The most recent episode of Reign was much lighter then the last few episodes. The campy comedy that Reign is known for was back and stronger than ever. This episode was driven by plot as it was mostly exposition this episode. But the stand-out moments were the scenes between Mary and Catherine; the two ex-Queens of France shine together, even while delivering dark comedic moments.

The power struggle Catherine has been engaged in France comes to a head and the regent of France is decided. Fresh new characters are introduced that alter the course of characters’ lives greatly in just one episode. Minor characters’ story arcs are more thoroughly played out and an unexpected surprise is revealed of one of Mary’s close friends. I look forward to seeing how the characters progress from these new developments. In a show with so many characters, its hard to stay interested in minor characters you may not see on screen every episode, but Reign manages their characters well enough to keep them relevant and intriguing to viewers.

The English plots against Mary seem a bit weak, but I remain hopeful they pick up momentum in future episodes. The writers must’ve heard my please from my last review about less English Court scenes as there weren’t any this episode, to my relief.

The most hilarious and dramatic parts of this episode were within the last five minutes and kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last twist. It’s too bad that this was the mid-season finale and we won’t get more episodes until January. At least this will give us time to try and wrap our heads around the unexpected turn of events at the end of the episode and the repercussions it will bring with it. Until next year, Royals (the name Reign fans have dubbed themselves)!