BWW Recap: Fifty Shades of REIGN

The Holy Wars have begun to invade France whether Francis likes it or not. It's time to stop being distracted by babies (or lack thereof) and start ruling.

Outside the castle, a Protestant gathering is attacked by Catholics and burned to the ground. Among the attendees is Castleroy. When Bash and Leith go out to look for survivors on Francis' command, Leith sees Castleroy but does not acknowledge him to save him from being exposed as a Protestant.

The castle is preparing for the wedding of Greer and Castleroy. His children seem enamored with her and her ladies are very happy for her, even Mary who is still grappling with the grief of her miscarriage. Although Leith wants desperately to be with Greer, he does not reveal Castleroy's secret but begs Greer to ask him for the truth before the wedding. Castleroy does admit that his beliefs have strayed toward Protestant. He tells Greer that he will not be angry if she chooses not to marry him and he will still care for her sisters. He will find his answer at the wedding if and when she chooses to walk down the aisle to marry him.

Francis, caught in the middle of the Holy War does not want to choose sides. However, when Louis' nephew is murdered he begs Francis to condemn the Catholics. The Catholics produce a 'victim' of their own. Francis condemns all violence equally refusing to side with either. When confronting the Catholics, one guard confesses that they did, in fact, set up the nameless victim to make Louis' nephew look guilty. The Protestants have won their argument, but Francis is still neutral.

When Francis again confronts the Nanny Caroline who is possessed by the spirit of King Henry, he finally admits that he did in fact kill Henry in the jousting duel. Lord Narcisse arrives just in time to hear his confession and tells Francis that he will either have to kill him or trust him. Foolishly, Francis trusts him. Caroline is released by Narcisse. See, Narcisse planned the whole thing. He had Caroline act like she was possessed to get the confession out of Francis as Narcisse had suspected he had killed Henry all along. Now Francis is backed into a corner and is forced to back the Catholics. Changing his mind infuriates Mary. When she confronts him, he doesn't confess the truth and blames her for not conceiving.

Kenna discovers a sex journal and becomes obsessed with figuring out the participants. She is especially impressed by the tales of a mysterious lover with a butterfly birthmark. She tells Lola that this person is the perfect match for her, they just need to find him. At the wedding reception, in which Greer did decide to show up to, Lola thinks she has found a date but Lord Narcisse interrupts and scares off the suitor. Inexplicably, he begins to hit on Lola and she sees the Buttefly birthmark.

Are we getting ready to see a Lola/Narcisse affair? From the remarks in the journal, she is a lucky girl, even if he is a murderous letch, he's apparently got some skills. That was a pretty low blow for Francis to distract Mary with her infertility to throw her off the track about his killing his father. It doesn't seem like Lord Narcisse is leaving us anytime soon, so now that he has Francis under his wing, is this going to cause a rift in the Mary/Francis marriage? Good Lord, can't these kids catch a break? And where is Clarissa? Didn't we just find out that she's alive? Katherine was pretty freaked out about it and then it was just a distant memory? Maybe Nostradamus will show up with her one of these days just to make everyone uncomfortable. Also, kudos to Caroline for her acting skills. She did a pretty damn good job impersonating King Henry. I hope Lord Narcisse paid her well. Will Francis tell anyone the truth? Even Bash? I guess we'll see.

Greer seems super content with her decision to marry Castleroy but I don't think this is the end for Leith. In fact, it makes me worry for Castleroy. If something were to happen to him and Greer is left with his children and her sisters to take care of, I'm thinking Leith would make an excellent second husband to help her, no?

What were your thoughts? Is Francis being a little unreasonable in making Mary feel so shamed for something out of her control?

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Photo Credit: CW

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