Season 1 poster
22 episodes

Reign - Season 1

First aired Oct 17, 2013Season 1

Hidden between the lines of the history books is the story of Mary Stuart, the young woman the world would come to know as Mary, Queen of Scots. The teenage Mary is already a headstrong monarch - beautiful, passionate and poised at the very beginning of her tumultuous rise to power. Arriving in France with four close friends as her ladies-in-waiting, Mary has been sent to secure Scotland's strategic alliance by formalizing her arranged engagement to the French king's dashing son, Prince Francis. But the match isn't signed and sealed, it depends more on politics, religion and secret agendas than affairs of the heart. Prince Francis is intrigued by the fiery Scot, but like most young men, he resists the idea of settling down into marriage, especially when he has a history with a lady of the court and his own point of view on the wisdom of an alliance with Scotland. Still, an attraction between Mary and Francis is ignited.

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Reviews

Community reviews for Reign, shown here with its season details.

C

CinemaSerf

This is a terribly sterile, unsexy and over-scripted series rescued - at times - by Megan Follows as the manipulative Catherine de Medici but otherwise having little to recommend it to anyone. Based, very loosely, on the early life of Mary, Queen of Scots (Adelaide Kane) at the court of King Henry II, where she has been betrothed since an infant to the Dauphin (Toby Regbo). The series uses a considerable degree of cinematic licence as we follow her well documented trials and tribulations as she navigates the conspiracies of the French court; but it does it without any soul - or passion. It needn't have been an HBO romp-along; but there are just way too many 'pretty' actors delivering pedestrian scripts; set-piece plots and mysteries. Even when things do get a touch romantic (they never get raunchy) we take comfort in a folk-style soundtrack and some lovely shots of what are, admittedly, some fine locations. Follows makes sure that there are plenty of conspiracies to keep up her end of the bargain, but Regbo and the gorgeous, but totally pointless character of "Bash" (Torrance Coombs) seem there to add looks but little else to this really mediocre telling of what must have been an extremely eventful few years in peril and love for such an enigmatic Queen.

Episodes

Pilot still

Episode 1

Pilot

6.4
Oct 17, 201342 min13 votes

Mary arrives in France to formalize her arranged marriage to Prince Francis, but complications arise when she meets his attractive half brother and skeptical mother in the series premiere of this historical drama about young monarchs.

Snakes in the Garden still

Episode 2

Snakes in the Garden

6.8
Oct 24, 201342 min6 votes

Mary and Francis play up their romance after an English envoy expresses doubts about their union. Elsewhere, Catherine seeks to eliminate an individual who's aware of her scheme to destroy Mary.

Kissed still

Episode 3

Kissed

7.5
Oct 31, 201342 min10 votes

A Portuguese prince offers much-needed aid to Scotland if Mary accepts his marriage proposal and break things off with Francis. Elsewhere, Francis' feelings for Mary lead him to put Bash in a risky situation.

Hearts and Minds still

Episode 4

Hearts and Minds

5.4
Nov 7, 201342 min8 votes

Mary has a chance to get out of her engagement, but it requires lying and sentencing a man to death. Meanwhile, Francis and Bash suspect that Tomas may be disguising his real motives.

A Chill in the Air still

Episode 5

A Chill in the Air

4.6
Nov 14, 201342 min8 votes

An ex-lover of Francis' arrives and brings danger with her, so an uneasy Mary turns to Bash for comfort. Meanwhile, Queen Catherine persuades Aylee to snoop on Mary; and Bash lands in hot water with heretics, who accuse him of disrupting a sacred ritual.

Chosen still

Episode 6

Chosen

5.1
Nov 21, 201342 min8 votes

Francis observes the growing bond between Mary and Bash, so he turns to Olivia. Meanwhile, Catherine wants to ensure that whoever threatened Mary is captured; Bash seeks to repay his debt; and Kenna tells her friends about her affair with Henry.

Left Behind still

Episode 7

Left Behind

6.2
Dec 5, 201342 min6 votes

Mary and Francis are taken hostage when the castle falls under siege, and Catherine makes a shocking suggestion in an effort to save them. Meanwhile, Diane reveals to Bash that she's plotting to have him declared legitimate.

Fated still

Episode 8

Fated

7.2
Dec 12, 201342 min6 votes

Nostradamus shares with Mary his prophecy about a death, which leads Mary to make a big decision concerning Francis. Meanwhile, Clarissa gets brazen as she pursues her goals; and Kenna tells Catherine about Diane's intentions regarding Bash.

For King and Country still

Episode 9

For King and Country

6.5
Jan 23, 201442 min6 votes

Mary and Bash return to the castle, where Catherine remains resolved to keep Francis safe from Mary. Meanwhile, Francis learns of the dark prophecy, but it does not dissuade his desire to marry Mary.

Sacrifice still

Episode 10

Sacrifice

6.7
Jan 30, 201442 min6 votes

An assassination attempt is made on Bash's life, and Catherine appears to be responsible for it. Meanwhile, Mary offers assistance to a jailed peasant who has a curious link to Bash; and Lola tries to stop Catherine from meddling with Bash and Mary.

Inquisition still

Episode 11

Inquisition

6.5
Feb 6, 201442 min6 votes

Henry claims Catherine has committed treason and adultery, so she attempts to save herself by shedding light on a dark part of Bash's past, and Bash and Mary then try to even the score. Meanwhile, Nostradamus discloses the truth about the castle's ghost.

Royal Blood still

Episode 12

Royal Blood

6.2
Feb 27, 201442 min6 votes

Clarissa kidnaps Henry and Catherine's youngest sons, so Catherine turns to Mary and Bash for help. Elsewhere, Lola tries to assist her brother with a debt, but when she gets in over her head, Francis comes to her aid.

The Consummation still

Episode 13

The Consummation

6.5
Mar 6, 201442 min6 votes

Mary must decide whether to marry Bash or Francis, who returns accompanied by Lola. Meanwhile, Mary's mother visits and pushes her own agenda, and her mere presence in the castle troubles both Henry and Catherine.

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Episode 14

Dirty Laundry

6.3
Mar 13, 201442 min6 votes

Mary's honeymoon ends and she returns to the castle. Meanwhile, Lola displays some odd behavior, which leads to a secret being exposed; Bash finds a bewildered Olivia and asks Nostradamus to assist her; and Henry seeks help from Catherine.

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Episode 15

The Darkness

6.0
Mar 20, 201442 min6 votes

A matchmaking event is held for the women in the castle, but Lola doesn't want to take part in it. Meanwhile, Kenna grows frightened when Henry flies into another rage, so she turns to Catherine; and Bash learns firsthand about the horrors of the woods.

Monsters still

Episode 16

Monsters

6.0
Mar 27, 201442 min6 votes

Bash saves Francis' life while they're in the woods exploring the latest ominous threat. Meanwhile, Henry becomes obsessed with a servant who won a contest; Greer is seen kissing a kitchen servant; and Henry forces a new couple into a union.

Liege Lord still

Episode 17

Liege Lord

7.5
Apr 10, 201442 min6 votes

Mary uncovers her marriage contract's secret clause, which was added by Catherine and her mother, so she and Francis attempt to persuade the people of Scotland to renounce her mother.

No Exit still

Episode 18

No Exit

6.6
Apr 17, 201442 min7 votes

Mary's brother visits and asks her to return to Scotland, but Francis is suspicious of his motives. Meanwhile, Penelope takes command as Henry's mental instability progresses; and Lola is skeptical about Julien's marriage proposal.

Toy Soldiers still

Episode 19

Toy Soldiers

6.7
Apr 24, 201442 min6 votes

Mary's uncle arrives at the castle and brings dire news about her mother, forcing Mary and Francis to make a tough choice about priorities. Meanwhile, Henry devises a destructive plan; and Bash and Kenna grow closer as they strengthen their forced union.

Higher Ground still

Episode 20

Higher Ground

6.5
May 1, 201442 min6 votes

Mary hires a mercenary to help her save Scotland. Meanwhile, Francis prepares France to wage war on England, and Leith becomes his ally in this endeavor; and Lola and Julien's bond deepens, but she fears he will betray her.

Long Live the King still

Episode 21

Long Live the King

6.5
May 8, 201442 min6 votes

Mary teams up with Catherine to deal with Henry, whose deranged behavior puts Francis at risk. Elsewhere, Bash resolves to destroy the Darkness after meeting a boy who survived the horror; and a devoted Lola tries to protect Julien.

Slaughter of Innocence still

Episode 22

Slaughter of Innocence

6.3
May 15, 201442 min6 votes

Mary and Francis take drastic action in response to Henry's madness. Meanwhile, a terror in the woods puts everyone in peril; and Mary makes a bold choice when she discovers Lola is in the midst of a life-threatening labor.