Reign – No Way Out

By: Stacy Miller

The “Reign” episode No Way Out continued to focus of both Mary (Adelaide Kane) and Elizabeth’s struggles to maintain their respective thrones with the queens facing tough decisions for the good of their countries.

Mary has returned from Rome and tells Gideon that the Vatican won’t help her build an army to help fight for Scotland. “I’ve lost everything…my mother, my husband and now my country,” Mary laments telling Gideon (Ben Geurens) she doesn’t even know if Elizabeth will allow her safe passage to England.

Catherine (Megan Follows) welcomes Mary home. Mary admits she lied to Gideon about the Vatican not supporting her because she couldn’t risk Elizabeth or England finding out. Catherine comments that she’s noticed the change between Mary and Gideon’s relationship and encourages Mary to pursue a romance with “The English Spy.”

In England, Elizabeth tells her council that should she die her cousin Mary Queen of Scots will be Queen of England. If the council members weren’t such English gentlemen, there would have probably been a few ‘Say whats?’ in the room. Regardless, Elizabeth won’t be swayed by anyone’s opinion. Elizabeth will give Mary the throne, but Elizabeth will choose Mary’s husband. Way to call the shots Elizabeth!

Christophe (Nathaniel Middleton), the baker/serial killer enters Catherine’s chamber annoyed she sent him away after the murders. He can’t promise he won’t kill again. Of course he can’t because he’s a serial killer and murder is what they do.

Mary learns from an Archbishop about Elizabeth naming her queen and choosing her husband. But the Vatican intends to kill Elizabeth once Mary becomes queen. The Catholic church has become a bunch of murderers that are loyal to Mary (for now). Talk about religious fanatics!

Later, Mary questions Catherine about the plan to kill Elizabeth once Mary becomes queen. Mary can’t be a party to the murder of her cousin.

A theater troupe performs for Charles, the new king. But the performance takes a strange turn when a man in a scary looking mask starts talking about Henry and Catherine ordering the execution of thirteen men accused of devil worship. This causes Catherine to become visibly upset. The head of the troupe insists that performance wasn’t part of the script. Catherine also finds the mask left backstage.

Elizabeth plans to meet Dudley (Charlie Carrick) and takes her traveling companion/unwilling hostage/new bestie Lola (Anna Popplewell) with her. She warns Lola that she must remain silent about what she knows. Elizabeth and Dudley play chess and after Elizabeth leaves and returns to her carriage, she witnesses a mob arrive at Dudley’s door and a man challenge him to a duel at dawn. Lola tells Elizabeth she can’t try to stop it or she’ll risk a scandal.

At dawn, Elizabeth dons a disguise (Okay a coat with a hood, but go with it) and shows up to see the duel. She fears for Dudley’s safety. Fortunately, Dudley wins the duel when his opponent’s gun backfires.

Catherine accuses Narcisse (Craig Parker) of being responsible for what happened at the play and he, of course, proclaims his innocence. Although Narcisse usually lies, he may very well be innocent this time.

Gideon learns from Jeffrey, an English informant, that Mary lied about the Vatican not supporting her and helping her fund an army. Later, Mary comes to Gideon and admits she lied to him about the Vatican and also tells him about their assassination plans for Elizabeth. She asks for Gideon’s help. “There’s more between us than lies,” Mary tells Gideon. Then, they succumb to passion. Whatever motives both Mary and Gideon may have, I believe they truly care for each other and make a great couple. I’m definitely in support of a romance/alliance/pairing of these two.

Gideon later kills Jeffrey as he fears that Jeffrey is a threat to Mary. If committing murder doesn’t scream that Gideon loves her, I don’t know what else would (though flowers or jewelry would have been nicer and would have saved Gideon the whole washing blood of his hands)!

Bash (Torrance Coombs) arrives at Catherine’s chambers and questions Catherine about the thirteen soldiers who were killed that the play mentioned as it reminded him of something he witnessed as a child. Catherine admits that she reluctantly followed Henry’s plan to kill those men to strike fear in the kingdom and show their power.

Gideon tells Mary he killed Jeffrey. He adds that he doesn’t want Mary or Elizabeth hurt. Loyalty to both his queens – can you guess the one he loves? Hint: The one that he succumbed to passion with!

Elizabeth gives Dudley the title of Earl and tells him he’ll marry Mary. Dudley later questions Elizabeth about why she’s chosen to marry her off to her rival. Elizabeth tells him she did it for him because she wants him to live. Lola tells Elizabeth that she understands how difficult it must be for her to give up the man she loves.

Catherine and Christophe are on the parapet when the thirteen men on horseback throw a torch with a red envelope in their direction. It’s the Red Knights and they want revenge against Catherine!