Reign on the CW continues tonight with an all new Thursday October 23, season 2 episode 4 called “The Lamb and the Slaughter.” Tonight, a shepherd’s attack is investigated by Bash and Condé. Meanwhile, Mary [Adelaide Kane] reexamines her complex bond with Lola; Greer focuses on her future; and Lola’s suspicions are aroused when Lord Narcisse presents his new bride.
On the last episode in the aftermath of the plague, a powerful lord (guest star Craig Parker) discovered that Mary (Adelaide Kane) was responsible for the death of his son and demanded vengeance, testing the loyalties of Mary, Francis (Toby Regbo) and Catherine (Megan Follows). Francis returned to the castle with Lola (Anna Popplewell) and their newborn son, creating tension with Mary. Greer (Celina Sinden) was torn by her loyalty to her fiancé, Lord Castleroy (guest star Michael Therriault), who blamed Leith (Jonathan Keltz) for his daughter’s demise. Meanwhile, Kenna (Caitlin Stasey) urged Bash (Torrance Coombs) to be formally recognized in his new role. Did you watch the last episode? If you missed it we have you covered with a full and detailed recap, right here for you.
On tonight’s episode, when a shepherd is attacked by shadowy riders in the night, Bash (Torrance Coombs) and Lord Condé (Sean Teale) investigate what may be the unrest of angry spirits or the beginnings of a religious war. Mary (Adelaide Kane) examines her relationship with Lola (Anna Popplewell) in light of the upcoming christening, with Francis’ (Toby Regbo) illegitimate child serving as both a bond and an obstacle between them. Greer (Celina Sinden) takes control of her future when Leith (Jonathan Keltz) returns to court. Meanwhile, Lola feels something is awry when Lord Narcisse (guest star Craig Parker) introduces his familiar new bride. Megan Follows and Caitlin Stasey also star. Sudz Sutherland directed the episode written by Laurie McCarthy and Adele Lim.
Don’t forget to come back here tonight at 9 PM EST for your live recap of Reign season 2 episode 4 “The Lamb and the Slaughter.” In the meantime, be sure to hit up the comments section below and let us know what you’re most excited about for tonight’s episode.
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A sheep herder is moving his sheep in the rain when he sees horses. He asks who’s there and what they want. They ride him down. Catherine, Francis and Mary talk about the baby’s christening and who could be a Godchild. Mary asks what Lola thinks but Catherine dismisses her – she’s annoyed she was denied but Lola says she knows why. Francis isn’t sure about a big party but says it’s the best way to show all they should accept him. Catherine also mentions that Mary attending the christening of the bastard is ground breaking then tells Lola the child is growing on her.
Lola leaves and Mary follows and tells her that Catherine always runs parties. Lola wants to move to a cottage on the grounds – she’s worried Mary will resent her and the child. Mary says the time for resentment is past and Lola reminds her she never really got mad at her. Mary says Francis wants to help raise his son. Lola has already made plans to move and Mary asks what about her duties to her as a lady. She is annoyed and tells Lola she’s dismissed.
Louis comes to tell Francis about the horsemen attack. Louis says people are afraid and there’s loose talk of restless spirits. He refers him to Bash to settle it. Francis welcomes Leith back and apologizes for having to give his lands to Narcisse. He promises to find him land later and offers him a position with Bash for now. Leith accepts and they call each other friend.
Narcisse shows up with Estelle. Lola recognizes her and tells the other ladies that she last saw her in a cage where he had locked her up. He introduces her as his wife and the women are surprised. Estelle says she made Lola a gift – a handkerchief she fancied up. The ladies notice Estelle’s hands were trembling as she handed over the small parcel. Her new husband takes her to get the king’s blessing on their nuptials. Lola opens the gift and a note falls out that says – help me. She shows it to Kenna and Greer.
Francis finds Mary by the water. She says she was thinking of when they were children together. She points out the tree she learned to climb in. She reveals that she’s pregnant and says she wanted to confirm it. He’s thrilled and twirls her about and kisses her. They are giggling in bed and he asks how she kept it a secret. She says she didn’t want it to interfere with the coronation and christening.
Catherine bursts in and congratulates them and says she’s hoping for a grandson and says there’s time for daughters later. Mary asks how she knew and Catherine says she’s been watching her and had her chamber pot tested. Plus she had spies followed her. She sits on their bed smiling and they are appalled since they are naked in bed. They pull up the covers and tell her they want to keep it quiet.
Catherine won’t have it and says they have to spread the word that she’s fertile to shore up support and show that she is fit to be Queen of France, Scotland and England. Catherine brings her a big tray and tells her to eat up – she’s feeding the future King of France. Now she goes to tell her ladies and they toast with champagne. Lola asks Greer if she’s heard from Castleroy and she says she doesn’t know where she stands.
She tells Lola she’ll have love and it’s better now that Francis has recognized the baby, it will raise her stature. She’s worried no one will want to wed her because they’ll think she’s Francis’ mistress or they’ll be worried about displeasing the king. They also discuss what to do to try and help Estelle. Bash and Louis go to talk to the shepherd. He says the riders were cloaked and their hands were cold as ice.
He says he thought they would kill him but offered him a gift – a mark to help his family prosper. He says they asked him to renounce God but he ran. He says this has happened to others and worried if others have given their souls. Lola goes to see Estelle who begs her to set her free from Narcisse. She asks why she married him and Estelle says she lost everything and he told her it was the only way to keep her lands since her family was dead.
She says servants have told her horror stories about deaths of his other wives. Estelle says they haven’t consummated their marriage because she’s turned him away but says he’s growing impatient. She tells Lola she’s powerful as the king’s mistress and says she can help her. She begs her to save her from Narcisse.
Greer sees Leith talking to others and Kenna asks if she could be with him but she says she can’t be ruled by desire and has to provide for her sisters. Kenna says she and Bash have worked it out and now their marriage is good. Kenna says we are driven by passion and Greer should recognize that now before it edges out her reason.
Lola comes to Mary and Francis to plead Estelle’s case. Francis says the problem is these are just rumors. Lola says she’s in a life she doesn’t want based on one moment of weakness. Francis is surprised because that now describes Lola as well. Mary asks to talk to her alone. Lola reminds her that they helped her when she was facing marriage to a bad man. She says she’s lost her compassion in her happiness.
Mary says Lola’s cage is of her own making when she decided to sleep with the man she knew Mary loved. Lola says it was a mistake but Mary says it was a choice. Lola says she has no choices, neither does Estelle but Mary always will because she’s Queen. She goes to talk out and Mary tells her she’s her Queen. Mary says she agrees that it will be good if she is housed elsewhere out of her sight. OMG! Looks like that friendship is done.
Lola tells Estelle she’s made arrangements to get her away from court and Narcisse. She tells her to meet in her chambers tonight. Estelle says she will and will be careful. There is a dance that night. Mary asks what the christening will be like if this is a small banquet according to Catherine. He tells her she’s beautiful but she worries she’ll balloon out and says Catherine said Scottish women do that. She looks around for Lola and tells Francis they argued but he shouldn’t concern himself.
Bash comes to tell Francis about the shepherd. He thinks it’s someone encouraging terror and Bash says he doesn’t want to burden him on a day when he’s a father two times over. Francis says if it’s normal men spreading fear then Bash needs to track them down.
Mary goes to Nostradamus about Estelle and he does say that he’s had four. Nostradamus says he’s not likely to let her go unless he gets a new distraction. Catherine comes over and says the ball is a dud and asks why the young people aren’t dancing but then says Mary can’t and rubs her tummy. She sends Louis to dance with Greer to get things started and watches with a smile. More couples come to dance and Leith is rotated to be her partner. He says there is no reason this has to be awkward and she agrees. But then they stare at each other and she says she has to go.
Mary comes to ask Narcisse where Estelle is and he says she’s still dressing. She asks why he married someone without dowry and points out many rich and landed women. He asks what her point is and she says France owes him a significant debt and that could be eased by arranging a more advantageous marriage and says she and Francis would support him annulling Estelle.
But then one of Narcisse’s men comes and says she’s out of her chamber and a guard was stabbed. Estelle rushes into Lola’s chambers and says she thinks she killed a guard and they’re looking for her. She says she can’t get away and can’t go back.
Lola washes the blood off her hands as Mary bursts in and demands to know what’s going on. She asks Lola if she knows how much danger she puts her in. Lola tells her about the plan and Mary says she has to give up Estelle so she doesn’t put her life in danger. Lola says his cruelty is the reason she can’t give her back. She says Estelle is not a thing and says Narcisse will have her hanged.
Mary thinks and agrees to help. She tells Estelle to come with her. They dress her as a servant and she loads her up. One of Narcisse’s guards approaches and demands to search the carriage. She gets Queenly, tells him they are transporting a relic and threatens to have him whipped to death. She and Lola share a drink later and discuss that at least Narcisse hasn’t sent guards after the carriage. They drink wine and make peace.
Mary tells Lola to stop feeling guilty and stay with the people she loves him. She wants her son and the baby she’s carrying to grow up together. Lola asks her to be godmother and says she knows this puts her in an awkward position but says there is no one she trusts more. Mary says she would be honored. Next day, Francis says if she’s sure, her choice to be godmother makes him very happy.
She is feeling unwell suddenly. Louis approaches and he offers to get help. She asks him to help her to her room. He offers to get a doctor but she tells him to tell no one. He sees blood on her shoe and she says she’s losing her child but there’s nothing they can do about it now. She says no one can know until after the christening. He says she needs care but she demands he keep it quiet for now.
She cries as the pain takes her over but then regains her composure and goes to the christening. Kenna wonders where Leith and Greer are. Mary holds her godson as the priest performs the christening. He is christened John Phillip, Baron of Velay. Francis smiles as Mary holds his son. She gently hands the boy to Lola and Francis toys with the baby while Mary watches sadly. Louis also looks very sad.
Greer shows up to see Castleroy. She says she rode all night to marry him. He says she doesn’t truly love him the way she does Leith. He says he loved her and wanted to protect her from ruin. He says he can’t put his happiness at risk to save her. He tells her she can rest then should return to court.
A servant tells Lola that Estelle jumped to her death at the cliffs after their carriage arrived. She says Estelle said she saw her parents below calling to her, even though they died in the plague. Lois approaches Francis and tells him Mary didn’t look well at the ceremony and he says he’ll go check on her. Bash grabs Louis to go check on the shepherd.
Narcisse sits with Estelle’s body and Lola comes in and says Estelle was afraid. Narcisse tells her those are ugly rumors and says he is not soulless. He says her father owed him a lot of money and says marrying her preserved her lands. He says he needed heirs and she was young and pretty. He says he just wanted to protect her. She asks about his other wives.
He says his father wed him to his first wife at 15 and she has repeated miscarriages but his father kept pushing for heirs. He says after she died, his father forced a second wife on him that was a hemophiliac. He says she wasted before his eyes. She asks if he’s ever been in love and he says that’s a rare jewel he has yet to see. She seems convinced.
Bash and Louis ride hard to the shepherd’s cottage and find the man’s wife and children slaughtered and the cottage a wreck. The shepherd is alive and held under guard. He says his wife was shrill and his children were loud. He says he took shears and murdered them. He says he hasn’t been right since the storm and Bash has them strip him. The mark of the rider is on him. He says he said no but they forced the mark on him, took his soul and let the devil in.
Francis finds Mary lying in bed crying and she says she lost the baby. He asks why she didn’t send for him and she says he was happy at the christening. She says she wondered would the child have his curls or eyes or a mix of them both. She cries and he holds her close while she sobs.
Castleroy comes in and tells Greer she needs to go. She says he needs to know why she can never be with Leith. She says she’s not a good partner for Leith because he wants to rise. She says it’s too uncertain. She says he knows who he is already and tells him he’s gracious, brave and kind. She says he helped her sisters and values her not as a prize but as a partner.
She says she can make him happy and says he’ll regret letting her go. She says she knows he wants passion and says she does too. She says they haven’t given it a true chance. She steps closer and kisses him. She asks him to see what’s really between them. She pulls down her gown. He says she doesn’t have to do this but she says she wants to. He kisses her deeply and she moans. He unfastens her under dress.
Bash tells Francis the shepherd is in the dungeon but he’s barking mad and says no one took his soul. Louis says the thing he saw it he house seemed inhuman and Bash says there were warnings about restless souls after the plague. Bash says their father went mad from his sins and dies at anothers hand. Bash says there is always a reckoning and he thinks the riders are part of it. He says dark times are upon them, the reckoning is here and blood will pay for blood.
Catherine sees two little girls who beg her to help them now since she didn’t before. There is a line of sage on the floor and she sweeps it out of the way and they run off into the castle. Francis asks Mary if she’s feeling better – she is – and he says he was thinking about her memories of them growing up. He reminds her when she was eight and they had snuck out at night.
She remembers he wanted to catch fireflies. He says some nights they didn’t and she would cry. He says the thrill for him was in the waiting with her. He opens the window and tells her to look over the balcony. She does and sees he has lit lanterns that are flying up into the sky. He kisses and holds her and tells her the world can be dark and uncertain and even cruel but says what really matters is they face it together. He says whatever the future brings, she’s his light. He kisses her.
THE END!
