The CW’s Reign is one of this year’s most addicting new shows. If you haven’t had a chance to watch it yet, we have a few reasons why you should give the show a shot over the winter TV hiatus.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with the premise of the show (which was picked up for a full season last month), Reign is loosely-based (which I can’t emphasize enough) on the life of the great Mary, Queen of Scots, who acceded to the Scottish throne at just 10 days old. Instead of giving a lengthy overview of Mary’s life, the show depicts a fictionalized version of Mary’s time at the French Court during her teenage years. In essence, the show is like Gossip Girl crossed with The Tudors, with heavy A Knight’s Tale-like stylistic influences.
If you’re looking for a TV show to binge-watch over the winter TV hiatus or just another show to add to your obsessions, here are just a few reasons why you should consider checking out Reign.
The strong leading lady
For too long, television and film have been devoid of strong female characters. Reign takes one of history’s most prominent female figures and translates her power and character to the small screen, making Mary, Queen of Scots (played by Adelaide Kane of Teen Wolf fame) quite possibly one of the strongest females television has seen in a long time. While she may have been initially betrothed to the Dauphin of France by her mother and uncle, she makes all other decisions on her own. Furthermore, she is rarely swayed by emotion or shady characters. Her country’s welfare is almost always at the forefront of her mind, along with her loved ones. She’s levelheaded and reasonable, and yet she’s also incredibly kind toward all others. She even knows how and when to have fun. While she is in no way a flawlessly perfect character, Adelaide Kane’s Queen Mary is one of the best female characters that we’ve seen in a long time.
The time period
The 16th century makes for the perfect setting for a drama. Court politics and indiscretions, in addition to the lavish lifestyle of royalty, give the show a Gossip Girl sort of vibe but with much higher stakes. All of these dramatic aspects are embedded into the show by the time period alone. If you add in a few of the historical facts the show maintains, France is constantly at the brink of war at this point in time. The only thing assuring an alliance between France and Scotland is the marriage of Queen Mary to Dauphin Francis. The 16th century was full of drama and it really translates well into a serialized drama like Reign.
The story
No, the show is not historically accurate. Some even go as far to accuse The CW of tricking (or even brainwashing) young people with a historically inaccurate depiction of Queen Mary’s life, which is a weak argument considering that the teens and young people of today are smarter and more resourceful than many give us credit for. After all, we don’t know about you but if something peaks our interest (such as Mary, Queen of Scots), we scour the internet to learn more about it. The show may not be accurate, but it definitely makes people aware of an important historical figure when they may not have been otherwise.
That being said, the show does not need to depend on dramatic events of the past in order to create and tell a gripping story. Even though the real Mary, Queen of Scots, was a strong woman who led a very eventful life, the creative decisions that the show runners have made with Reign have made for an equally interesting drama. The show seamlessly mixes the drama of Court life with the problems and passions of young adulthood. Then, as a bit of an added garnish, the show sprinkles in a few slightly supernatural elements, including a seer and a questionably human being that lives within the castle. It’s really interesting to see all of these aspects come together.
The love triangle
Love triangles make for juicy television. There’s no denying it, and Reign‘s triangle really doesn’t disappoint (at least, not so far). But before you roll your eyes and groan about yet another TV love triangle, consider this: The love triangle in this show is, at this point, a sort of nonentity. That is to say, the advertisements and network try to play it off like it’s central to the plot but the show itself is developing it in a different way. While there is a little bit of tension and attraction between Mary and Bash, the King’s bastard child, Mary’s values make the love triangle a sort of puzzle or mystery. So, it’s not really a question of when the triangle will really emerge, but how the story and Mary’s values allow it to emerge.
The soundtrack
Like the movie A Knight’s Tale, Reign is a period piece that chooses to use more modern music and artists rather than staying true to the time period. However, Reign differs from the A Knight’s Tale soundtrack style by choosing songs that don’t distract from the scenes or time period (like A Knight’s Tale‘s use of Queen’s “We Will Rock You.”). Instead, the show uses indie and folk artists to maintain the show’s mood while also making it relatable to the audience. For instance, the pilot episode features two soothing songs from The Lumineers (one being the show’s theme song) that are modern, and yet feel so natural to the show’s environment. The show’s third episode even seamlessly features Bastille’s “Pompeii”, which has been starting to make the rounds on radio stations lately.
The scenery and costumes
To put it simply, Reign is gorgeous. Stunning even. From the lush green outdoor scenery to the ornate hallways and rooms in the giant French castle, there isn’t an ugly (or even bland) shot in the entire show. We can barely believe that this show is shot in Toronto (except for the pilot which was mostly shot in Ireland). To our untrained eyes, it looks like it’s shot on location in France. And the costumes? While they may not be entirely historically accurate, they’re so intricate and glamorous, Mary’s wardrobe especially. There’s just so much decadence and color in every single shot of this show that it’s hard not to be impressed. Above all else, the entire cast is beautiful. Men, women, older, younger… They’re all aesthetically pleasing. What more could you really ask for? Just give Reign a fair chance and, who knows, it may end up being your new favorite show!
Make sure to catch Reign‘s return to the CW on Thursday, January 23 at 9 p.m. ET!