Reign – All It Cost Her

By: Stacy Miller

In the last episode, Darnley (Will Kemp) kidnapped his and Mary’s son and took him from the castle. So, as the episode opens, the queen’s guards are searching house-to-house and asking occupants who know King Darnley whether they’ve seen him. One woman whose husband went to school with Darnley is warned that if a baby is found in her house and it’s not hers, she’s hang for it.  Meanwhile, Mary (Adelaide Kane) is worried for the safety of her son. She tells Bothwell (Adam Croasdale) her fear that Darnley could harm the child because he had viewed the baby as his replacement to the throne.  Mary cries how she too once saw the baby as something that could secure her throne and gain England, but when she laid eyes on him all she could think about was his safety and happiness.

In France, Catherine (Megan Follows) tells Narcisse (Craig Parker) that she’s obtained the services of a witch to get rid of Nicole (Ann Pirvu). Catherine introduces Narcisse to witch Emanuelle (Catherine Bérubé), who assures Catherine that Nicole is inches from the grave. The witch then requests Catherine (and Narcisse) come to her chamber tomorrow night during the full moon. “Only then will your debt to the dark arts be paid,” she says. Aboard the Spanish ship, Henri (Nick Slater) wonders where the rest of the fleet are. The cooks make stew for Henri and Nicole and because they don’t have venison, they substitute nuts. But when Nicole eats the meal, she begins coughing and soon starts choking. Henri rushes to her side.

Mary is happy to see her brother James (Dan Jeanotte) has returned to Scotland and greets him with a hug. James has joined the efforts in finding her son and promises his sister the baby will be okay.  Meanwhile, Darnley is traipsing through the woods not in his right mind. The vision of Keira (Sara Garcia) appears to him and tells Darnley to lay the baby down because the child needs to rest. Darnley puts his son on the ground and then takes off.

Back in France, Narcisse is blaming Claude (Rose Williams) for his son Luc’s (Steve Lund) departure when Henri comes in carrying Nicole.  He tells Charles (Spencer MacPherson) that someone who worked for him (Charles) poisoned Nicole. Charles is furious with his younger brother for kidnapping Nicole and draws a sword. Catherine gets in the middle between her sons to stop any bloodshed and tells them to not blame each other but the real culprit which is Spain. Catherine encourages Henri and Charles to redirect their hatred towards Spain as Leesa (Anastasia Phillips) used them against each other in order to get France for herself. The boys put down their swords and decide to work together.

In the village, James learns that a baby was found by a farmer who bought the child to a church. Mary is overjoyed when James places her son in her arms. She announces that there will be a formal naming ceremony and her son will be named James in honor of her brother. When they are alone, Bothwell tells Mary that the Privy Council is going ahead with the intention of giving Darnley stewardship of the baby. He again says that Mary has no choice but to get rid of Darnley permanently.  Bothwell will assemble a few allies. “Your involvement must not be known to anyone,” Bothwell tells Mary.  She decides that she will keep James out of this.  They talk about giving her a very public alibi.  “But Mary you must be sure because there’s no turning back,” Bothwell tells her. “Kill my husband Lord Bothwell,” Mary royally orders in determination.

Lady Lennox (Nola Augustson) finds her son sitting in a chair at a house he used to come to with his cousins when he was younger.  She asks whether Keira is there as well. Darnley says he doesn’t always see Keira, but when he does she is as real to him as she (Lady Lennox) is.  Darnley admits that he is ill and incapable of caring for his son when Lady Lennox tells him that the Privy Council is meeting to grant him stewardship. She tells her son that he needs the power being the guardian of the next heir brings. Lady Lennox asks when Darnley ate last and as the servants haven’t been at the house in months, promises to return in the morning with provisions.

In England, Elizabeth (Rachel Skarsten) orders Jane (Megan Hutchings) to admit that all the French delights she received came from Lord Narcisse in exchange for poisoning Gideon Blackburn. As she’ll hang anyway, Jane refuses to give Elizabeth the satisfaction.  She tells the queen the story about how her (Jane) grandfather worked for Elizabeth’s father Henry VIII and when Jane’s grandfather failed to polish the king’s ring to his liking, King Henry VIII cut the man’s finger off with a butter knife. Jane’s grandfather returned home where the veins on his hand turned black and he screamed in agony for two days until he died.  Elizabeth reminds Jane that neither she (Elizabeth) or Gideon ever did anything to her. “I’m sorry you were born a servant,” Elizabeth says. Jane angrily responses that Elizabeth likes having servants to see to her every whim but doesn’t know of their suffering. Queen Elizabeth grabs a candlestick and clobbers Jane over the head. “I don’t require a lesson on suffering from the likes of you,” Elizabeth angrily tells Jane. But this time, Jane doesn’t respond because she drops dead to the floor!

Catherine and Narcisse are in Emanuelle’s bed chamber drinking wine.  It is obvious from their slurred speech that they are either drunk or have been drugged. I vote for the later. As payment, Emanuelle wants to “experience” their power, the three of them together.  Sound like a witch orgy threesome to me!  Emanuelle cuts Catherine’s palm then chants in Latin. Catherine recognizes that the witch is calling for the Devil and trying to get pregnant by Narcisse! She tells Narcisse to leave.  Then, Catherine repeatedly stabs Emanuelle. “Why won’t you die?” Catherine asks but the witch just laughs.

Back in England, Sir Francis Drake (Richard Fleeshman) tells Elizabeth that launching a war against Spain will deplete England’s resources leaving her helpless against an attack from the north, Scotland. “As always, the specter of Mary Stuart hovers over me like an ax,” Elizabeth says. Foreshadowing?

Bothwell and his co-conspirators are outside the house where Darnley is hiding out. They have lit fuses, planning an explosion that will kill the king.  But Queen Mary won’t be implicated as she will be hosting a reception for the new Privy Council. When the charges delay in lighting, Bothwell runs towards the house to see what the problem is. Suddenly, the house explodes!  But Darnley survives the blast. Bothwell takes matters into his own hands, literally, and strangles Darnley. Ding, dong, the king is dead!

Elizabeth finally receives Mary’s letter.  After reading it, she tells Archduke Ferdinand (Steve Byers) that she no longer needs to marry him because her cousin Mary is no longer a threat to her throne. Ferdinand reminds that she needs his protection from Spain. “I am England,” Elizabeth says and she’ll face any threat and will bow to no man. And anyone who stands in her way will fall!

In France, Catherine hears Charles and Henry plotting Spain’s downfall.  She tries to stop them, knowing the ally they’ve chosen will betray them. But Charles and Henry suggest that their mother go to her chamber and get some rest.  Catherine spots Emanuelle in the hallway.  The witch tells Catherine that neither of her sons were the king golden boy Francis (Toby Regbo) was.  Their plot against Spain will fail and the only way Catherine won’t fall with it is if she has her daughter Margo (Rebecca Liddiard) by her side. So, Catherine goes to fetch Margo and tells her it’s time to come home.

Elizabeth is dressed for battle and gives a rousing Braveheart speech saying, “I may have the body of a woman, but I have the heart of a king.”  She vows to lay down her life for her God and her kingdom.

Bothwell returns to the castle and tells Mary that although Darnley is dead, the original plan went awry and he had to kill Darnley with his own hands. John Knox (Jonathan Goad) storms into the castle with soldiers to arrest Bothwell for murdering the king.  He orders Mary be arrested, too.  She hands over Baby James to his uncle and asks her brother to raise her son as his own.  Mary tells John Knox that her only crime is that she is a woman who wears a crown.

Twenty-one years later on February 8, 1587, Mary is dressed in black awaiting execution.  She asks to see her son as it’s been so long.  Baby James, now King James of Scotland, is her only hope for salvation. Meanwhile, James goes to Elizabeth to ask her to free his mother. He accuses her of promising to help his mother, but then keeping her locked away for two decades. Elizabeth tells James he has a choice:  He can free his mother, but she’ll remain in captivity until she rots or he can be named her (Elizabeth) heir uniting their two countries England and Scotland as was his mother’s dream for him.

As the series finale ends, Mary gets word that her son is not coming and there will be no reprieve.  She walks towards the altar and places her head on the chopping block. “I put my trust in you my Lord,” Mary says as the executioner swings his ax.  Mary opens her eyes and finds herself in bed with Francis. “Frary” reunited at long last! Mary tells Francis how difficult it’s been without him. Francis assures that’s all over now. As the couple basks in their love and enjoys the fields of happiness, we get past scenes from Reign as we leave the kingdom forever and the curtains closes on the series.