Long may she reign (in our hearts)
Oh, Royals.
A distraught Henri carries Nicole’s body into court and lays it at the feet of his brother.
They both blame the other for the death of the woman they loved.
Credit: Ben Mark Holzberg/The CW
There is so much boy rage floating around that Henri and Charles (Spencer MacPherson) draw swords.
As we know, Catherine is an expert manipulator, and the ploy works.
She drugs them, and the three of them getintoit.
Emmanuelle is protected by her unborn devil child now.
Just another day in French Court.
Catherine stumbles back into the throne room in time to overhear Charles and Henri plotting to take on Spain.
It is the stupidest idea Catherine’s ever heard.
Her sons don’t care and have her escorted to her room before she embarrasses herself any further.
This does not sit well with Catherinenor should it!
Those two dummies owe their mother a heck of a lot.
Like, remember when Catherine found Charles eating squirrels in the woods?
Now,thatis embarrassing.
So when Catherine runs into Emmanuelle again (awkward!
Outlook not so good.
The witch confirms their plan will most assuredly backfire and Charles' time on the throne is limited.
Will Catherine once again choose her children over her own well-being?
Or will she let those boys rot for their sins and save herself?
You better believe sister hightails it to Margot’s place andchooses herself.
No amount of French cheese will bring Jane back from that.
The ruthless act is just the beginning of Elizabeth 2.0.
Surprisingly, the real catalyst to her evolution is Mary’s letter.
At this moment, the woman we know to be mainly motivated by fear is completely terrifying.
And she’s not done yet.
No one is getting her crown unless they pry it from her cold, dead hands.
In short, not well.
Something in those puppy dog eyes just makes me believe him.
You guys, James finds his nephew straightaway.
BUT REGARDLESS, James is still a hero.
Mary thinks so, too.
And thus we get Prince James.
And this show had Druids on it!
She finally gives Bothwell the go-ahead to take him out.
Bothwell’s plan is to set explosives around the house to make it look like an accident.
Predictably, things do not go as planned.
Bothwell strangles Darnley to death.
Bothwell races back to the castle to inform Mary that the plan went awry.
He thinks they should flee.
She hands Prince James over to her brother and goes with the guards.
I wouldn’t call it “willingly,” though.
As she is escorted out, she has some harsh words for Knox.
But for now, Mary gets a standing ovation for tearing into the patriarchy.
But it still takes decades for that end to come.
And so,Reignfast-forwards 21 years to Feb. 8, 1587the day of Mary Stuart’s execution.
He is her only hope of survival.
Before you go hating on King James, it’s not like he isn’t trying.
Elizabeth doesn’t deny it.
Laid out so simply, it is clear that Mary’s life has been one tragedy after another.
Doesn’t that just make you want to throw something?
The girl tried, but in the end, it didn’t matter.
Mary has one more tragedy to face: her death.
She marches to her execution, lays her head down, and the axe falls.
And then suddenly, Mary wakes up in the afterlife.
That’s right, you guys.
Mary’s death welcoming committee is led by none other than her forever love.
They kiss, he tells her all the sadness is over, and then they frolic.
They frolic like no one has frolicked before.
You didn’t think you were getting out of this finale without crying, did you?
), I cannot, in good faith, bestow my final OOTW to Elizabeth.
It’s light, airy, and perfect for spinning around in a circle with one’s soulmate.
Long live the queen!
