Reign Recap: Long Live the King 

— as predicted by the aforementioned hipster soothsayer in TVLine’s sneak peek and previously announced by showrunner Laurie McCarthy — snuffed out King Francis’ light once and for all.

“I will never love anyone the way I love you,” a sobbing Mary told her husband as he lay dying in the episode’s titular clearing. (No, really, the episode was titled “In a Clearing.”)

“I pray to God that you do,” Francis replied, before drawing his final breath and sending his little Francis ghost up to heaven to see Clarissa and Aylee. (Is anyone surprised that the last words out of Francis’ mouth are noble and selfless? Because I’m not.)

One Canadian viewer — because, let’s never forget, this show airs on Thursdays in the Great White North — captured the tragic moment for all the world to see:

Part 3 of 3 of Francis's Death #reign #frary pic.twitter.com/9AZMBEtCjk

— RIP King Francis (@LongMayYouReign) November 13, 2015

In case you haven’t realized it by now, this isn’t a full recap, but rather a safe space to reflect on the loss of Francis and discuss what’s to come — both in the world of the show and in our own. Does killing Francis also kill

? Will you stick around to watch the grief unfold, or has your interest gone the way of Mary’s husband?

Whatever you’re feeling now, drop it in a comment below.

Yup killing Francis has killed reign! I understand they want to go with history but they made it into a love story. A lot of things they put in the story didn’t happen in history. The writers couldve made a really good show but no point watching it anymore. R.I.P Francis R.I.P Reign

Reign was a really good show…but they should have not killed King Francis off the show..I am very sure that ratings will be dropping and I will not be watching anymore…

History killed Francis, his death was telegraphed from the beginning. They stretched it out as long as they could, but it was inevitable. This show may play with the boundaries of historical fact but this one was bound to happen eventually.

Well I was never a Frary fan but this episode was real sad! Mary & Catherine had me tearing up. I love that Catherine and Francis had made up before he died, their scene together was just the perfect goodbye. Reign won’t be the same for sure but then again I thought the same when Henry died so… Anyway I can’t wait for Mary & Catherine’s next chapters. Is Kenna ever coming back & hope they bring back that hot pirate for Greer.

please bring Francis back there’s no show without Francis

On the contrary! I’ve always loved the show, I keep doing so, and I’m more excited than ever to see what’s to come! The show is centered around Mary Queen of Scots, not Francis or solely their relationship. So, the way I see it, this is just the beggining! There’s a lot more history to explore :)

I don’t see the show being renewed after this season though

With all the crazy storylines that obviously never really happened I’m surprised the writers wanted to stick with history.

This episode was beautifully done! We all knew that Francis’ death was coming, and I love how the writers were able to go back and use pieces from the beginning of the series and prove to the viewers that Nostradamus predictions from the pilot came true. We all knew from the day Reign first graced our TV screens that Francis was going to die, and I believe that the show will survive and cannot wait to see what comes next for Mary, Queen of Scots.

Officially took Reign off DVR….I know it was inevitable but still disappointing. Guess I’m just a hopeless romantic always hoping for that happy ending. Here’s to a turn around….

I know it’s a show but nonetheless a show based on “Queen Mary of Scots” an actual monarch that existed! I am saddened by the show killing Francis! I literally cried like a child would when they are heartbroken:-(( but I must say that for me it’s not the end of the show but the beginning! Remember that if they are truly trying to base the show on mere true historical twists, than the end of the show will be “spoiler alert” when Queen Elizabeth has Mary executed. Do not worry though that is still about 15 years from happening!

Writers have done such a nice job at keep it modernize yet historic.

I am NOT watching this show anymore !!!!! Francis and Mary were an item and worth watching the show. Now its a bunch of soap opera junk! Who cares about an adultress desperate queen in England that cant get her own man, but yet covets someone else’s and is so insecure she wants to outst Queen Mary. Who cares about the feud. The core and heart of the show was Francis and Mary. The writers could have just wrapped up the show with a good ending and call it a night. Because they just destroyed the show with eliminating Francis.

Hmm, well that’s disappointing, I was kind of hoping after Francis was healed that the writers would deviate from history and start a “what if” Francis lived storyline. But I will still watch the show.

I understand why the writers decided to stick to history with Francis dying, if he lived it would change so many things in history. And so far for a tv show Reign has been pretty accurate. So it’s understandable why they did this. But a lot of people are right, killing Francis was a bad idea. He’s basically as much the main character as Mary, without him it changes the whole show. The writers should have let him live for the sake of the show, and it would have gave them so many new storylines to explore, and how history may have unfolded if he lived, because quite honestly Mary’s storyline get kind of boring historically now. And it sound like they might deviate from history anyway, because the new prediction is that Mary must remain in France for the new Rule to be successful, which isn’t accurate by history. With saying all that I will still watch, it is a good show.

boring historically? her husband beats her and she gets her lover to kill him, its totally crazy interesting

This is Mary’s story. There has to be some accuracy to it. Francis’ death is a HUGE part of her story and they had to write it in at some point. I’ve loved watching their love story and the plot twists, but I’m just as interested to see the focus of the next chapter. I will still watch.

I’m wondering if Mary isn’t pregnant now. And the baby will be their second chance. I know it’s not part of history, but still maybe?

I was hoping for that too. Honestly I didn’t watch this show for a history lesson and there is already so much that didn’t happen in history in the show, I doubt anyone really cares about the history so they shouldn’t have killed Francis. Or they should have waited, like they just revived him for one more episode, that is stupid. at least keep him on for a couple more, they were happy and in love and WHY?????????

Francis’s death makes me sad Mary and Francis were my favorite couple my other is Bash and Kenna can someone please tell me that Kenna is coming back!!!!

You know what, I actually kind of like how the show has stayed pretty true to history. It’s a great show, and its interesting to watch since it is for the most part real history.

eh not really, other shows like the white queen or wolf hall have done it better

I will say this. I want this show to focus more on these women, Elizabeth included, overcoming a patriarchal society. But I am very heart broken not because of Francis historically but the character this actor created. A compassionate, loyal, amazing King and man that I respected. I am sad to see him go but hope that fans like me stick with the show to see the three queens stand on their own and create their own destinies. As long as they continue to be portrayed as strong (Conde affair excluded) then I will remain a loyal fan.

Side note: anyone else not car about Bash’s random story with Delphine?! It seems so unattached. Greer and her (awesome) whorehouse have a more involved story.

Reign is over for me now that they’ve killed off Francis. No interested in the English court or Mary being with someone else. Should have kept Francis around for at least most of Season 3.

Writers ruined the series by killing Francis!! This series is a “fairy tale” so writers didn’t have to kill him off. He could have lived and continued to reign with a lot of good stories to come.

I was never a big Frary shipper, so I always hoped they would have killed Francis at the end of S1. That way this epic romance (that wasn’t that epic in reality) would have been curtailed sooner. For a show that was built around Mary AND Francis, despite supposedly being about Mary, I am intrigued to see how the writers are going to continue this season. I wish they would stop relying so heavily on love triangles as an obstacle every single character has to overcome. I’m still here. But I’m not sure for how much longer.

I’m surprised by the outrage. I think they stretched the Francis part out a lot and am looking forward to the new dynamic. I’d love to see Mary in Scotland, yet doubt they’re going to go there.

I, for one, applaud the showrunners. The Francis/Mary love story had played its course, and now history brought it to an end. I hope people are smart enough to appreciate the show’s intelligent writing and stick with it, rather than stop watching because they can’t ‘ship’ (oh, how I hate this word) Frary or Mrancis, or however you want to call them. Also, judging by this season of The Vampire Diaries, a shake up of love-triangles and other such modern nonsense is a great way of breathing new life and energy into a show of this kind!

Then again, maybe I don’t watch these shows for the same reasons that ‘shippers’ (*cringe*) do…

I just really hope that Mary finds love once again.

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