What I’m Watching: Once Upon a Time

Once Upon a Time: Season 1, Episode 11 “Fruit of the Poisonous Tree” (C+)

You’d think that Emma would have at least a little tact. Sure, it’s possible to let anger drive your actions, but for someone already in a precarious position that she ascended to quite quickly, she doesn’t seem to be thinking very much in any situation, trusting just about anyone, be it Mr. Gold or Sidney, only bothering to verify the accuracy of their claims once it’s far too late. The story of how the Magic Mirror got to be trapped within it once again underscores the fact that Regina is pure evil, faking affection for the kindly Genie and tricking him into murdering the king for her. I’m pleased to see Richard Schiff back on television, here and in another Sunday night series, Showtime’s “House of Lies.” As tends to be the case on this show, it appears this will be his only appearance, as he’s officially dead and therefore won’t be popping up in Storybrooke anytime soon. Given what we’ve seen of the Magic Mirror in previous episode, it’s clear that he just never learns his lesson, coming later to trust the Queen once again, and Sidney is acting in exactly the same manner, doing anything he can to make Regina happy. That can’t possibly end well, but by the time he realizes that she’s just using him, Emma won’t be able to trust him anymore. Mary Margaret’s secret romance with David is being rather comic, as evidenced by her giggly affirmation of Sidney’s claim that doing the right thing can be validated even if achieved by the wrong means.