I've watched Reign from the beginning season in 2012, and this season, the third, seems to offer even more intrigue, excitement, emotional upheaval and plotting from within France and all neighboring countries around it, each vetting it's weakening positions, alliances and way into it's financial coffers. We also see the Queen Medici, mother of the King Francis' of France, and her much despised daughter-in-law, Queen Mary of Scotland, is still up to her old tricks, conniving and rues, to have Mary Queen of Scots (and France by Marriage) removed from France's thrown of power. The series was and is proving to be better and better, each season. The first season, as I watched, I felt the writers were choosing to focus on trivial nonsense, but I felt sucked into what seemed to be decent night time soap opera drama. However, I did stick with it, in the second season, because it has and continues to show the alliance between betrothed Francis and Mary, this alliance made between the two countries as a secure move for each countries position and wealth, later on, proving to show more scholarly foreign allegiance, then in the first season. Now, we do get to see that when these two main characters put their brilliant minds together, along with help from brother, Sebastian and Ladies of Queen Mary's Court, even when the stakes are high and their selfishness is cast aside, they all accomplish great things, even as youthful characters running a country! As we've watched their naiveté, early on, as a young couple, be cast off, they manage the hard choices, twists and turns, and deceitful characters who attempt to cheat, steal, and rob this country, it just so happens,they all still manage to come out smelling like roses. We quickly learn, that their many paths taken, which show us the wicked ways of royal and monarch lifestyles, as well as wickedness and greed found throughout the countryside as the "betters", who try to out smart them, also seen in surrounding countries, as well, which these two with the help of these two's strong entourage of loyal subjects, deflate and defeat the powers that try to deceive or over take them. around them, of their time. There are many a for who attempt to play So many plots to over take them and or strip them of their wealth and their lands that surround them, but they always come out on top! The two main character's King Francis and Queen Anne have much naiveness and folly, but are quite intelligent and are both seen as generally good characters (with human flaws and failings), their youthful character flaws begin to disappear, and because they're surrounded by a solid handful of very loyal friends and relatives, they begin to make their power, together, a serious one and a strong mark on history! These two have had to make mistakes, trust the wrong people and have had heart breaking affairs, but in the end become wise and grow thick skins. Yet, together, Francis and Mary become a formidable force for this area of the world; they are forces to be reckoned with and still loved by their friends and subjects. Though, this is not exactly "true to history record" as it could be, it's still great writing and quite entertaining. Each episode, now, better than before! This season shall prove to be a great one, based on this very first episode, which sets us up for the wiser couple understanding the game of war and politics, and being surrounded by mini stories in the main plot with their very loyal bastard brother who has seem to been ensnared by a witch and struggling to free himself from her snare, while close friends to the queen, all seem to carry out their own lives, which by first glance look quite lovely and graced with riches and wealth, however, on deeper glance, all seem weaker sex and fall pray to male powers, during this period in history, as was the way in the world, during this period. We also start the season with the frosty Queen of England, Elizabeth, looking to grab even more power in Europe, as she along with the help of the Exiled, enraged, jealous and manipulative Italian Queen, Medici, "mother in law" to Queen Mary and mother to Francis, once married to the King of France. Queen Elizabeth will take all the help she can get, as she attempts to take over all of the UK and gain her foothold into France, maybe even expand her empire beyond this, as is usual for the thirst of the English Monarchs, of that day and time; I do like the feisty spoiled and conniving, character actor, Rachel Skarsten, they chose for Queen Elizabeth's part, the "virgin queen", this season; she certainly seems to be a formidable enemy to take on the young couple of monarchs, in Reign. The seasons get better and better, though not always serious and believable, as harsh history would have been, it's still a great way to spend an hour each week!
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
