Reign: Series Finale “All it Cost Her...”

Mary: “I put my trust in you, my Lord.”

The Reign is officially over…

Join me in my humble review of the finale…

Did you like it?

Did you hate it?

Or - what is worse - were you disappointed?

I was; and here is why….

Queen Mary’s story was a lot of things, but most of all it was very tragic…. It made sense for her to end on the scaffold…. From history and story-telling perspective it was the correct choice. It’s the ‘how’ they did it, disappointed me….  It felt as if they took their time this season and moved awfully slow and then woke up and realized this is it – this is the end; because of that the events of the finale felt horribly rushed… 

The inevitable time jump came too late in my opinion; most of the episode was ‘things as usual’ up until very last ten or so minutes and then it all went rushing full speed straight to the scaffold.

The series creator stated in numerous interviews after the finale that this was the story of how hard it was for women back then to hold power. While, I’m all for strong women, I always thought this series was about Mary, Queen of Scots and her reign. France was included in the package for obvious reasons… Catherine was the strong Queen from the get go and preferred to rule and manipulate from behind the curtains. Elizabeth was included because he played such a pivotal role in Mary’s faith. All of them were Queens of their own, strong, ambitious and sometimes ruthless…. It was a given, so I didn’t think the focus of this show was on women in power. And it wasn’t for a very long time.

I think the focus shifted tremendously after Francis’ death. Too much time was spent in France and England and therefore Mary’s story hasn’t been given proper amount of time. I always felt Elizabeth should’ve been included in passing only and the role of France should have been diminished after Mary’s return to Scotland.

Instead we had full picture of English court and a mess that French court has become. Due to all that I strongly think Mary’s story suffered… she just hasn’t gotten enough attention.

I also noticed the Elizabeth’s journey was by far more satisfactory and fully covered than Mary’s. We saw the affair with Lord Dudley, we saw her struggle and her fight for her rightful place, while already wearing a crown. We learned about her eternal fear, we saw her strong heart, we touched upon her state affairs and naval expeditions to explore the world. Somehow they managed to fit bits and pieces of Elizabeth’s life here and there and get a full picture as an outcome.

The events in Scotland were too dispersed, too much time was spent on things that didn’t really matter, to many filler episodes… Maybe because they tried to show Mary’s life in more details they were left with a story cut short at the end… The escape, the following conspiracy against Elizabeth, even the Casket letters and them possibly being forgery  - the two decades of events were mentioned were only ever so briefly in the conversation between James and Elizabeth. The problem was that these were the actual historical events and we all know they have happened, but we didn’t get a chance to see Mary live through them all, her struggle and fight and that was a bitter disappointment.

The ‘Vampire Diaries’ like jump to heaven and meeting Francis was sweet, albeit a bit cheesy, but I suppose it was the only way to end on a somewhat hopeful note.

The recap clip of the entire series felt unnecessary, I’d love it more if they had only shown the clip of Mary and Francis, or no clip at all, since it was clear that he was her one true love and they will be together in the afterlife.

Historical bits

Darnley’s murder played out by the book, and by book I mean the history. Gunpowder explosion and subsequent strangulation – those were the exact means of destruction.

Princess Margaret, who is younger than Charles and Henry, looked older than both of them.

“Blood will flow, but it won't be yours, if you have Margot at your side.” The witch foretold St Bartholomew’s Day massacre.

She also told us about Elizabeth’s of Spain fate, who did indeed die after a miscarriage.

Mary’s last words were: "In manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum" ("Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit")

Some observations  

France was wrapped up in its royal bizarre mad and sexy fashion. Murder. Threesome. Satan’s child (with Narcisse as a father). Drugged delusional Catherine. Lonely Claude and two brothers forced to be allies, who don’t stand a chance. That is not how I wish to remember French court. Although that is more or less what happened in real life…. Arrival of Reine Margot was the only positive note here….

Luc left. Good for him. He is too good for this hell.

James returned to court, but his return was quick and rushed as everything else. His relationship with Greer stayed unknown.

Mary’s relationships with Bothwell remained undeveloped.  

Hats off to Adelaide Kane and Rachel Skarsten for marvelous and heartbreaking performance.

Both queens barely aged, especially Mary. Being imprisoned for two decades, they could’ve made an effort to change her looks a bit.

How could James’ not come see his mother is beyond me!? He did plea on her behalf and couldn’t save her, but at the very least he could have come to say goodbye. His excuse, ‘because he has what is rightfully Mary’s – the crown – was weak and pity.

Wardrobe department

The “Best Dress of the week” Award goes to Elizabeth.

This dress was stunning.

 

The “Worst Dress of the week” Award goes to Claude.

This one was nothing special whatsoever.

 

Memorable Quotes:

Elizabeth: “Because she is besieged on all sides by a world of men who seek to tear her down because they cannot control her. Somehow I understand her predicament.”

Claude: “Look at her, working her magic.”

Narcisse: “Funny you should put it like that.”

Claude: “Was this some kind of witchcraft?”

Narcisse: “No, of course not.”

Drake: “And I thought the backstabbing generally began after the wedding vows.”

Knox: “Careful, Bothwell. You might implicate yourself, and then what fun would your trial be?”

Elizabeth: “I am Elizabeth Tudor, and I will bow to no man. I will face every threat to my reign with sword in hand. And any who stand in my way shall fall.”

James: “The real forgery is you... pretending to be brave. Elizabeth, the Warrior Queen, who ushered in the golden age, when really all the while, you've been living in fear. Must be exhausting.”

P.S. It was a magic show; an interesting, rich and captivating world and I am sad to see it go… I wish it was given at least another season to cover all of the remaining years of Mary’s life.

Thank you for reading…