siblings of characters shown within the show and the second brother of a starring character. The first is Liam Jones, the brother of Killian Jones/Captain Hook.
- Like David, James has five letters in his name.
- The name "James" is of English origin derived from the name "Jacob", which means "supplanter"
- With both their names, James and David, makes the name "David James", the name of a Canadian singer.
- James is one of the characters to not have a Storybrooke counterpart.
