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The Best Episodes of Reign

Every episode of Reign ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Reign!

Binge this in 2d 6h•Peaking at 8.4/10

Mary, Queen of Scots, faces political and sexual intrigue in the treacherous world of the French court.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Reign Season 1 Episode 22 - Slaughter of Innocence
    8.4/10(483 votes)

    #1 - Slaughter of Innocence

    S1:E22

    Mary and Francis take drastic action in response to Henry's madness. Meanwhile, a terror in the woods puts everyone in peril; and Mary makes a bold choice when she discovers Lola is in the midst of a life-threatening labor.

    Director:David Frazee
    Writers:Doris Egan, Laurie McCarthy

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  2. Reign Season 1 Episode 7 - Left Behind
    8.3/10(683 votes)

    #2 - Left Behind

    S1:E7

    Mary and Francis are taken hostage when the castle falls under siege, and Catherine makes a shocking suggestion in an effort to save them. Meanwhile, Diane reveals to Bash that she's plotting to have him declared legitimate.

    Director:Jeremiah S. Chechik
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Reign Season 3 Episode 18 - Spiders in a Jar
    8.3/10(301 votes)

    #3 - Spiders in a Jar

    S3:E18

    Mary makes a bold move to defend her reign in Scotland, which results in a battle royale with her cousin, Elizabeth. Lola is accused of a heinous crime and suffers the drastic consequences. Meanwhile, back in France, Catherine finds that Charles has returned a changed man after paying a price for his mother's relentless quest for power.

    Director:Deborah Chow
    Writer:Laurie McCarthy

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  4. Reign Season 2 Episode 22 - Burn
    8.2/10(389 votes)

    #4 - Burn

    S2:E22

    As Francis thinks Mary is turning against France, she risks everything to take Condé down; Catherine meets with Queen Elizabeth; Kenna's secret will seal the fate of her relationship with Bash.

    Director:Fred Gerber
    Writers:Laurie McCarthy, Nancy Won

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  5. Reign Season 3 Episode 5 - In A Clearing
    8.2/10(399 votes)

    #5 - In A Clearing

    S3:E5

    Grateful for a future with a revived Francis, Mary considers signing away her claim to the English throne, and staying in France forever. Catherine learns that Nostradamus has returned -- with a new vision involving Francis' fate.

    Director:Deborah Chow
    Writer:Shannon Goss

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  6. Reign Season 3 Episode 17 - Intruders
    8.2/10(284 votes)

    #6 - Intruders

    S3:E17

    When Mary is presumed dead, Elizabeth asks for Lola's help in taking the Scottish crown for herself; James must defend Mary's throne from John Knox; Mary faces Francis's killer.

    Director:Lee Rose
    Writers:Drew Lindo, April Blair

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Reign

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  7. Reign Season 2 Episode 9 - Acts of War
    8.1/10(442 votes)

    #7 - Acts of War

    S2:E9

    Bash and Francis come up with a daring plan whilst Mary has a surprising proposal for Claude.

    Director:Fred Gerber
    Writers:Laurie McCarthy, Nancy Won

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  8. Reign Season 3 Episode 15 - Safe Passage
    8.1/10(299 votes)

    #8 - Safe Passage

    S3:E15

    Mary learns from Lola that she has a chance to get to Scotland safely, but she must act quietly and quickly. When Catherine is framed for murder, Mary must decide if she should stay to protect her, which would jeopardize her safe passage to Scotland.

    Director:Stuart Gillard
    Writer:Drew Lindo

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  9. Reign Season 1 Episode 8 - Fated
    8.0/10(558 votes)

    #9 - Fated

    S1:E8

    Nostradamus shares with Mary his prophecy about a death, which leads Mary to make a big decision concerning Francis. Meanwhile, Clarissa gets brazen as she pursues her goals; and Kenna tells Catherine about Diane's intentions regarding Bash.

    Director:Fred Gerber
    Writer:Laurie McCarthy

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  10. Reign Season 1 Episode 9 - For King and Country
    8.0/10(547 votes)

    #10 - For King and Country

    S1:E9

    Mary and Bass return to the castle, where Catherine remains resolved to keep Francis safe from Mary. Meanwhile, Francis learns of the dark prophecy, but it does not dissuade his desire to marry Mary.

    Director:Helen Shaver
    Writers:Alan McCullough, Edgar Lyall

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  11. Reign Season 1 Episode 17 - Liege Lord
    8.0/10(426 votes)

    #11 - Liege Lord

    S1:E17

    Mary uncovers her marriage contract's secret clause, which was added by Catherine and her mother, so she and Francis attempt to persuade the people of Scotland to renounce her mother.

    Director:Allan Kroeker
    Writer:Doris Egan

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  12. Reign Season 3 Episode 4 - The Price
    8.0/10(336 votes)

    #12 - The Price

    S3:E4

    After Mary receives an urgent message from her ailing mother about the dire situation in Scotland, she finds herself looking to Francis for aid. Catherine finds herself up against Narcisse as she fights to become the regent to Charles. Meanwhile, Elizabeth faces continued pressure to wed.

    Director:Nathaniel Goodman
    Writers:April Blair, Robert D. Doty

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  13. Reign Season 1 Episode 4 - Hearts and Minds
    7.9/10(693 votes)

    #13 - Hearts and Minds

    S1:E4

    Mary has a chance to get out of her engagement, but it requires lying and sentencing a man to death. Meanwhile, Francis and Bash suspect that Tomas may be disguising his real motives.

    Director:Scott Peters
    Writer:P.K. Simonds

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  14. Reign Season 1 Episode 11 - Inquisition
    7.9/10(529 votes)

    #14 - Inquisition

    S1:E11

    Henry claims Catherine has committed treason and adultery, so she attempts to save herself by shedding light on a dark part of Bash's past, and Bash and Mary then try to even the score. Meanwhile, Nostradamus discloses the truth about the castle's ghost.

    Director:Mike Rohl
    Writer:Doris Egan

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  15. Reign Season 1 Episode 13 - The Consummation
    7.9/10(515 votes)

    #15 - The Consummation

    S1:E13

    Mary must decide whether to marry Bash or Francis, who returns accompanied by Lola. Meanwhile, Mary's mother visits and pushes her own agenda, and her mere presence in the castle troubles both Henry and Catherine.

    Directors:Fred Gerber, Laurie McCarthy
    Writer:Laurie McCarthy

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  16. Reign Season 1 Episode 16 - Monsters
    7.9/10(433 votes)

    #16 - Monsters

    S1:E16

    Bash saves Francis' life while they're in the woods exploring the latest ominous threat. Meanwhile, Henry becomes obsessed with a servant who won a contest; Greer is seen kissing a kitchen servant; and Henry forces a new couple into a union.

    Director:Jeff Renfroe
    Writers:Drew Lindo, Wendy Riss Gatsiounis

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  17. Reign Season 2 Episode 10 - Mercy
    7.9/10(388 votes)

    #17 - Mercy

    S2:E10

    Francis comes to a surprising decision. Mary takes part in a treacherous mission with Lord Condé.

    Director:Rich Newey
    Writers:Drew Lindo, Wendy Riss Gatsiounis

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  18. Reign Season 3 Episode 3 - Extreme Measures
    7.9/10(313 votes)

    #18 - Extreme Measures

    S3:E3

    When King Antoine unexpectedly returns to Court, Mary must help Francis hide his weakening condition long enough to secure his family's future. With the Throne in jeopardy and time running out, they must turn to an unlikely ally in need of redemption.

    Director:Holly Dale
    Writers:Drew Lindo, Wendy Riss Gatsiounis

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  19. Reign Season 3 Episode 10 - Bruises That Lie
    7.9/10(290 votes)

    #19 - Bruises That Lie

    S3:E10

    Mary's feelings for Gideon are hard to suppress, but she does her best as she seeks political allies. Meanwhile, Elizabeth and Greer face gut-wrenching scenarios; Claude is in danger on her wedding night; and a power struggle over the regency continues.

    Director:Megan Follows
    Writer:P.K. Simonds

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  20. Reign Season 4 Episode 13 - Coup de Grace
    7.9/10(217 votes)

    #20 - Coup de Grace

    S4:E13

    Darnley teams up with John Knox to strip Mary of her throne, which will leave a close friend of Mary's dead. Elizabeth must banish Gideon from court at the request of her future husband, while Charles takes a bold stance against his brother Henri.

    Director:Megan Follows
    Writers:John J. Sakmar, Kenny Lenhart

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  21. Reign Season 1 Episode 3 - Kissed
    7.8/10(742 votes)

    #21 - Kissed

    S1:E3

    A Portuguese prince offers much-needed aid to Scotland if Mary accepts his marriage proposal and break things off with Francis. Elsewhere, Francis' feelings for Mary lead him to put Bash in a risky situation.

    Director:Holly Dale
    Writer:Doris Egan

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  22. Reign Season 1 Episode 14 - Dirty Laundry
    7.8/10(468 votes)

    #22 - Dirty Laundry

    S1:E14

    Mary's honeymoon ends and she returns to the castle. Meanwhile, Lola displays some odd behavior, which leads to a secret being exposed; Bash finds a bewildered Olivia and asks Nostradamus to assist her; and Henry seeks help from Catherine.

    Director:Norma Bailey
    Writer:Drew Lindo

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  23. Reign Season 1 Episode 20 - Higher Ground
    7.8/10(407 votes)

    #23 - Higher Ground

    S1:E20

    Mary hires a mercenary to help her save Scotland. Meanwhile, Francis prepares France to wage war on England, and Leith becomes his ally in this endeavor; and Lola and Julien's bond deepens, but she fears he will betray her.

    Director:Sudz Sutherland
    Writers:Daniel Sinclair, David Babcock

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  24. Reign Season 1 Episode 21 - Long Live the King
    7.8/10(392 votes)

    #24 - Long Live the King

    S1:E21

    Mary teams up with Catherine to deal with Henry, whose deranged behavior puts Francis at risk. Elsewhere, Bash resolves to destroy the Darkness after meeting a boy who survived the horror; and a devoted Lola tries to protect Julien.

    Director:Jeremiah S. Chechik
    Writers:Drew Lindo, Wendy Riss Gatsiounis

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  25. Reign Season 2 Episode 1 - The Plague
    7.8/10(452 votes)

    #25 - The Plague

    S2:E1

    Francis and Mary's new rule is threatened when a plague ravages the land. Kenna's life is at risk. Greer discovers something shocking about Leith.

    Director:Fred Gerber
    Writer:Laurie McCarthy

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Best Episodes Summary

"Slaughter of Innocence" is the best rated episode of "Reign". It scored 8.4/10 based on 483 votes. Directed by David Frazee and written by Doris Egan, Laurie McCarthy, it aired on 5/15/2014. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Left Behind".