Reign: 1x10 “Sacrifice”

Isobel: “Don't kings have to make awful decisions sometimes? Betray their friends for the good of their country? Don't they have to be nice to people they'd much rather hit with a shovel? Then I can’t recommend Bash”

With Catherine imprisoned in the tower, Diane hiding in Paris and King Henry traveling to Rome, the kids were left to rule the country and what a beautiful adventure it was.
 

No word about Nostradamus and we had Lord Hugo, who we have never seen before, conspiring with Catherine to get rid of Bash. It all started so a bit out of place that it made me wonder if I missed an episode or two. I didn’t. They just introduced a new character to do Catherine’s bidding. I was totally expecting him to die by the end of the episode. He didn’t.

Like predicted last week, that whole “keep you friends close but your enemies closer” just backfired. We didn’t have to wait long. After the poisoning attempt failed, Catherine moved to plan B – use a pregnant girl, who is a pagan and whose father was declared traitor and executed, who in addition is Bash’s cousin. Or was it Plan A all along since they brought the pregnant girl in before that woman tried to poison Bash?

Either way, while the plan was not the best Queen Catherine could come up with, it wasn’t important. The important part was to show us Bash’s side of all this. We knew he never wanted  to be king. Bash in the throne room trying to make sense of chickens and goats made me laugh out loud. This is definitely not a job for him. Not that he can’t be good at it, he just doesn’t really want it that badly to succeed. Until now, Bash lived a free life, nobody really cared what he did, how he did it, where he went and who he met with, now all of a sudden his past is like a gold mine for his enemies. Now he is a threat to a natural line of succession and every nobleman in a country hates him. He is forced to do something that he doesn’t want. No wonder he feels trapped. But this awful burden has a bright side - he is saving the life of his brother and marrying the woman he loves. Who said life’s going to be easy?

What this plot also provided is some much needed quality time with Bash and Mary. So far we only got bits and pieces, here and there, a week on the run that went behind curtains. We never had a story or circumstances that would unite them, until now. It felt appropriate to spend an episode on developing this relationship. And it was smart to remove Francis from an equation, I hope not for long though, but Mary and Bash certainly needed some time and space to be alone.

And they really bonded on that trip through the blood woods. Chase, pagan ritual and a birth of a child would do that to anyone. Bash was forced to share his heritage with Mary although confirming once again that he is a Catholic. Considering it’s 1557 it was refreshing to see a Catholic tolerant to other religions. So was Mary, upon reflection and in the light of day, when she wasn’t scared anymore. Cutting her hand in the ritual that she didn’t understand or able to accept, solely out of respect for someone else’s beliefs – that is a sigh of a strong character.

And then there was the first kiss. Yes, I know they’ve kissed once before, but she was drunk and acted out of revenge and he got caught up in the moment. This time it was different. And let's just leave it at that.

I honestly don’t know what to think about this unexpected marriage to be and their relationship. Yes, it can bring wonderful and interesting plots, this episode is a proof, but this whole situation can’t end well. Someone will get hurt, most certainly it will be Bash. 

Catherine, despite of her imprisonment, still behaved like a Queen and used her power to surround herself with the level of comfort she’s used to, making guards bring in tapestries, bed, food and servants, before Mary came in and ordered to take away everything. There was literally nothing left but bare walls and some sort of wooden bed. Well played, Mary!

And well played Lola! Sending Kenna to guard Catherine knowing very well Kenna will be an easy target and as a result not only they “got” evidence of Catherine’s treason, they managed to steal away a feast with wine, ale, musicians and 50 roasted pigs in honor of the Acting Regent, Bash – all expenses paid out of Catherine’s gold stores!

Some observations  

Mary looked absolutely fabulous in that black dress, I even liked her hair.

That midwife crash course Mary got at the convent came in handy.

I was meant to include this in the previous review and forgot, so here it is a bit late but what the heck: wasn’t the whole point of Mary claiming England based on her being legitimate heir and Elizabeth not, because Henry VIII marriage to Anne Boleyn was annulled? Now when they are trying to legitimize Bash, what would their strategy be since the main argument is sort of out of the door?

Memorable Quotes:

Catherine: “How did the bastard not die from that poison?”

Lord Hugo: “His mother sent him a bodyguard.”

Catherine: “Well, how have we not bought that man?”

Lord Hugo: “He's only just arrived. And the price of new friends has gone up since Mary reminded the guards to fear Henry.”

Catherine: “Where are you going? I'm not done abusing you. You're taking away my only amusement!”

Bash: “Most pagans are just like us, Mary. They live and they pray and they struggle exactly as we do. They just happen to see something different when they picture God.”

Catherine: “Lola, you're back. Apparently, last time I wasn't unpleasant enough.”

Bash: “I'm not Francis. My duty will never be to some country, some land, some throne. If I'm married to you, you'll be my family. I'll be in it for you, and only you. And if that's not what proper kings do...”

Sol’s rating: 3.5 out of 5