Show cover for Reign

The Best Episodes of Reign Season 1

Every episode of Reign Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Reign Season 1!

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

Genre:Drama
Network:The CW

Season 1 Ratings Summary

The best episode of "Reign" season 1 is "Pilot", rated 7.3/10 from 986 user votes. It was directed by Brad Silberling and written by Stephanie Sengupta, Laurie McCarthy. "Pilot" aired on 10/17/2013 and is rated 0.3 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Snakes in the Garden".

  • Pilot
    7.3/10 986 votes

    #1 - Pilot

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 10/17/2013

    Mary arrives in France to formalize her arranged marriage to Prince Francis, but complications arise when she meets his attractive half brother and skeptical mother in the series premiere of this historical drama about young monarchs.

    Director: Brad Silberling

    Writer: Stephanie Sengupta, Laurie McCarthy

  • Snakes in the Garden
    7.6/10 741 votes

    #2 - Snakes in the Garden

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 10/24/2013

    Mary and Francis play up their romance after an English envoy expresses doubts about their union. Elsewhere, Catherine seeks to eliminate an individual who's aware of her scheme to destroy Mary.

    Director: Matthew Hastings

    Writer: Laurie McCarthy

  • Kissed
    7.8/10 715 votes

    #3 - Kissed

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/31/2013

    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

  • Hearts and Minds
    7.9/10 667 votes

    #4 - Hearts and Minds

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 11/7/2013

    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

  • A Chill in the Air
    7.7/10 581 votes

    #5 - A Chill in the Air

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 11/14/2013

    An ex-lover of Francis' arrives and brings danger with her, so an uneasy Mary turns to Bash for comfort. Meanwhile, Queen Catherine persuades Aylee to snoop on Mary; and Bash lands in hot water with heretics, who accuse him of disrupting a sacred ritual.

    Director: Bruce McDonald

    Writer: Jennie Snyder Urman

  • Chosen
    7.6/10 561 votes

    #6 - Chosen

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 11/21/2013

    Francis observes the growing bond between Mary and Bash, so he turns to Olivia. Meanwhile, Catherine wants to ensure that whoever threatened Mary is captured; Bash seeks to repay his debt; and Kenna tells her friends about her affair with Henry.

    Director: Bradley Walsh

    Writer: Wendy Riss

  • Left Behind
    8.3/10 658 votes

    #7 - Left Behind

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 12/5/2013

    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: N/A

  • Fated
    7.9/10 538 votes

    #8 - Fated

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 12/12/2013

    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

  • For King and Country
    8.0/10 527 votes

    #9 - For King and Country

    Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 1/23/2014

    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

    Writer: Edgar Lyall, Alan McCullough

  • Sacrifice
    7.7/10 487 votes

    #10 - Sacrifice

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 1/30/2014

    An assassination attempt is made on Bash's life, and Catherine appears to be responsible for it. Meanwhile, Mary offers assistance to a jailed peasant who has a curious link to Bash; and Lola tries to stop Catherine from meddling with Bash and Mary.

    Director: Rachel Talalay

    Writer: P.K. Simonds, Daniel Sinclair

  • Inquisition
    7.9/10 507 votes

    #11 - Inquisition

    Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 2/6/2014

    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

  • Royal Blood
    7.4/10 454 votes

    #12 - Royal Blood

    Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 2/27/2014

    Clarissa kidnaps Henry and Catherine's youngest sons, so Catherine turns to Mary and Bash for help. Elsewhere, Lola tries to assist her brother with a debt, but when she gets in over her head, Francis comes to her aid.

    Director: Holly Dale

    Writer: Alan McCullough, Wendy Riss

  • The Consummation
    7.9/10 493 votes

    #13 - The Consummation

    Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 3/6/2014

    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.

    Director: Fred Gerber, Laurie McCarthy

    Writer: Laurie McCarthy

  • Dirty Laundry
    7.8/10 447 votes

    #14 - Dirty Laundry

    Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 3/13/2014

    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

  • The Darkness
    7.3/10 393 votes

    #15 - The Darkness

    Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 3/20/2014

    A matchmaking event is held for the women in the castle, but Lola doesn't want to take part in it. Meanwhile, Kenna grows frightened when Henry flies into another rage, so she turns to Catherine; and Bash learns firsthand about the horrors of the woods.

    Director: Steve DiMarco

    Writer: Charles Grant Craig

  • Monsters
    7.8/10 413 votes

    #16 - Monsters

    Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 3/27/2014

    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

    Writer: Drew Lindo, Wendy Riss

  • Liege Lord
    8.0/10 407 votes

    #17 - Liege Lord

    Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 4/10/2014

    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

  • No Exit
    7.7/10 388 votes

    #18 - No Exit

    Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 4/17/2014

    Mary's brother visits and asks her to return to Scotland, but Francis is suspicious of his motives. Meanwhile, Penelope takes command as Henry's mental instability progresses; and Lola is skeptical about Julien's marriage proposal.

    Director: Mike Rohl

    Writer: Hannah Schneider

  • Toy Soldiers
    7.6/10 386 votes

    #19 - Toy Soldiers

    Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 4/24/2014

    Mary's uncle arrives at the castle and brings dire news about her mother, forcing Mary and Francis to make a tough choice about priorities. Meanwhile, Henry devises a destructive plan; and Bash and Kenna grow closer as they strengthen their forced union.

    Director: Chris Grismer

    Writer: David Strauss, Mike Herro

  • Higher Ground
    7.8/10 386 votes

    #20 - Higher Ground

    Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 5/1/2014

    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

    Writer: David Babcock, Daniel Sinclair

  • Long Live the King
    7.7/10 374 votes

    #21 - Long Live the King

    Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 5/8/2014

    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

    Writer: Drew Lindo, Wendy Riss

  • Slaughter of Innocence
    8.3/10 463 votes

    #22 - Slaughter of Innocence

    Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 5/15/2014

    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

    Writer: Doris Egan, Laurie McCarthy