Reign, “Fugitive,” was written by the team of Doris Egan and Daniel Sinclair and was directed by Norma Bailey. Please forgive the brevity of this review, but I really just wanted to discuss the terrific writing for this episode. It picks up a thread that the show has really focused on this year and highlights the plight and roles available to women in this time period. Even women of power were restricted in what they could control about their lives, and each of the main characters illustrate that in this episode.
Women were most often defined by their relationship to men, and each of the women must face choices and consequences to those relationships in this episode. Mary (Adelaide Kane) comes to realize that she cannot put her heart – Conde (Sean Teale) – before her duty to her countries and to her husband – Francis (Toby Regbo). Interestingly, she confesses to Bash (Torrance Coombs) and then realizes she’s done the same thing to him as she has to both Conde and Francis. She finally seems to have stumbled upon some self-awareness. Alas, historically, this is exactly how Mary acted, making poor choices in love and poorer choices in politics.
Elizabeth provides a very interesting contrast to Mary, and I’m excited to see her next season. Elizabeth used her allure and desirability as a woman as a political tool. She was far more discreet with her affairs and kept them more separate from her rule. The promise of marriage – such as she made to Conde – was a political move she used throughout her reign.
Marriage was one of the few ways for women to find security. Interestingly, we see Lola (Anna Popplewell), Kenna (Caitlin Stasey), and Greer (Celina Sinden) all struggle with that in the episode. Kenna is looking for a new husband to replace Bash and sets her sites on Renaude (Vince Nappo). As she always does, Kenna relies on sex to secure her new man. And as always, that’s all the information that Kenna tries to obtain.
A women’s reputation was everything and Greer and Lola struggle with that somewhat. Narcisse (Craig Parker) is made to do something unforgivable to Lola to prove his devotion to Catherine (Megan Follows). The scene between Parker and Popplewell is excellent as it’s easy to see that she’s right in telling him that she knows there’s more to him than his actions would indicate. He’s clearly hurting that he has to hurt her. However, once her reputation is tarnished in this way, Lola has little chance of finding advancement at court.
Greer, of course, has no chance of advancement at court and has discovered a new talent in business management. Her brothel is booming. There’s no doubt that she loves Leith (Jonathan Keltz), but his offer of marriage is not the security she is looking for. She’s learned first hand what happens to a wife whose husband – and whose husband’s decisions – lands both husband and wife in trouble. Greer refuses Leith because she’s not only more comfortable than she ever would be on his salary, she’s also more in control of her own destiny than she ever would be as a wife. And of course, that’s one of the reasons Elizabeth never married.
Claude (Rose Williams) finds out the hard way what happens when the woman in a liaison wants one thing and the man another. The woman has little or no recourse. I think it’s just a matter of time before Leith and Claude have an incredibly inappropriate relationship. But that would make her her mother’s daughter. Narcisse cautions Catherine not to be so caught up in the mechanics of power that she cuts herself off from her emotions and real love. Narcisse may be right to a point, but the fact of the matter is, the landscape for men and women was very different.
What did you think of the episode? Were you shocked to see Conde prepared to take up arms to rebel against Mary and Francis? Do you think there’s any chance that Mary and Francis will end the season back together? Should they? Should Greer have accepted Leith’s proposal? Do you think that Narcisse will be able to let things stand as they are with Lola? 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.
