Television Tuesday: Why Reign’s cancellation has devastated me

Television Tuesday

Television Tuesday is a new feature in which I chat with you about all things television!

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It was recently announced that season four of Reign would be its last. You can read about it via Variety and Deadline Hollywood.

Anyone who has followed me on here and on social media knows how obsessed I am with Reign. It’s an amazing, amazing show with an incredibly talented cast. Adelaide Kane SLAYS as Mary Queen of Scots

 
And Megan Follows is brilliant, though a bit scary, as Catherine de Medici

 
This show brought us Frary

 
And Matherine

 
It has given us ALL THE FEELS and gutted us time and time again – usually all in the same episode!

The cancellation announcement has truly gutted me, though. The loss of this show – of these characters – is nothing short of heartbreaking. I don’t say this to be a drama queen. I am honestly, truly devastated.

I started watching Reign during the second season, which aired from October 2014 to May 2015. It was on its mid-winter break and I wanted to binge it before it returned in January. I bought season one on DVD and used a combination of the CW website, iTunes and YouTube to watch the first half of season two. I fell in love right from the first episode, with my deep fangirl devotion hitting an all-time high during season two.

But it wasn’t until later on in 2015 when this show really began to mean the world to me. My family went through a really rough (understatement) period from October 2015-April 2016. And during that time, this show was my solace. My sanctuary. My escape from reality. I fell into this show to avoid thinking of all the loss and heartache occurring in my life. I watched and rewatched the show. I bought the books and DVDs. I even bought books outside of the Reign-verse, both fictional and non-fictional. This was my collection 39 weeks ago, as posted on Instagram (and it’s only grown since then):

 
I threw myself into the story of Mary Queen of Scots, in any and every way I could. I cheered when the characters triumphed, and cried when horrible things befell them – including death. The deaths of several characters, especially, devastated me beyond words. I felt as though I had lost loved ones – as I was losing loved ones in real life. When I rewatched the show, I cried again at all the same parts (and then some), even though I knew what was coming this time. I felt raw and broken after each death (one in particular), but I knew the show had to go on.

When Mary left French Court to return to Scotland, I felt conflicted. I mourned the loss of her life there and feared for her life in Scotland. But she had grown so much and had become such a strong, confident queen. I was eager to see what would come next – and still am, though that eagerness is tinged with the sadness of knowing the show is ending.

Reign has been suffering from poor ratings for awhile now. I was so relieved when it was renewed for season three, and then for season four. I knew the odds of a fifth season were slim to none, especially when the CW announced that season four would be a mid-winter show. But I still prayed for the best. And then the cancellation was announced. I still don’t think I’ve 100% accepted that this is truly happening – that this great show is coming to an end. It’s been my escape for so long now, I can’t imagine my life without it.

But the producers have promised fans an ending befitting a queen. They knew the end was near and began plotting how to best wrap things up. According to the Variety article:

“The fourth season is currently still in production, so the team behind “Reign” will be able to work on a series finale, knowing that it will be the final episode, giving fans a real conclusion to the story of Mary Queen of Scots. Insiders say that conversations about the show’s possible ending have been ongoing with producers, so the decision to make this season the last were not totally unexpected.”

I’m a little bit wary of what this will mean, though, as anyone who knows history knows that Mary Queen of Scots did NOT have a happy ending IRL. And photos circulating around Instagram are suggesting the show will mirror real life. I know it would be historically accurate but… I just really hope it doesn’t happen. This strong, fierce Queen does not deserve that kind of ending.

 
But since the show IS ending and there’s nothing that can be done about it (fans have been begging Netflix to pick the show up, but if the show ends in a historically accurate way, there won’t be any show left TO pick-up), all I can do is enjoy the time we have left and remind myself that I have the DVDs and can watch and re-watch to my hearts content. I have the based-on-the-show books and my Mary Queen of Scots book collection. And I have this fandom. Because this fandom is amazing. And I hope it lives on for a long time to come, despite the show ending. Because for as long as I have repeats and this fandom, this show will forever Reign over my heart (see what I did there??).

I want to thank the cast and crew for giving us four amazing seasons of this show. For bringing Mary Queen of Scots into our hearts. For giving us Frary and Matherine. For giving ME a show that allowed me to shut out reality and to push forward, day after day. You’ll likely never see this post, but you have done so much for me and I’m so, so grateful for it. I’ll miss you guys and I’ll miss this show. You’ll be gone, but never forgotten.

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So, are you a fan of Reign? Will you miss it? Do you have any fond memories of the show? Share in the comments!

5 thoughts on “Television Tuesday: Why Reign’s cancellation has devastated me

  1. I’m absolutely obsessed with Reign. I always have felt that it was a completely underrated show. I tell everyone to watch it and nobody really knows about it. It’s been one of my favorites for a while and I definitely want to check out more books about Mary Queen of Scots. The show has made me realized that I have a love for history, especially in Europe. It’s also shown me a whole bunch of awesome music.

    • Yess!!! What are your (non-spoilery) thoughts on the finale? Feel free to reach out on social media or via email so we can chat about it :) And ZOMG the music!!! I wish they’d release a soundtrack!

  2. I definitely remember seeing your reaction to the cancellation, recently! That sucks. :( I don’t watch TV or Netflix with the exception of one show – Grimm. It was announced last year that the coming half-season would be the last (from Jan to May, ish). Everyone was shocked! That show has done so well for so many years. *side-eyes NBC* Hopefully the CW will come up with something new and creative that you’ll like! Reign was such a unique show, it’s a shame it’s getting pulled. :/

    Happy early New Year, Meredith!

    Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!

    • My mom’s a huge fan of Grimm, too! She was disappointed with the finale :( What about you? I’m hardcore side-eyeing the CW because they ALWAYS prematurely cancel shows. I’m so breaking up with them after this! :*(

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