The Prince of the Blood

 

The Prince of the Blood
Season 2, Episode 7
Air date	November 13, 2014
Written by	Drew Lindo Wendy Riss Gatsiounis
Directed by	Deborah Chow
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"Narcisse can force me to do anything, sign anything. I have lost control of my country."

—King Francis

Synopsis

The Royal Wild Child Returns
Young, reckless and provocative Princess Claude (Rose Williams) makes a surprise visit home, torturing her already haunted mother, Catherine. Francis is pressured by Narcisse to act against his conscience or risk his throne and his wife. Mary finds a new ally in Condé. Francis confides in Bash and hatches a plot that involves an uncertain Lola. Kenna mistakes Claude for a newfound friend, while Greer returns earlier than expected from her wedding tour.

Plot

Lord Narcisse pressures King Francis to act against his conscience or risk his marriage and his throne. Meanwhile, Mary finds a new ally in Conde. Oh my. Claude is a pisser. She flashes her boobs at the carriage driver to get a bit of his hooch and then tells those watching the house to let everyone know Princess Claude has arrived. Mary at breakfast with her ladies when Francis walks in. They are obviously still not comfortable with each other. Enter Narcisse to make things even worse. The nobles want the royals to sign an edict that will require everyone to either be Catholic or pretend to be and keep their mouths shut. Greer returns to the castle with news of being attacked. Mary surmises that Castleroy is Protestant and tells Greer about the law the nobles want Francis to sign. Francis is quizzing Bash on what he has discovered about Narcisse and whether he has found the nanny. Bash informs Francis the only person who has visited Narcisse is Lola. Francis confesses what he did to Bash, who understands and vows to track down the nanny and Montgomery so they can then kill Narcisse. Mary wants to stand by Francis as he stands against the nobles and the edict. He says he needs to do it his way and to believe in him. Conde is in bed with someone's wife when Mary arrives at his door. She has come to him to get what she cannot from her husband. Conde doesn't understand why Francis is not listening to her reasoning. She tells him she wants a converted noble to stand up against the edict in public. Conde assures her he is a Catholic. Ah, but a sympathizer, she says. Kenna wants to be friends with Claude. Catherine is looking at an English cipher that is used by spies. If anyone was found with one in their possession they would be considered a spy and nothing they said would have any merit. After Francis takes it to borrow it and leaves, the two girls appear to her and freak her the hell out. Sisters share, is their apparent message. Claude is in bed with a priest. Catherine can't be bothered. Francis asks Lola to hid the cipher in Narcisse's house. He wants her to pick between the two men. Him or Narcisse. Narcisse has a thing for women who bathe. He wants Lola to take one instead of going to the boat party for Claude. She tells him to draw it for her so she can hid the cipher. Narcisse wants Lola. She wonders why Francis thinks him an enemy. He gives her two choices, finish the delightful bath and go home or meet him in the drawing room and they can embark on a journey together that will change them both forever. Catherine notes to Mary that Conde shouldn't be trusted. He's a prince of the blood, and it was once believed if she didn't bear children or if Francis died, his family would become the next line of kings. Narcisse tells Lola that Francis killed his father. He told her so that when Francis comes to her and asks her to betray his trust, she'll think first about who shared with her the truth. Bash found the nanny, dead for weeks. Francis wants to make Mary proud and prepares to tell her the truth. Bash has to get a boat ready to carry Mary away from danger should it arise. He's going to confess and could be charged with regicide. Oh ugh! We learn why Claude doesn't like Kenna - because she has a thing for Bash and they used to diddle. Ewwww! Narcisse approaches Francis. He wants the edict signed. Francis refuses as he would rather lose his head than be a compromised King taking orders from Narcisse. Then Narcisse shares the tale he learned from a priest about Mary and Catherine working together to poison Henry, thus killing him. Narcisse threatens to end the entire family line. Catherine sees the little girls again. Sisters share. They pull her hair and tell her Henry has never left her. Does Catherine love Claude more than the little dead girls? Claude wakes up and Catherine tells her she must leave. Francis signs the edict. Mary exclaims that she is no longer waiting for the man she loved to return and he suggests she leave France. - TV Fanatic

Quotes

Princess Claude: I remember you, too. Now close your mouth.

King Francis: Narcisse can force me to do anything, sign anything. I have lost control of my country.

Sebastian: And Mary?
King Francis: She can never know. She must be able to deny, on oath before God, that she knew anything. It's the only way to keep her safe.

Queen Mary: Take a stand, my love. I'll take it with you.

Queen Mary: If you treat people as your enemy, that is what they become.

Josephine: How do I go back to my husband now?
Louis Condé: Discreetly.

Queen Mary: Unfortunately, my husband isn't giving me what I want. So I've come to ask you instead.

Lady Kenna: This castle used to be fun.
Sebastian: Well, on behalf of France, I'd like to apologize for the plague, famine, and religious violence.

Queen Catherine: A ride home, indeed.

Lord Narcisse: You asked me what it was about baths that I liked. I suppose it's the vulnerability. The sense of comfort one feels, covered, embraced, when in fact, one is quite exposed.

Princess Claude: How did Bash and Kenna get together?
King Francis: It's a very romantic story, actually. Father threatened to kill them both if they didn't marry.

King Francis: A compromised king is not a king at all.

Lady Lola: Do not seek to take before I give.

Queen Mary: You are not the man I fell in love with. And you are not the king I want to rule beside.

Notes

• Queen Elizabeth, Lord Montgomery, King Henry, Caroline, John Philip, Richard Gifford, and Lord Castleroy were all mentioned but do not appear.
• Two Castle Ghosts make another appearance. Presumed to be Queen Catherine's two youngest daughters that died soon after birth.
• Princess Claude arrived back at court, after being mentioned for several episodes.
• Caroline, the nanny, is confirmed dead.
• Scotland has been confirmed to be reforming as a Protestant country.
• The Boating Party was turned into Princess Claude's Welcome Home Party in a cleaned up Tent City.
• Sebastian and Lady Lola both now know about Francis's involvement in his father's death.
• King Francis has unknowing began the The French Wars of Religion by signing the edict Lord Narcisse brought before him. Making it illegal to be Protestant.
• Francis has a Cypher‏‎ planted in Lord Narcisse's house.

Death Toll
- Caroline (Offscreen)

Trivia

• Torrance Coombs' stuntman was the one who rode off after talking to Kenna.
• Princess Claude wore a bright pink Oscar de la Renta Tafetta Gown for her homecoming party.
• Mary Stuart wore a Galvan Embroidered Invisible Sleeves Gown.
• Lady Kenna wore a Temperley London Long Catroux Dress, with a Deepa Gurnani via Anthropologie Saint-Germain Belt.

Historical Notes

• History's Catherine de' Medici had 10 children, however the last two, twin daughters, died before a couple months of age.
• The French Wars of Religion began during the reign of King Francis.

Gallery

Characters

• Credit Order

Actor	Character
Adelaide Kane	Queen Mary
Megan Follows	Queen Catherine
Torrance Coombs	Sebastian
Toby Regbo	King Francis
Celina Sinden	Greer Castleroy
Caitlin Stasey	Lady Kenna
Anna Popplewell	Lady Lola
Sean Teale	Louis of Condé
Craig Parker	Lord Narcisse
Guest Staring
Rose Williams	Princess Claude
Ben Lewis	Father Benoit
Sergio Di Zio	Lord Cane
Cameo
Ava Preston	Henriette
Madison Oldroyd	Emone
Stephannie Bitten	Nervous Servant
Joey Parro	Coachman
Aaron Katz	Handsome Young Guard
Marni Vain Dyk	Josephine
Eric Craig	Noble #1
Chris Hapke	Another Noble
Torren Sylyain	Conflicted Noble

	Character debut
	Speaking debut
	Episode debut

Videos

Reign 2x07 Promo "The Prince of the Blood" (HD)