Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: C+ | 4 USERS: C YOU GRADE IT I Dream Of Sidney
By Cindy McLennan | Season 1 | Episode 11 | Aired on 01.29.2012
Anyhow, Regina's sob story works on Genie, who says he knows about being trapped. He pulls an ornate mirror out of his genie pants (no, really) and gives it to Regina, so she can see herself as he sees her. When Regina asks how he sees her, Genie says, "As the fairest in all the land." Dupe.
Storybrooke, Mary Margaret's Hovel: Mary returns from her assignation to find Emma and Sidney working on their plan. Emma insists she wants to do everything the right way, but there's no way they could find a judge who isn't already in Regina's clutches, because...um...Storybrooke has its own legal system. Um? Sidney suggests they do thing his way, aka the wrong way, because it's okay to do bad things for a good reason. Mary blurts out that she totally agrees. Emma sinks in her chair and accuses them of rationalizing. Shut up, Emma. Shut up, Show. Shut up, Readers. Mary and David are NOT doing anything wrong. They just think they are. La la la. I can't hear you. Sidney plays the Henry-card and says they have to do something. Emma suggests they start by talking to Regina.
Regina's Office: Regina refers to Sidney as the "disgraced ex-reporter" which, in my opinion, is an even bigger tip-off that she and Sidney are in cahoots. She is trying too hard, here. Anyhow, Emma tells Regina about the missing funds, and the missing records that could/would document what has happened to that money. Regina says she probably checked out the records and if she checked them out three weeks ago, they burned in the fire that helped Emma win the sheriff's election. Smiling, she adds, "I have nothing to hide."
Emma leans over the desk and stares at Regina's face. When I first watched this scene, I thought she was trying to activate her lie-detection "super power." And now, despite what else Emma is really doing (which I'll get to in a minute) I again think that's true. I really think Emma knows she is being set-up and is setting up Sidney and Regina, in return. Delusional? Perhaps. But it's helping me get this recap with minimal bitterness, so I don't care. Just watch Emma's face here as she tells Regina, "Okay." Listen to her voice as she says, "There's nothing for us to do. Let's go, Sidney." When Sidney protests, watch the sidelong look Emma gives him as she walks past him and through the door. Listen to how clipped she is, when she says, "No. She's right. We have nothing."
Outside Sidney berates Emma's plan. "I thought you were going to do something." Emma never looks at him. She just says, "I did. I planted a bug. You win, Sidney. Let's do whatever it takes." Now, granted all my rationalizing about her demeanor may just be that, but I believe in her super power. Oh and to the people in the forum who are complaining about Emma's hair looking so good, given her job, to you, I also say, "Pshaw." She is a fairy tale princess, and daughter of same. Beautiful hair is clearly another one of her super powers. So there.