Why I have issues with Reign
Let me start off by saying that I do not mind historical fiction, until it reaches the point of being soap opera like, and this is much more likely to come up in television shows, as opposed to movies. Let’s break down Reign
- The show takes a figure in history who is often a villain in other shows.
- Now on to the nitpicking, Mary Queen of Scots did not have an on again off again relationship with Francis. Their marriage was about two years, and back then it is not common for betrothals to be a revolving door. Furthermore, the idea of her falling in love with multiple other guys is totally wrong.
- All of the extra characters muddle the waters- Mary had a complicated life and these names confuse it for people who are not totally familiar with her story. I have heard it a few times, but I’v been in more history classes than the average person.
- Stop with the pagan stuff – Yes, paganism may have had an influence in France at this time, but it played way too much into the show. The main religious conflict at the time were Catholics and Protestants, which come to a head years later with Catherine de Medici.
- The show will have the final season start this upcoming Friday, and I think the show will finish on a high note. Spoilers , I mean actual history and some speculation going forward
- I wonder how they will handle the demise of Mary, or if the show will stop before her ultimate fate. On a timeline, we are in the 1560s and she has about twenty years to go; it seems hard to put twenty years in one season of TV.
- Please omit the modern music playing in the background, save for the intro theme.
I do not mind this aspect, and want to start the list off on a positive. May, Queen of Scots, in many other series with Queen Elizabeth of England is depicted as an enemy of the English Queen and thus, not viewed in a positive light. Reign puts Mary in a more sympathetic light and tells her story. In fact, Scotland’s most famous queen and likely monarch randomly appears in other shows without much introduction. Despite the fictional aspects, Reign at east tells her story. I am glad that someone attempted to tell her story without totally vilifying her.
Mary and John Knox had some very good debates about religion and politics, and I think this is one of the few times in which he has been in a TV show, as he is an interesting guy.
Eventhough I have some major qualms about the show, I recommend you watch it, as the final season should be good. Hopefully, there will be more TV shows about lesser known and studied figures of history
