Reign - Getaway - Review

Reign returned from hiatus with “Getaway.” The episode was written by Daniel Sinclair and was directed by Lynne Stopkewich whose other credits include Rookie Blue, The L Word, Haven and Terminal City. Reign returns with a third season renewal already assured, so congratulations to the cast, crew, and writers!

A lot of the storylines seem to have come to a head. I like how the show moves the stories along, though I am getting a bit tired of Mary (Adelaide Kane) and Francis (Toby Regbo) being on again off again. We see Mary finally coming around in this episode only to stumble upon an exhausted Francis innocently asleep in bed with an even more exhausted Lola (Anna Popplewell) with the baby, who had been fussy for days, between them.

There would seem to be trouble ahead for Bash (Torrance Coombs) and Kenna (Caitlin Stasey) even though they begin the episode in bed together. Kenna is ridiculously jealous of Claude (Rose Williams). I did like that we see Kenna being at least marginally clever in deducing that Catherine (Megan Follows) was poisoning Claude. I loved the scene in which Bash tells her to do as he does – follow the clues and make a case. She brings Claude untainted food and makes sure she gets no more of Catherine’s soup. Eventually, Claude is well enough to return to her usual spoiled brat behavior. Kenna is not much better and retaliates by telling Claude that her own mother is trying to poison her. The fight escalates – as they do between women! – and Claude blurts out that she and Bash were lovers. Kenna is furious and lashes out at Bash. Bash is feeling badly about what he’s doing for Francis, but tries to explain there is nothing between him and Claude. Bash doesn't spare her from the truth that he does lie and kill when it’s expedient. But it's clear these things weigh on his mind.

Bash discovers that the Protestant prisoners who were executed in the last episode all have the brand of the Dark Riders. He and Francis deduce that this is the Cardinal’s (Bruce Ramsay) attempt to further whip up sentiment against the Protestants. When Henriette (Ava Preston) comes forward and tells the Cardinal that Conde (Sean Teale) has the brand, the Cardinal is happy to go after him. Francis hatches a plan to make the Cardinal stop his witch hunt. He has Bash brand Randall (Alexander Crowther), the Cardinal’s lover.

Francis is betting that the Cardinal loves Randall enough to abandon his plan. Francis is able to discern real love and caring from the Cardinal towards Randall based on how Francis himself feels about Mary. I loved the initial scene in which Francis brings Mary firewood to make her room warmer and more comfortable. It’s heartbreaking to watch how much he loves her while she tells him she’s going away so as not to give him hope.

Mary smuggles Conde out of the court when the Cardinal comes after him, and he takes her to where his brother, King Antoine (Ben Aldridge) is staying. As always the sets and costumes are lavish for the rather unique party being thrown by Antoine. He pairs men and women who appear to be attracted to each other – but aren’t married – and the couples proceed to have sex virtually in front of the entire court. Both Greer (Celina Sinden) and Mary flee. I found it curious that only Greer went with Mary. Presumably Lola would have to look after her baby, but there really wasn’t any excuse for Kenna not to go.

Mary and Greer share two good scenes. In the first, after escaping the party, Mary confides that she still feels like she is simply sleepwalking through life and is loath to let any man touch her in any way, even a proper touch of the hand. Greer assures her that her feelings are normal and that they will pass. Greer very wisely tells her that if her heart wants to sleep, Mary should let it. She also tells her that the heart can’t be forced out of duty.

Interestingly, Conde is paired with Lady Malboeuf (Ashley Awde) at the party. His “heart” is only persuaded when she covers his eyes and tells him to pretend that she is the one whom he loves. Mary also reveals to him that she got his letter and therefore can’t trust his motives when he suggests she flee to Scotland. Mary acknowledges that Francis has also been hurt. When the Vatican arrives to take Conde away, Mary insists that they must burn the brand off of him and then take him back to the French court for protection. It’s when the brand is being cauterized by Leith (Jonathan Keltz) that Mary takes Conde’s hand.

In their second scene together in the coach on the way back to court, Mary tells Greer that she’s going to keep fighting for Conde because she is strong. She tells Greer that she had to touch him, to hold his hand, to comfort him and that touching him and being able to connect and help has helped her. She also acknowledges that she's not the only one who’s been hurt – that Francis is suffering too. She tells Greer that she misses how easy it had been between them and that now it’s complicated. Mary has come a long way back from her ordeal.

Meanwhile, of course, Francis has vowed to Bash that he’s going to be the man and King that Mary thought she married. He’s determined that their scheme to force the Cardinal to back down will work. I liked the scene in which Francis defies the Cardinal. Regbo is particularly good in this scene. He tells the Cardinal “That’s love when you care more about someone else’s suffering than your own.” In fact, we’re seeing that very sentiment from Mary. But the Cardinal has the final word, and it cuts Francis deeply: “You’ve used your knowledge of the hearts noblest emotion to manipulate and destroy someone.” The Cardinal manages to make Francis feel badly about the victory he’s won. Even when he tries to do the right and noble thing, Francis can’t seem to get it right. It will be interesting to see if the Vatican will retaliate against France.

It was certainly awkward that Leith was assigned to Mary’s escort. I did like the scene at the party when Leith suggests that the one who ought to leave should be the married one. In a nice parallel to Mary telling Francis not to hope at the beginning of the episode, Leith tells Greer not to give him false hope at the end. For being made a regular, Keltz has had relatively little to do. I have to say that I’m still rooting for Castleroy.

I have to admit the poisoning plot has me a bit confused as to where it’s going. Is Catherine crazy? Is she herself being poisoned? Regardless, Claude confronts her and Catherine finally admits that she was poisoning her and why – for murdering her twin sisters when she was five. Claude is utterly shocked and denies doing it, but Catherine is convinced she simply doesn’t remember doing it. In the end, when Claude is going to drink the poison, Catherine knocks the goblet out of her hand.

        Henry (Alan Van Sprang) is seen whispering in her ear as she mixes the poison at the beginning of the episode and then in the creepy 3-way hug at the end. Ultimately, Catherine chooses her living daughter and the spectres of the twins and Henry fade out – but are they gone? Were they ever there? I hope to see this storyline wrapped up soon.

All in all, I think the show has done a good job with the rape storyline. Mary is far from “healed” but she’s made strides towards a recovery. I do hope they don’t have false misunderstandings come between Francis and Mary. Bash tells Mary to ask Francis about what happened with the Vatican, telling her she’ll be proud of Francis, and I do hope she is. It will be interesting to see what the next crisis is facing France, but whatever it is, I hope that Mary and Francis come together to face it. What did you think of the episode? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

About the Author - Lisa Macklem

I do interviews and write articles for the site in addition to reviewing a number of shows, including Supernatural, Arrow, Agents of Shield, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Forever, Defiance, Bitten, Glee, and a few others! Highlights of this past year include covering San Diego Comic Con as press and a set visit to Bitten. When I'm not writing about television shows, I'm often writing about entertainment and media law in my capacity as a legal scholar. I also work in theatre when the opportunity arises. I'm an avid runner and rider, currently training in dressage.