The final two episodes of
Reign’s fall season pick up Mary’s (Adelaide Kane) story after the death of Francis (Toby Regbo). I was very sorry to see Regbo go, despite history’s necessity that he do so, but I have to say that these final two episodes were both quite compelling. “Fight or Flight” was written by Lisa Randolph and directed by Charles Biname and “The Hound and the Hare” was written by the team of Bo Yeon Kim and Erika Lippoldt and directed by Anne Wheeler. For Bo Yeon Kim and Erika Lippoldt this is the only writing credit.
“Fight or Flight” starts with what looks like a headlong flight, but is really just Charles (Spencer MacPherson) and Bash (Torrance Coombs) out for an exhilarating ride. Bash tells Charles that he’s there for him, as he was for Francis, as a brother, “free of politics.” They are met on their return by Lord Grenier (Ted Whittall), who is clearly all politics – though he presents Charles with a hunting dog as a “gift” from the Privy Council.
It seems as if Charles is still the empty headed Prince, interested only in hunting and having a good time, but as the episode progresses it seems he is much more. He recognizes Grenier for what he is and seeks Mary’s help, in turn, promising to uphold Francis’ wishes to protect Mary and offering her a sanctuary from which to consider her possible suitors.
As this episode opens, Greer (Celina Sinden) is helping Mary to pack up her chambers. It’s three weeks after Francis’ death. Now that she is no longer Queen of France, she must take more modest quarters. Mary is packing Francis’ clothes away, but stops the servants to take out the coat he wore at their wedding. By the end of the episode, we see her symbolically fold the coat and place it in its own chest. I’m glad the show didn’t stretch out Mary – and our – mourning. This felt right. Mary is clearly not “over” Francis, but she doesn’t have the luxury of wallowing in her grief.
Bash comes to tell Mary that Catherine (Megan Follows) isn’t faring as well. She hasn’t left her chambers and seems paralyzed by her grief… until Mary and Bash tell her the Privy Council is moving on without her. Catherine is incredulous that Mary would help her, but Mary tells her that she is honoring the promise that she made to Francis – to stay and see that Catherine becomes Regent, even though Catherine tells her that her first act as Regent would have to be to pull the French troops from Scotland.
It’s always a joy to watch Kane and Follows together, and it seems we may be getting a fair bit of this going forward. Catherine and Mary go to the Privy Council only to find Grenier well in control. Mary turns once again to Greer for help. It’s a little funny that while Greer discerns that Grenier is gay, it’s Mary who discerns that Lady Grenier is as well. Regardless, they discover what Grenier is doing with the cash from the sales of his vineyards. He’s buying a mercenary army and plans to profit off sending them to Scotland.
Catherine and Mary once again confront Grenier, and this time he leaves. Catherine has a dilemma on her hands. As Regent, she honor the will of the people and bring the troops back, but she now feels she must also honor Francis’ dying wish to look out for Mary. Mary once again steps up and takes the matter out of Catherine’s hands, relieving France of its duties to Scotland.
There’s a wonderful scene between Mary and Catherine as Mary laments what she is to do now. Greer has already urged her to start looking for a marriage alliance. Mary tells Catherine that she’s really known no other home than France and worries she won’t be able to attract a suitor. Catherine tells her that she’s still a Queen and comforts her as she cries. As already mentioned, Charles steps up to tell Mary to stay in France where she can best present herself as an attractive match.
Narcisse (Craig Parker) and Lola (Anna Popplewell) are back at court, but the newlyweds appear to be having a bumpy patch. Narcisse is already growing tired of his new bride and suggests that they broaden their erotic horizons. He wants her to be the aggressor – funny given what happens in the next episode! Lola is not comfortable with the idea, suggesting it would make her feel either masculine or like a “working girl.” Narcisse is clearly unhappy as he says it’s alright.
Meanwhile, Catherine takes Mary and Bash’s advice to seek solace in the music room, only to find a different kind of solace. She catches Christophe (Nathaniel Middleton) with another servant making love and sends them packing. The girl runs off, but Christophe is clearly unrepentant.
Catherine catches Narcisse literally with his pants down as he’s being fitted for new clothes. She vows to lay waste to his newfound happiness. As they spar, she grabs him by the crotch. He tells her that he’s going to have a seat on the Privy Council. He challenges her to either let go of him or finish the job. He is shocked – as I’m sure we all were – when she goes down on her knees to do just that. However, much to my disappointment, he doesn’t push her away.
Later that night, Catherine satisfies her own desires in a steamy night with Christophe. Lola is now prepared to compromise with Narcisse, but he’s now not interested. He looks guilty as he rolls away from his bride, but the damage is done. Catherine tells her lady-in-waiting that she’s found the crack in his marriage – and it’s clear that she’s already started laying waste to his happiness.
Claude (Rose Williams) meanwhile pursues Leith (Jonathan Keltz). She tells him that she’s going to set him up with a woman who is only slightly above his station – so still an acceptable match for both sides. She will have to tutor him in the finer manners, however. So we are treated to a couple of fun scenes as she teaches him table manners and dancing. And we know from Mary and Francis how important those dance scenes can be! In the end, he figures out that there is no reception or girl. Claude admits that she just wanted to spend time with him. She insists that she is a princess and therefore free to follow her heart. Of course, this is complete rubbish as the nobility are always pawns for alliances through marriage… but we’ll just wave our hands at that for now.
This episode also focuses on England and what Elizabeth (Rachel Skarsten) is up to. She forces Dudley (Charlie Carrick) back to court by appointing Amy (Clara Pasieka) Keeper of the Swans – a post she can’t refuse. I loved the spider earrings Elizabeth wore for most of the episode as she laid the webs for her prey! Inevitably, Dudley also returns to Elizabeth’s bed.
It’s interesting that Elizabeth refers to Mary as an enchanter of men to Nicholas (Nick Lee), who has returned to the English court. She also wants to know how Amy seduced Dudley back and away from her. This creates quite a nice little parallel equating Mary and Amy with Scotland and Dudley – the people between her and what she wants. It may also help explain why she hates Mary so much!
Amy continues her own plotting and quite skin-crawlingly enlists the help of a doctor (Robert Verlaque) to convince Dudley that she has a tumor and is dying and therefore must leave court to seek treatment in Cornwall. Once again, Dudley breaks it off, but Elizabeth sees this as fate – they need only bide their time now until Amy dies!
Elizabeth is drooling to take over Scotland when she hears Mary has released the French troops. Nicholas tell her that Mary is a widow and heartbroken, yet did the right thing by France. He urges Elizabeth to follow her example. She concedes that she has no interest in maintaining an unstainable war, but it’s clear she still wants to defeat Mary. She decides to enlist the help of Gideon Blackburn (Ben Geurens). He’s in the tower because he was loyal to Elizabeth’s predecessor, Queen Mary. She guarantees his loyalty to her by holding his daughter Agatha hostage. Elizabeth tells him to make Mary fall in love with him.
“The Hound and the Hare” begins with Mary and Don Carlos (Mark Ghanime) beginning their courtship. He tells her about his previous meeting with Elizabeth. He asks Mary to play the hound and the hare game with him. He tells her that it is a bit of harmless fun, but it reveals things about the players. Kane is wonderfully subtle here. She is clearly disturbed but manages to hide it though she does say that she has to decline his suggestion. I have to admit that I didn’t make the connection until Catherine does later in the episode. Of course the last thing Mary wants to do is have a man chase her through the woods after having been raped!
Catherine thanks Mary for helping her with the Privy Council, and Mary gets some good news from Scotland when James writes to tell her Elizabeth has withdrawn her troops – though they are still massed on the border. Mary confronts Blackburn. He is transcribing their entire conversation so as not to have the same problems as Nicholas, but has the record stricken when he blurts out how beautiful Mary is. Of course, he’s simply playing his part, and their relationship – whatever it will turn into – begins in a rather fraught way.
Blackburn tells Jeffrey (Morgan David Jones) that in order to prevent Mary from marrying Don Carlos, they will have to send a letter to Don Carlos threatening to expose Don Carlos’ secret to his father if he doesn’t leave immediately. So far, I’m quite liking Geurens as an addition to the cast.
Catherine meanwhile, isn’t as far along with the Privy Council as she tells Mary. They are dragging their feet about the vote. She actually offers herself up as a scapegoat for any future mistakes – they can simply blame her female frailty! Does anyone believe she would ever stand for such a thing?!
Catherine leaves the meeting only to meet up clandestinely with Narcisse. She calls their encounter in the last episode an “affair” which Narcisse vehemently denies. She also offers him the position of Lord Chancellor. Narcisse looks worried and unsure as he leaves – is this just an act for Catherine’s sake? Christophe overhears their conversation and goes to Catherine, telling her that Narcisse has power over her because he bedded her. Clearly, Christophe thinks he’s gaining power over her too – silly boy!
Narcisse tells Lola about the position, and she is not pleased. She rightly fears Catherine, reminding him that they were supposed to stay well away from her. Narcisse turns it back on Lola when she reminds him that he slept with Catherine – he accuses Lola of not trusting him. And maybe she shouldn’t? Lola quite rightly observes that they treat honor differently. Never a good trait in a relationship. Narcisse wants the position because it’s one he’s earned, not inherited. Lola tells him to look at what they have – they are safe and secure – but it’s clear that Narcisse really wants the power.
Don Carlos tells Mary that important matters at home require him to leave immediately, and he won’t be coming back. His excuse for not coming back is that she is clearly not ready for the “games” of courtship. Mary must also deal with the disturbing custom of receiving Francis’ internal organs – to be interned.
Mary tells Catherine that Don Carlos is leaving, and tells her about his game. Catherine reminds her that he’d have no idea about the rape and does concede it’s an odd request, but a harmless chasing game. Don Carlos is only lingering to collect his luggage – still en route from Austria. When it arrives, Mary has it secreted away so that she can examine it later.
In order to keep Don Carlos in France, Mary suggests that they do play the game. It’s then that Don Carlos tells her that she is to be the hound and the men are to act the hare – and be chased until caught at which point they are to give up a kiss.
I loved the chase, especially when Mary asks Catherine if she is wearing mink-lined boots. Of course she is!!! She tells Mary that if she’s going to run, she’s going to look good doing it! Catherine runs off to find Christophe has followed her into the woods. Naturally, Narcisse comes upon them making love and he is clearly not happy about it.
Mary manages to twist her ankle in pursuit of Don Carlos and is rescued by Blackburn, who gallantly carries her mostly back to the castle. He tells her that Don Carlos is hiding a secret. It’s something sexual and got Don Carlos expelled from Austria but that’s all he knows. Mary is reluctant to believe her enemy, but he maintains that he doesn’t want to see her dead – if he did, he wouldn’t have rescued her in the woods!
Narcisse comes to Catherine in her bedchamber and he’s clearly angry, telling her she took a terrible risk with that servant boy. Catherine taunts him, telling him if you want more, take it! She’s clearly referring to sex – which I was very, very disappointed to see Narcisse take Catherine up on. I was truly hoping that his love for Lola might have changed him. However, I think he also took Catherine’s taunt one step further.
Catherine shows up the next day for the vote by the Privy Council, only to be interrupted by the Cardinal, who arrives with Francis’ internal organs. In moving them from one casket to the one provided by Catherine, they discovered that Francis’ liver indicates that he was poisoned. Catherine is immediately suspected! After all, she is a known expert on poison and had the most to gain! In light of this, the Cardinal recommends that the Regency not be confirmed until after a thorough investigation.
Narcisse agrees that Catherine should be shown respect and given time to build a defense. In the meantime, however, Narcisse offers his own services as Regent. The Council votes him in – with very obvious support from the Cardinal. Catherine is almost apoplectic. It would seem that Narcisse has played her and taken more!
Meanwhile, Mary has broken into Don Carlos’ luggage and discovered his sex chair. He discovers her and explains what it is. She would give him pain as a gift and in turn, he would give her nothing but kindness. Mary also confesses that she is desperate to marry him as she needs an alliance. Once again, Mary tells Don Carlos that she just can’t – this time it’s inflict the pain.
Catherine urges Mary to marry Don Carlos. Catherine can’t do anything to help Mary now. When Mary tells her about the chair, Follows has the best reaction! She’s clearly intrigued! She clearly likes the idea that he would be getting hurt – at a woman’s hands.
Catherine really does step up to help Mary – quite literally. Mary tells Don Carlos she is willing to try. She suggests a blindfold, which he eagerly agrees to. He suggests that she should come up with a scenario for why she’s beating him. Catherine sneaks in under cover of the blindfold. When Catherine gets a little over zealous, Mary calls out for her to stop, and Don Carlos realizes they are not alone. He feels betrayed and freaks out. As he’s struggling to get out of the chair, he falls over backwards and impales himself with part of the chair.
Catherine thinks he’s dead and turns Mary away from the gruesome sight. As their back are turned, Don Carlos gets up and staggers out to the hall… and witnesses!
The other major plot thread in the episode follows Delphine (Alexandra Ordolis) and Bash as they search for the murderer. Bash is still grieving for Francis and tries to push Delphine away. She senses that the murderer is close and planning to strike a woman who has “a new purpose that frees her from old fears.” The two suspect that the target is Greer.
Bash suggest that Greer shut down the Inn, but she insists that she can’t afford to and that they should use this opportunity to catch the murderer! Bash fills the Inn with his own men, and they wait for the murderer. There’s a nice scene between Leith and Greer as she notices the pin that Claude gave him and asks if it is a lady’s favor. He admits it is, and she guesses who. Greer muses that stations mean too much to too many. She wishes that the can both be happy, and tells Leith that she is fairly happy with her life.
The night passes with no sign of the murderer. The soldiers leave, and when Leith forgets his cloak, Greer runs after him, only to be attacked in the street! It’s a nice cheat as was the description of the woman. The man accosting Greer is just a drunk – the real target all along has been Delphine! When the murderer attacks her, however, his bloodlust flows into her. He runs off, and she tries to attack Bash before getting herself under control.
Greer is unharmed by her own attack, but we get yet another big surprise when it’s revealed that Greer is very pregnant! It has to be the Pirate’s child! But will Leith step up to make an honest woman of her?
Delphine tells Bash that the murderer’s urges flowed into her. She suggest that it’s only temporary, but she’s leaving for his safety. Bash stops her from going, telling her that any time he’s opened himself up to others he was hurt and that’s why he was pushing her away earlier. Now he wants her to stay and she agrees.
All in all, a pretty spectacular fall finale. Francis was poisoned, Narcisse usurps the throne, Greer is pregnant, and Mary and Catherine have murdered the Prince of Spain! I like the way they’ve managed to keep me interested. I’m still a lot more interested in what’s happening in France. So far, as much as I’m personally a fan of Elizabeth I, Rachel Skarsten just has captured me with her performance. I’ve been more impressed by her court – Carrick as Dudley and Tom Everett Scott as William in particular. What did you think of the fall run and two final episodes? Are you satisfied with how they’ve moved on from Francis’ death? Are you looking forward to the three episodes coming up? What was your favorite scene, line, moment in the fall finale? 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, 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.
