Reign: 4x09 “Pulling Strings”

Mary: “Fate's twists and turns may surprise you.”

Well, well… the wedding has finally happened and in the most beautiful fashion… heavenly gorgeous bride, drunk into oblivion groom… what’s not to love?

This episode felt like a victory for Mary, on all accounts. She is now wed and with child, which gives her that power that she needed to claim England. She sort of fulfilled the prophecy and canceled it out at the same time. She has an heir and can have love. Darnley was so drunk that he could barely stood straight, giving Mary an opportunity to escape the dreadful wedding night; and now, that she is pregnant, she doesn’t have to sleep with him anymore. Border towns switched to her side bribed by Catherine with the help of melted wedding presents, others turned just out of hope for a more secure future. Bravo! Is there any chance we’d have a happy finale? One might hope… or not hope, depending of you masochistic tendencies or if you are simply a stickler to the historical truth or not.

There were so many sex and romance and couples becoming couples that I felt like I missed an episode, or two. Take Gideon and Elizabeth, for instance. Yes, they were hinting heavily and pushing strongly toward this outcome, but it never felt romantic enough, I just didn’t feel it… there isn’t a single spark between the two… I would prefer if they stayed just friends.

Mary and Bothwell kissing, albeit passionate, came as a surprise. Yes, there was an obvious attraction from the get go, but it felt like we skipped a step, I wish they spend a bit more time together before moving to the next level. If felt rushed and not fully deserved.

Martin, the pirate, is back and wants to be a part of Rose’s life. Who can blame him? Greer’s concerns are understandable, but he doesn’t ask for that much really… he is willing to keep a secret and be discreet just to be able to spend time with his daughter and help out in his own pirate way: with sparkly gems and pierced ears.

James and Greer making one step forward also felt a bit rushed, although they didn’t end up in bed, their casual flirty conversations moved a bit too fast into flirty attracted area.

Anyway, in the midst of meaningless loveless lovemaking of James and poor Emily and cat-tiger kind of sex out of despair of Gideon and Elizabeth, James subtly caressing Greer’s cheek and Bothwell’s broken heart when he was ‘saving’ Mary from herself, had more impact than multiple occasions of proverbial roll in the hay.

Knox is back and although he was absent he wasn’t dormant, he had plans of his own to stop the wedding by stirring Keira’s husband against Darnley. James’ sexy ‘sacrifice’ paid off as he learnt through unsuspecting Emily all the details of a secret meeting. Looking at Emily, at how she changed and blossomed, as any women in love, I was surprised that Knox doesn’t see it. He did. He was smart enough to put two and two together. I was surprised to learn he loved his wife, he had tears in his eyes as he was leaving her, he never did strike me as someone emotional. Emily got to the castle right in time to witness the brutal truth – James never loved her, but used her horribly. I am worried about James, judging by Emily’s face, she was quite determined to strike back.

You know how they say that behind every man there's a great woman, seems that in Reign behind every man there is a great mother. You noticed that I left out the word ‘great’ in reference to men, because both Darnley and Charles are definitely not great, but Catherine and lady Lennox certainly are.

Historical bits

Mary being back to Scotland allowed us to learn about some of the peculiar national games and curios traditions. This episode saw ‘creeling’ and “knotting game”.

Creeling - a wedding custom carried out in Scotland until the beginning of the nineteenth century. This tradition takes its name from the creel (basket), full of stones that the groom had to carry around the town the day after the wedding. Darnley only carried one stone and the day before the wedding, but okey.

Knotting game – it’s basically people following chosen thread through to its end. I did not find any reference of it on the internet, so whether it’s a real thing or not I don’t know, but it was fun to watch.

Some observations  

Catherine turned heads, didn’t she?

Gideon is quite good at bedding Queens, wouldn’t you agree?

Italian merchant, who brought Bash’s message is still at court and is now in the inner circle. They all trusted him a bit too fast and too much for my liking. He seems wonderful and loyal and fun, but there is something about him that bugs me.

Noble girls don’t have pierced ears… I never knew that! I couldn’t find anything confirming this fact, but did learn the following instead: it was believed that by piercing one ear one would get a better sight, that’s why sailors and pirates had pierced ears. Things we learn.

No France this time, but its absence was compensated by Catherine’s presence – marvelous, but short – in Scotland. She is very capable and loyal ally to have and she is a master of embroidering.

Wardrobe department

Mary’s wedding gown was out of this world and she looked stunning.

 

The “Best Dress of the week” Award goes to Greer. Mary’s wedding dress was absolutely fabulous, but Greer’s wardrobe choice was always a mix of dark colors and baggy shapes and forms, so this one came as a surprise, so it is worth mentioning.

 

As for the “Worst Dress of the week” Award, I’m sorry, Lady Lennox, the honor is all yours.

Memorable Quotes:

Martin: “She is my daughter, and more important to me than your foolish shame.”

Mary: “Oh, our family crests interwoven.”

Catherine: “I did it on the boat.”

Mary: “You made this? Yourself?”

Catherine: “You think that political manipulation and poisoning are my only skills?”

Catherine: “Mary, you cannot live the life of a nun.”

Mary: “Scotland has one true ruler, Mary, Queen of Scots, daughter of James V, crowned on her sixth day and appointed not by the Pope, but the Almighty Himself. It is my duty, my God-given birthright and my crown. And I will defend it from anyone who attempts to take it.”

Well said.

Sol’s rating: this was definitely a 4.