Mary makes a fatal choice.
Whats the cost of a kings life?
Tonights installment ofReignanswers that question and the outcome is not pretty.
Credit: Sven Frenzel/The CW
So, whats the cost of a kings life?
Francis is sure Elizabeth knows hes dying and shes testing his power.
Its on like Donkey Kong, Liz!
he shouts, in my imagination.
Let her treason be good for something, guys!
Catherine assures him that she has the privy council under control.
Lord Clavelle is a bit of a grump.
She even drags Claude in on the act, pimping her out to Clavelles son.
(The mother-daughter get-your-charm-on primping was perfection.
When Operation Claude doesnt work, Catherine asks the noble point blank what itll take to get his vote.
In short: nothing.
Well, thats unfortunate.
Catherines need for privy council member votes has put her in a vulnerable position.
Anyone with an ax to grind could use this unique hold over the Queen Mother to his advantage.
And, of course, by anyone, I mean Narcisse.
Narcisse is a smart dude.
To get the extra lands, Narcisse turns his honeymoon into a looting excursion.
Narcisse thinks he has Catherine right where he wants her, but hes wrong.
Catherine sashays up to the guy and reminds him how much fun the two of them had together.
Theyre equals, after all.
All this privy council business will have to wait, though, because theres still war raging in Scotland.
Mary tries to make a trade with Nicholas: two captured English generals for the removal of English troops.
Nicholas is a cold-hearted snake and he needs to make out with someone immediately.
Those are my orders!
Mary doesnt sweat it.
BECAUSE ITS ALL A RUSE.
Sadly, the French monarchs dont have much time to celebrate their win.
Though Francis means well, his advice is basically: Fake it till you make it, little bro!
Which, although possibly true, may not be the most comforting.
Watching your brother fall off his horse and crash to the ground.
NEXT: Adventures in temporary death!
Francis recent bout of good health was simply the final surge before his death.
They need to dance more!
And I need to meet Anne and James, their precocious kids!
THIS ISNT FAIR (to me).
Mary begs Francis to fight harder, but he has no more fight in him.
The King of France IS DEAD.
), Bash and Charles bust in with a surprise guest: DELPHINE.
Thankfully (I guess), Bash arrives before any real harm is done.
Mary doesnt care and shed gladly die to bring her husband back.
No one ever listens to Bash!
So, Delphine does it: She brings Francis back from the dead.
The King of France LIVES.
We quickly jump to Scotland, where Marie de Guise is writing a letter of congratulations to her daughter.
Their plan worked and the Scots are gaining an upper hand in the war against England.
Before she can cross her last T, however, Marie de Guise collapses and dies.
Whats the cost of a kings life?
His mother-in-law, I guess.
Hes a real get, is all Wet Blanket William is saying.
Also, if Liz doesnt marry him, Mary surely will once Francis dies.
Enter Don Carlos (or Scott Disick, maybe?).
The prince of Spain arrives sporting an English accent and a beard that wont quit.
He fits in perfectly onReign.
Don Carlos openly flirts with Elizabeth and gets right down to the proposal.
Elizabeth likes his forwardness.
Smooth line, Beard!
Dudley is not a fan of Don Carlos beard (jealous, much?)
or of the moves hes putting on Ds lady.
He begs Elizabeth to refuse the prince.
Dudley assures her its totally cool to think about murdering someone as long as you dont actually do it.
YOU GUYS: The rumor is that Elizabeth is actually a man.
To disprove it, HE ASKS TO SEE HER WOMANHOOD.
A person is resurrected in this episode, but Im more shocked by this whole exchange.
A historical FYI: This storyline does have a basis in reality.
Elizabeth is horrified and blames Dudleys wife for starting the rumor.
Dudley confronts Amy and makes it very clear that hes in love with the Queen.
When Amy starts badmouthing Liz, Dudley hulks out and strangles her.
Over in Lizs chambers, shes putting her foot down with Wet Blanket William.
Elizabeth wants to make it clear: She will never marry.
Is this what a feminist looks like?
Its vibrant, edgy (for CW Elizabethan times), and very feminine.
Your loss, Beard!
The Queens Corner of Harsh Lady Truths:
