Adelaide Kane
Megan Follows
Torrance Coombs
Toby Regbo

Created by:
Laurie McCarthy
Stephanie SenGupta

Drama, Fantasy, History
2013-
The CW

TV-14

“Reign,” a period drama focused on Mary, Queen of Scots, is like a restless whelp of Showtime’s “The Tudors.” It airs on The CW, so it has to appeal to teenage girls. Creators Laurie McCarthy and Stephanie SenGupta have ensured that it does just that.

We’re treated to the familiar story lines that populate teenage romances: star-crossed love, love triangles, the strains of friendship, and so on. The setting is the only wrinkle here. Even the music is a blend of the contemporary and the historical, which is simply a suggestion for everything in this show rather than a preoccupation. (I hope that no one expects historical accuracy from this kind of show.)

For its audience, I’m sure that it works rather well. For more mature folks, it may be a bit too transparent and underdeveloped. The writing is as light as gossamer. This is a show that accomplishes its goal with enough style to please its audience. I won’t get in the way of that.

Verdict: OK

About: (Source: rottentomatoes/reign)

The premiere season of this historical drama blends fact and fiction to tell the tale of teenage Mary, Queen of Scots (Adelaide Kane) as she arrives in France to formalise her arranged marriage to Prince Francis (Toby Regbo). However, they face many complications on their road to the altar, the biggest being Francis’ mother, Queen Catherine (Megan Follows), who believes her son will die if he marries Mary, based on a vision that came to her trusted confidant, Nostradamus (Rossif Sutherland). Meanwhile, Francis’ father, King Henry II (Alan Van Sprang), wants to delay the marriage until the timing is most advantageous to France politically, but his worsening mental problems often cloud his judgments. Adding to the drama is the fact that Bash (Torrance Combs), Francis’ half brother and Henry’s illegitimate son, has developed romantic feelings for Mary.