BWW Recap: REIGN Crowns a New King and Queen

R EIGN's third episode might be called the Coronation, but it's Francis and Mary's problems with the nobles that were at the heart of it. The episode did end with the couple being crowned King and Queen of France, with indie music in the background as all proper main events on REIGN have. I'm not the only one who couldn't help but think of another blonde's coronation, right? #LetItGo

With his new position as the King's Deputy, Sebastian is now playing Sherlock Holmes for Francis and sleuthing about to fix his problems. Catherine is, unsurprisingly, plotting to make the villagers love her. The only surprise is that she's becoming awfully buddy-buddy with Narcisse. Francis apparently believes in ghosts now as he talks to the ghost of his murdered father again (oh, how I preferred Alan Van Sprang's Henry to the crazy-nurse-Henry). My main question after the episode, though, is where is Leith? Back in the kitchens? Apparently, somewhere out of reach of the cameras.

Frary: Trouble in Paradise

Mary and Francis spend most of the episode arguing over how to deal with the country's grain shortage. Narcisse is holding back his grain out of spite for Mary, so Francis makes a deal with another nobleman to supply them. However, when Narcisse frightens the nobleman into retracting his offer (by using his six year old son...how low can you be, Narcisse?), it looks like Mary's deal with a German nobleman is the only option. The only problem? He's demanding the release of Protestant prisoners immediately.

When Mary agrees to the deal without telling Francis, tempers flare. "I don't need their fear, but I need their respect. How can I ask them for it when I can't even get it from you?" he demands. Mary insists that she can fix it and by working together, they're able to get the grain they need and win the compliance of Narcisse.

Honestly, I'm beginning to find Francis and Mary's constant fighting over the same issues a bit tedious. The fact that they can never be happy for more than five minutes is one of the major reasons I wasn't a fan of #Frary in the first season. I'm hoping that these two can settle their issues and tackle the bigger ones at hand. What do you guys think? Does Frary have a chance of actually being happy together?

Check out this video with insight from the writers of the show about the Coronation.

Bash's Morals and Kenna's Fears

Kenna is upset that she and Bash haven't received more benefits from his new position as she watches the ladies of the court fawn over Lola and her son's new title and lands. At a party, Kenna makes a new friend who promises that her husband could give them a chateau near the castle. However, when she tells Bash, he isn't so thrilled. Kenna's new friend is the wife of Lord Barnard, the man that Bash suspects of murder, and the gift was a bribe to stop the investigation.

When Kenna confronts Lady Barnard, she warns her, "The two of you hang from the thinnest of threads." She tells Kenna that Bash will lose his life if he doesn't stop the investigation. Kenna takes things into her own hands and destroys the proof of the murder. While Kenna worries about her husband's future, Bash insists, "I will always fight for what I believe, risk or not."

Kenna's transformation in this new season continues to surprise me. Her love for Sebastian has made her a better person, but her social climbing desires are still there despite everything that's happened. Will Kenna's wish for palaces and gifts come between her and Bash? I certainly hope not, as they've somehow become my favorite couple on the show.

Conde and...Mary?

I was actually shocked when it was revealed to be Conde who had stolen the Protestant prisoners from their cell. The only thing that shocked me more was the tangible chemistry between Conde and Mary. When Mary asks Conde to bring back the prisoners, he is quick to oblige. Mary rides out to the lake to ask him why he gave in so quickly. He simply tells her, "I suppose I wanted to be the man you saw in me."

Surely, I wasn't the only one expecting them to kiss...and almost wanting it. Right? I know that if there's anything REIGN overdoes, it's love triangles, but I definitely sensed something developing between our new prince and Mary. It seems to me like Mary has a type (tall, dark haired, scruffy) based on past experience...and it's not Francis. I must say, at least she has good taste.

Speaking of love stories, check out this video about Francis and Mary's relationship over the two seasons.

While live tweeting the episode, my Twitter feed went a little crazy when Torrance Coombs retweeted one of my tweets. (Seriously, I was getting notifications about it for the rest of the show!)

The tiny trailer for next week promised a thrilling episode: a pregnancy and a reckoning! However, the history major part of me couldn't help but calculate...now that he's crowned, Francis only has a year and three months to live. I also know that Francis and Mary had no children, which makes me nervous about this pregnancy.

What did you think of this week's episode? What do you hope to see next week? Comment below or tweet @nicoleackman16 to discuss. Until next week, #LongMaySheReign.

Below, check out a sneak peek at next week's episode of REIGN titled 'The Lamb and the Slaughter':

Photo Credit: REIGN's Official Facebook Page

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