Reign Review: Spiders in a Jar (Season 3 Episode 18)
Reign Season 3 Episode 18, “Spiders in a Jar,” may be the most thrilling and well-written 40 minutes the show has ever done. But I’ll never forgive them for that character death.
Lola: I march to my execution very soon, and yet you are the one to be pitied.
Over the course of three seasons, Lola has never blossomed as a character quite as she did in this episode. It’s frustrating that writers can only write characters as they’re supposed to be in their final episodes.
Confronted with a letter written in Mary’s code, Lola is convinced that Mary wants her to help someone assassinate Elizabeth, as she plots to take control of Scotland. But poor Lola was framed and implicated by John Knox, the sexist Protestant Reverend that aims to dethrone Mary and Elizabeth.
Lola risked, and sacrificed, her life to protect her nation, her queen, and her fellow Scots. She is the bravest character that has ever been on this show. Even after the missteps in her friendship with Mary, she was loyal to her queen. Anna Popplewell will be missed. As will the rest of Mary’s ladies.
The show has now departed from what has brought it to this point. Instead of dying, which was a shock to me, Bash took off to live a life with the Druids and understand his faith, which conveniently was never really brought up before they wrote him off.
Leith is possibly dead, just as Catherine granted his marriage to Claude. That relationship was so rushed, he won’t truly be missed. Leith and Greer had such a wonderful build up, and it would’ve been more satisfying to see Greer settle for a normal life with someone she loved, rather than the path she went down.
But why did Lola have to die? Her death ignited Mary’s fire to take down Elizabeth, just as Elizabeth has been aiming to do. Their war is only just beginning, and Mary is now truly alone in her cause.
Mary: Her nation. England. Someday it will be mine.
She’s left France, lost all of her friends, and even her brother is beginning to turn against her and side with John Knox for his own political gain.
Instead of keeping the monarchy established, Knox and James will try to dethrone Mary, and possibly Elizabeth too, and convert Scotland into a democracy, ruled by James. The bastard.
Mary: Too many people I love have died trying to bring peace! Trying to save me!
With Gideon on her side, if he truly is, what path will this lead Mary down? She’s no longer the person she was in France. She’s now killed a man with her bare hands for revenge. That event changed her.
Season 4 may plot the downfall of Mary, Queen of Scots. Alone in a country that she is not familiar with, though she rules, with no true trusted advisors, Mary will have no one to fall back on that won’t use her weakness for their own personal gain.
The attacks over religion have yet to end, and Mary using the Catholic priest’s suicide as a message to unite her nation probably won’t help either. Her next moves have to be precise and carefully thought out, with little to no advice from anyone around her.
Now that Elizabeth has almost died, how will this change her as well? She believes Mary actually sent for Lola and a Catholic radical to take her life. Because of her attempt to unite England and Scotland as one under her rule.
Mary and Elizabeth are going to be so focused on warring with each other and attempting the lives of their fellow leader that they may not see the uprising led by those around their courts. John Knox will prove to be an interesting and dangerous enemy in Season 4, even more than he’s been in Season 3 as Mary attempted to regain control of her country.
Back in France, the Red Knights were taken out, but at what cost?
Charles being found tragically scarred proves him to be Catherine’s biggest threat. He didn’t want to be King of France, he never did. Especially after watching his friend be tortured and killed, yet not give up his King’s location after hours.
Could he be blamed for not wanting this? His life is constantly in danger.
As for Catherine, after Charles has the council denounce her as regent, she graciously starts prepping her next child for the throne, threatening Charles’ life on her quest.
I’m confused on where the writers plan to take the show in Season 4.
France is all but irrelevant now. Mary and Elizabeth’s journey will take up the majority of the time, why not tie up loose ends in France and end it? Claude must deal with Leith’s possible death as they planned to marry, Catherine is probably going to try and have her son assassinated so she can succeed as regent again, and Charles is falling apart.
He’s just a kid, not a fit ruler. He will run France into the ground.
The cast in France is a great addition to the show, they helped build it after all, but the show is evolving and France doesn’t quite fit in the playbook anymore. A satisfying ending to that chapter of Mary’s story would’ve been better than dragging it on without any inclusion to the overall theme.
Now for the most important question of the show. What will the writers do?
Let’s be real, this show has been mostly historical fiction, using real figures and implementing drama. Will they show the true outcome of Mary and Elizabeth’s feud? Or will Mary get the happy ending she didn’t actually receive?
Mary tragically met the same fate as Lola, though much later in her life, after years of being held as Elizabeth’s captive. That’s obviously a series finale fate, which Season 4 may be. Will the writers flash forward, or hold out hope for an unlikely Season 5?
What did you think Reign‘s season finale? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Reign will return to The CW in the 2016-17 season!
Jay Ruymann
Jay is a freelance writer and a Slytherin, who uses Leslie Knope as a role model, suffering from an addiction to coffee and television that is only encouraged by his professional life. While busy slaving away at the day-to-day, he also enjoys a good binge-watch of Parks and Recreation and Pretty Little Liars.