Ep 1. Pilot

Reign takes place in sixteenth-century France and follows the story of Mary Stuart, who has been living in a monastery in Scotland for years. As the ruling power in Scotland, England has long wanted to take Mary out of the picture. When Scotland becomes too dangerous, Mary moves to France, where she is betrothed to the heir to the French throne, Francis.

The pilot episode of Reign, aptly titled "Pilot," sets the stage for the rest of the season. The first episode begins with a young Mary Stuart, who is forced to leave her home in Scotland after her family's castle is attacked. She and her four best friends flee to a French monastery, where they are taken in by the nuns.

Five years later, Mary is now a teenager and living with the nuns. Catherine de' Medici, the Queen of France, learns that Mary is alive and well and immediately becomes concerned about the young girl's potential to become a threat to the French monarchy. Catherine is a fierce woman who will stop at nothing to ensure her power remains unchallenged, and she sees Mary as a possible rival.

To handle the situation, Queen Catherine summons Mary to the French court, where she will be safe under the protection of the French monarchy. Not knowing if she can trust anyone in this unfamiliar environment, Mary takes her closest friends with her to the French court.

Upon arriving at the French court, Mary is immediately met with hostility from Queen Catherine and her son, Prince Francis. Catherine rudely dismisses Mary's attendants, warning her that any connection to Scotland or its people will be viewed as a threat to the French nobility. It quickly becomes apparent to Mary that her life at the French court may not be as safe as she was led to believe.

Meanwhile, the young prince Francis is looking forward to his arranged marriage to Mary. However, Francis' feelings for Mary are complicated by his longtime relationship with Lola, one of Mary's closest friends. Francis is torn between his duty to his country and his feelings for Mary, who he is starting to see in a new light.

As the episode progresses, Mary seeks out allies within the French court. She meets a powerful noblewoman named Diane, who offers to help her navigate the treacherous waters of French aristocracy. Mary is also drawn to a young man named Sebastian, who serves as Francis' half-brother. Although Sebastian is clearly interested in Mary, the two seem to get off on the wrong foot, and it's unclear what will come of their relationship.

As tensions rise between the French and Scottish monarchies, Mary becomes increasingly aware of the potential dangers surrounding her. She tries to avoid causing scandal and gaining unwanted attention while also trying to uncover what really happened the night her castle was attacked years ago.

The pilot episode of Reign is full of drama, intrigue, and political maneuvering. It sets the stage for the rest of the season while deftly introducing us to the main characters and their complex relationships. Mary is a strong and resourceful protagonist who we immediately root for, while the other characters are carefully developed to make us both love and loathe them.

Overall, the pilot episode of Reign is a strong introduction to the world of sixteenth-century French court politics and the young woman who must navigate it to ensure her safety and the security of her country.