#frariesnetwork

I normally wouldn't do this but I've met so many wonderful people in this fandom I felt like I shouldn't pick up and leave without an explanation. Also, I want to get a few things off my chest. I've been a Reign viewer and fan since the very beginning. I must have re-watched the pilot 16xs during that first week and broke a few nails voting for the PCAs and live trends so ya….I need closure

I’m not going into a full list of why I believe this show has gone astray but if you haven’t checked out justafrarygirl's How To post for Reign you should, it basically lists out all my problems with Reign's pacing and story-lines. But I do want to add something; The writers inability to write characters in situations rather than writing situations for the characters. All the huge drama plots and twists have really ruined the narrative for me and, yes, has even ruined my favorite characters. I’m mostly talking about the miscarriage which I believe now more than ever was used as a plot device to put Mary through hell and lead into the big Frary fight because it was Never. Mentioned. Again. Such an emotional experience should be hovering every single episode but again it was just used to create the big Frary fight of 2x05. Cause you know….we all want Frary angst and frankly, it disgusts me.

So why did I stick through Reign until now? Well, duh, Frary, Francis, and Toby-freaking-Regbo.

Frary

I  love them. They are the epic love story I've always wanted to witness and I really felt like I hit the jackpot with them, their history, how their strengths compliment one another to make them a great team, and Tobelaide's chemistry. But I can’t root for them anymore after 2x07 and I don’t believe in their love. I was really surprised with how their pairing was written during episodes 2x02-2x04. Not because I didn't think they could be so well written but because coming from the season 1 finale I was shocked that given the fact that Mary kept a secret from Francis for 7 months and Francis abandoned her to rule by herself that they were able to overcome those issues and work together so quickly. I ignored the inconsistencies because it made me really happy! They were talking, they were working together, they were overcoming all obstacles, they were acting like….married. But now we have reached the whole “Francis has secret/is distant/is lying/is hating his life” story arc and its apparent to me at least that the only reason they were playing to Frary's strengths in the first place was to weaken them now.

Now I've found I have a huge problem with them. And my problem with Frary, is Mary, and my problem with Mary is her badly written character. She almost lost me by the end of  last season. She was cold hearted, un-trusting, worked against her husband instead of with him. But she REALLY brought me back this season. I’m not sure whether it's because the writers heard our pleas (ha!) that we didnt want to see her become the Catherine 2.04. Or maybe it's because she knew she was pregnant? But early season 2 Mary was caring, loving, understanding, trusting, and worked with her husband. But then 2x05-2x07 happened and I’m lost again. Lost for good this time.

She starts episode 7 in a pissy mood. Doesn’t want to be around Francis because he is keeping a secret from her, he is making decisions without her, and he's released "murderers". Um, excuse me? What happened to:

Francis:“ill end this distance between us.you believe me don’t you?”

Mary: “I believe you”.

I know she might not have, BUT SHE SAID IT. We left 2x06 with the general understanding that Francis is harboring a secret that leads him to do things politicly he doesn’t want to do, that he can’t say what it is because it will put Mary in danger, that he hates it, and wants to end it. I’m sorry does Mary have amnesia? It looks like she forgot that whole conversation completely? But now she is giving Francis the cold shoulder because he's not letting her in. Francis asks her to have patience and faith in him. She agrees to his face and the first thing she does is go to Conde. Because she is NOT patient with her husband, she DOESN'T believe in him. Further more the moment he signed the edict, her understanding is that Francis played to the nobles because he is a coward and he fears his power over the nobles will be threatened. Not only does she doesn’t trust him when he says he was going to figure things out on his own, she doesn’t trust him to be the person he ACTUALLY is. That’s not love. Not if a partner  so easily looses faith in her other partner and lacks the understanding of that person's intentions and his soul. That’s not love.

You see why I can’t root for them?

What does Mary actually want? We saw last season that she wouldn’t work with Francis when she tried to rule over Scotland. When Francis became King she did her best to support him and work through his troubles. The moment he asks to take a lead of running his own country, she works against him and complain about his decisions, and complains that he won’t include her, and complains that he is not the man she fell in love with. She gives him encouragement when he does something SHE agrees with and scolds him for when he doesn’t. Is that support? No, it's manipulative and cruel. When Mary feels useless, Francis does a romantic grand gesture and gives her comforting words. When Francis feels useless, she works against him and calls him a coward. When Lola asks Mary to be patient and keep her secret from Francis she does it. When Francis asks her to be patient for a few days she can’t for a full hour.

My actual interpretation after all this? Is that Mary’s “love” is derived from what Francis can give her. The power, the support, the security. I’m really sorry to say it but thats what I see. She comes off as arrogant and selfish, and naive. But only to Francis! because to Greer and Lola she does not at all give that impression. I'm done with her. She has lost me.

And I know the point of all this was to fuel the new love triangle with Conde. Thank God I won’t be around for that.

Francis Valois

My favorite. He's so intelligent, he's strong, he's passionate, he's loving , and he's good. He is also now King, which I was soooooo excited for. But this whole Narcisse thing has really messed him up. Besides the fact that its so implausible that he couldn't find any allegiances to help him bring Narcisse down (um a royal council anyone? Queen Catherine De Medici anyone!?!? ANY ADVISER WHAT SO EVER!!) there are many reasons why MANY people would want to keep the Valois line in power. There are nobles whose power and position are secured through the Valois line that would not like to see Francis be implicated for regicide INCLUDING Narcisse. Now it's not only Francis that is threatened by Narcise but his mother is also being implicated of regicide which would definitely threaten the whole Valois line, and if they go down, the next in line for the throne would be the House of Bourbon…which are….yah, you guessed it! protestants!!!! Who actually took the throne after King Henry III , Francis little brother died.  So what is the point of all this? Narcisse gets more if Francis stays in power so why would he ever let Francis secret out? AND WHY IN GOD'S NAME HASN'T FRANCIS REALIZED THIS?!? So now, much like Mary, Francis is coming off as a complete idiot. Of course, this is all  to continue this stupid story-line. But I'm not here to watch Francis being railroaded. I would like to see my heroes thrive. Not shut down. Nope, got no time for it

This whole storyline is a insult to his intelligence. and you know what? also mine. 

Toby-freaking-Regbo

I will and forever be a Regboner. I thank every day that this show introduced me this talented cherub. But let’s face it, Reign is a waste of his talent and I would rather wait it out until he has time to do projects that are on pare with his acting abilities.

I will be deleting my @royalregboner twitter account within the next day and will be leaving the networks I’m currently in but I really am grateful of knowing some of you. I've had so much fun doing the podcast with the Royal Reviewer ladies! I genuinely love everyone of those girls and others out there (you know who you are). I would love to keep in touch so you know where to find me on Tumblr and feel free to talk to me on my personal twitter @forevatwenty4 .