With the season three premiere of Reign, “Three Queens,” mere hours away, here’s a quick, down and dirty re-cap of last season’s finale, “Burn,” written by Laurie McCarthy and Nancy Won and directed be Fred Gerber. The premiere is written by showrunner Laurie McCarthy and directed by Holly Dale. McCarthy just revealed today that the illness revealed in the final moments of last season will in fact result in Francis’s (Tony Regbo) death this season. As far as history goes, they have their hands tied, but this is certainly a blow for the show, especially in light of Regbo’s terrific performances last season – particularly in the finale.
Here’s what you missed if you missed “Burn.” Mary (Adelaide Kane) thwarts Conde’s (Sean Teale) attack with the help of Greer’s (Celina Sinden) ladies, who poison his men and then run about declaring it’s the plague. Mary lies to Conde saying she’s seeking asylum with him and that she’s expecting his baby before she stabs him. Francis leads the charge against Conde, becoming a hero in the process.
The celebration is cut short when news arrives that Francis’ son has been killed by kidnappers before he and Lola (Anna Popplewell) could return to the castle. Rego was simply outstanding in both the scene in which he confronts Conde in the dungeon and the scene in which Mary comforts him. I can only imagine how heart-wrenching his scenes will be this coming season.
Narcisse (Craig Parker) has finally had enough of Catherine (Megan Follows) even before the news about Lola and the baby. He goes to Francis asking to go after Lola and forever breaks with Catherine by telling Mary and Francis that it’s Catherine who devised the plot to force Francis’ hand against Conde. Narcisse successfully rescues Lola and the baby and they exchange a look after Catherine spits in Narcisse’s face, so it looks like their romance may be on again!
Francis banishes Catherine from court after stripping her of everything. Catherine flees to England, and we last see her in the company of Queen Elizabeth (Rachel Skarsten). Elizabeth is also responsible for breaking Conde out of jail and Teale returns as a regular this season.
Mary and Francis finally seem to have come past their difficulties, and we end the season much as we started with them making passionate love. While I’ve been pulling for the two to get back together, this felt a lot like the season was a bit forced in keeping them apart. I would have preferred a season in which the two faced their problems together. But maybe that’s just me…
Renaude (Vince Nappo) is killed right in front of Kenna (Caitlin Stasey) right after telling her to save herself and her reputation. I just can’t warm up to Kenna who really doesn’t seem all that bothered by Renaude’s death except for how it affects her. In typical Kenna fashion, she goes back to Bash (Torrance Coombs) and begs him to take her back. They have sex, and she’s planning to tell him that the baby she’s already carrying is his. Unfortunately for her, Delphine (Alexandra Ordolis) already has plans for Bash and outs Kenna’s secret to him. By the end of the episode, we see Kenna has left court to try to save her reputation by having the baby abroad and giving it up for adoption. However, before she can get to her Swedish benefactors, she meets a Russian Prince and sets her sights on him. Stasey is not listed as either a regular or recurring character for season three, so it’s quite possible we have seen the last of her.
It seems that the supernatural element in the show will continue. Ordolis is not listed in the cast as yet, but she certainly seems to have put a lasting hex on Bash. Whatever black magic she put on him, he has a dream in which she says she’s bound him to her. He wakes ‘on fire’ only to see Delphine about to be burned as a witch. Somehow, she manages to jump out of the flames and runs away. Remember how vehemently she asked not to be drowned? Apparently, that’s the only way you can kill a witch. It will be interesting to see what if any the ramifications are from this.
Finally, in the last shots of the episode, we see Francis talking with a returned Nostradamus (Rossif Sutherland). Will he continue to have his visions or simply be back to look after Francis in his illness? Regardless, Sutherland is listed as recurring once again in season three.
Are you excited for the new season? Sound off below with your favorite scene from the season two finale and what you most hope will happen in season three!
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, Agent Carter, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, The X-Files, Defiance, Bitten, Killjoys, and a few others! I'm active on the Con scene when I have the time. 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.
