Reign: 4x06 “Love and Death”

Catherine: “My dear... watching someone you love share their body with another poisons the heart.”

Love and death always go hand in hand. That could be said about any episode of Reign, really. This one was no exception - some hearts found love, some where horribly crashed. Giving someone reign over your heart is the most marvelous thing that could happen; it might also be THE deadliest. I am going to review this episode by couples since it seems to be the only appropriate way.

Mary and Darnley
My goodness, they are in love! Show of hands - who saw it coming? Me neither.

Although no one can attest with certainty what kind of relationship Mary and Darnley had in real life (well, some historians might), everything I’ve read so far was never a reference to a happy marriage. So I was welcoming this unexpected road the writers chose to take. This would be a historical inaccuracy that the fans won’t object. Of course there will always be those who think Mary and Francis are it, and they certainly were, but he is dead and she has to move on with her life. So why not give her a second happy marriage before the inevitable fall?

Unfortunately Keira’s arrival might ruin this idyllic set up. Then again, maybe it won’t. Mary played no part in Keira’s marriage and Darnley has no reason to blame her. He is also seemed pretty smitten with Mary, plus he is power hungry, no way he’s gonna be willing to loose all that. I am curious to see what he'll do next. He could stay true to his newly found feelings for Mary. He could also choose to have a crown and a mistress - that will be a terrible turn of events for Mary.  

p.s. When I asked in the previous review about Darnley finding about the circumstances of Keira’s marriage, it was a purely hypothetical question. I didn’t think they would actually bring her back; and at the worst possible moment at that. Color me surprised. 


Elizabeth and Gideon
I’m still quite unclear where they are going with this sub plot. So much screen time was wasted on Agatha’s illness; it has got to have some meaning. The fact that Elizabeth was basically playing a personal nurse was inappropriate and tiny bit out of character. The fake doctor who was only willing to cure himself was brought only to show poor Gideon that Elizabeth is willing to help any way she can. Are they like sort of trying to shape some sort of couple out of Elizabeth and Gideon? Is that where we are headed? Since we seem to be bringing ex-lovers back, better bring Robert, because Gideon and Elizabeth is a historical inaccuracy that I will be strongly against.


Claude and Leith
At the end of the previous episode I was sure Leith refused this open marriage idea. Apparently I was wrong. Sort of. Their blissful happy ‘couple of weeks’ have come to an end as soon as it was time for a ‘marital duty hour’. My heart broke for Leith.

The scene in the woods was a necessary one to show how close poor tormented Leith was pushed to a limit. I knew Leith is just not the kind of man who would abandon an injured person alone, no matter who he is, but he was so desperately broken that I worried he just might do something that he won’t recover from. 

Of course he didn't. He did the right thing. Not only he saved Luc’s life, he also made a decision no one else in this trio could – he left. It is obvious that Claude is attracted to Luc and with Leith out of the way they might have a chance at somewhat happy life. They are not in love yet but the passion is there and a mutual respect of sorts, those two have been dealt better cards than Keira and ‘what’s his name’ husband of hers. 

p.s. As for Leith and Claude, maybe many years from now, those two will get back together in the vineyard in Tuscany…

Leesa and Narcisse
What the heck was going on here? Leesa looting the houses of protestants while touring the cathedrals of France was hellish as hell and very much in Valois spirit. As much as she hates her family, she’s one of them. I really hope that Narcisse is just being Narcisse a.k.a. ‘sneaky bastard’ trying to work his seduction magic to gain an advantage, because there is nothing whatsoever attractive about this woman.

Historical bits

England was concerned about Mary marrying Darnley, but as far as I could find no actions (diplomatic or military) was taken to stop it. Certainly no assassination attempts.

Some observations  

Charles is still on the run.

Baby Rose really did take after daddy the Pirate.

Greer and James continue to subtly flirt.

I was puzzled by James’ reactions to certain events. I couldn’t figure out if it was meant to be like that or the actor was just overdoing it. At one point I was sure he is the watchman and that he sent an assassin to kill Darnley, because quite frankly poor English Ambassador didn’t have the guts to do it.

Wardrobe department

The “Best Dress of the week” Award goes to Catherine.
Gray suits her.
 
















The “Worst Dress of the week” Award goes to Mary.
The dress was nice, but looked off since the waistline was non existent.
 

Sol’s rating: for the love of love I’m going to give it a 4.

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