Reign Recap S1E2: Snakes in the Garden

In Reign's second showing it sticks to the premiere's formula: budding love triangle, murder mystery intrigue, with a dash of the supernatural, and it totally works. Maybe better than the plot is the overly attractive cast that keep the interest up when the intrigue isn't the main player on stage.

Mary is in the midst of a bed of lies, as those around her conspire against her and each other. Colin's death turns out to have been a mistake, and before it can be rectified someone helps him escape. Of course, against the King's wishes, Queen Catherine demands that Nostradamus put an end to her little problem, while King Henry remains distracted by his pants as he chases after Kenna. I guess helping her masterbate wasn't enough, and he's willing to help marry her off to her choice suitor if that means he gets into her skirts.

Mary tries to untangle the plot against her, and when Francis proves to be as wishy washy as ever she turns to his handsome brother Bash. Whereas her betrothed should believe her, its Bash that goes off to search for Colin to try to get the answers that Mary desires. This doesn't exactly sit well with Francis but he has other issues.

Namely, Francis is still way too naive, and lacks the assurity he thinks he exudes. He's not as against marrying Mary as he lets on, but between trying to play white knight to Mary when the English openly threaten her, to doing what his father thinks is right for his country he proves he's not a strong ally either. At one point he asks his father to let Mary go, but his father is unwilling to give up a potentially powerful pawn. Its not until yet another failed assassination on Mary that he finally questions his mother and sees that Mary, though having no proof, is correct that his mother is out to get her. Francis may yet grow a backbone, but he better do it before someone drives a knife in it. Being raised a prince has made him all too trusting, as he displays when he goes looking for Bash and finds him with Colin's dead body. Bash knows it was the guards doing, but Francis can't believe it. And even finds fault in his brother when he performs a blood oath that scares away some potential attackers. Way to see the danger in the wrong place! Either that, or he sees that Bash can protect Mary in a way that he never will be able to.

Meanwhile  Francis' younger brother, Charles, gets a betrothed whose impatience reminds Francis of a young Mary. Mary helps bridge the awkward gap between the children, and with her arrival come the arrival of some helpful English Warships. The English put not only Catherine on edge but Mary too, and its during the betrothal celebration that Charles tells her about his mysterious friend, Clarissa.

Clarissa just may be Mary's helpful specter, but what her end game is, has yet to be revealed. Clarissa gives Mary a really big clue into who her enemy at court is, but its not her first guess. The key leads to the English envoys room, and she finds that the "assassination" attempt was really a ruse. The envoy really isn't a threat to Mary, he spends most of his time urging her to break her engagement to Francis and give up her claim to the English throne. If she did either maybe her history would be changed, but Mary is such an optimist.

In the end Mary may have gained an ally in Francis, but she's no closer to the safety she desires or the power she needs. And really why is she fighting so hard for this marriage. Is there no other monarchy who would be willing to assist her? Catherine finds an ominous red X in her bed, and Nostradamus vocalizes his ties to Clarissa. Just how fast it all unravels for everyone is yet to be seen, all I'm sure of is that it will.