7.3/10993 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: Laurie McCarthy, Stephanie Sengupta
7.6/10745 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
7.8/10718 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
7.9/10670 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
7.7/10583 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
7.6/10563 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
8.3/10661 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
7.9/10540 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
8.0/10529 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: Alan McCullough, Edgar Lyall
7.7/10489 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
7.9/10510 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
7.4/10457 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
7.9/10496 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
7.8/10450 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
7.4/10396 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
7.8/10416 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
8.0/10410 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
7.7/10391 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
7.6/10389 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
7.8/10389 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
7.7/10377 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
8.3/10466 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
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
"Pilot" is the best rated episode of "Reign" season 1. It scored 7.3/10 based on 993 votes. Directed by Brad Silberling and written by Laurie McCarthy, Stephanie Sengupta, it aired on 10/17/2013. This episode is rated 0.3 points higher than the second-best, "Snakes in the Garden".