Ep 12. The Shakedown

Reign season 4 episode 12, titled "The Shakedown," begins with Queen Elizabeth's continued attempts to undermine Mary's reign in Scotland. Elizabeth dispatches her loyalists, Lord Darnley and John Knox, to find and exploit any weaknesses in Mary's rule. Meanwhile, Mary seeks to consolidate her power by confronting those who would oppose her.

When Lord Darnley arrives in Scotland, he sets his sights on the young Mary Fleming, one of Mary's most trusted ladies-in-waiting. Despite Mary's warnings, Mary Fleming is flattered by Darnley's advances and begins to spiral out of control. As a result, Mary is forced to take drastic action to save her friend and maintain her own power.

At the same time, John Knox stirs up trouble among the common people by inciting a riot against Catholics. Mary must navigate these dangerous waters carefully to avoid an all-out war between the Catholic and Protestant factions in her kingdom.

To make matters worse, Mary's beloved ally, Lord Bothwell, is accused of treason and imprisoned. Mary is torn between her loyalty to Bothwell and her duty to her people. As she grapples with this dilemma, she must also deal with a shakedown by the English army, who demand that Scotland pay a massive tribute to avoid invasion.

With enemies on all sides and her own people beginning to turn against her, Mary must find a way to maintain her rule and protect those closest to her. But as the pressure mounts and the threats escalate, it becomes clear that Mary may not be able to hold onto her crown much longer.

Overall, "The Shakedown" is a tense episode that explores the challenges of ruling in a time of great political upheaval. Mary's strength and courage are tested in new ways as she fights to keep her kingdom and her loved ones safe in the face of mounting threats. Fans of Reign will find plenty of drama, intrigue, and action in this gripping episode.