Regarding Regina's actions: sometimes people cannot break the family dynamics they grew up with (like adults who act like children when they visit their parents). I felt that maybe Regina just has no moral compass of her own: when she is with Henry she tries to win his approval by trying to be good... and when she is with her Mother she tries to win approval by being the evil daughter/Queen her Mother always wanted her to be. So maybe she is more consistent than she looks, she is always weak and easily led.

Or not. I hope the writers have actual reasons/intentions behind these story lines.

Pretty much the only character I'm all that interested in is Rumplestiltskin,...