That is awesome news! I'd been so worried Reign was going to be cancelled because of their low ratings.
My favorite characters/relationship on Reign continues to be Mary and Catherine. I just love how layered and complicated their dynamic is.
As for the rape storyline, I've seen the big backlash to it on Tumblr and while I completely understand the outrage, I personally thought the subject matter was handled deftly. The rape scene itself stayed completely on Mary, she remained the subject never the object, and the camera lingered on her pain and horror instead of any bare limbs as other shows might have done. And then in the aftermath I was pleasantly surprised that while we saw Francis' upset, the story didn't suddenly become all about his manpain and his need for revenge. I loved that Mary tracked the man down and killed him herself. And I appreciated that that didn't magically make everything better for Mary.
I'm relieved Mary told her closest friends what happened to her, used the word 'rape,' and that this trauma isn't just going to be swept under the rug like it never happened. When it first happened I had been concerned the writers would isolate Mary, make her keep the rape a secret from everyone, but Catherine to create further drama and that would have really pissed me off.
I thought it was interesting that so many viewers on Tumblr were comparing this storyline to the one that almost happened on Felicity years ago. Apparently Felicity was going to be raped at college in that show, but the higher-ups intervened at the last minute and made the writers change the storyline. Today's Reign viewers were praising that show's TPTB for intervening and were angry that this storyline hadn't been prevented from airing, too.
Call me cynical, but I don't think Felicity's PTB intervened because they doubted the writers' ability to explore the subject matter with the necessary gravitas. I would bet money that they intervened because they thought Felicity being the victim of rape would irrevocably taint her in the eyes of viewers. I've noticed this trend with a lot of shows in decades past...they'd introduce storylines where the main character is almost raped, but very rarely follow through because apparently once you're raped, you're either a) damaged goods, b) incapable of living a full life after that, and/or c) somehow less relatable as a character.
It's the same with abortion. I remember being shocked when it was revealed that Carrie on Sex and the City had had an abortion in the past. Because up until then (and even now) it seemed like lead female characters could make vague allusions to it as a possibility when they thought they were pregnant, but either they'd spontaneously miscarry or choose to keep it.
All of that is to say that I'd rather shows/books actually delve into real issues that women face today than ignore them altogether as if they didn't exist or only happen to bit characters that are worth less than the leads and who are easily disposable.
I love Mary and Catherine's relationship too. So layered and complex! I love the female relationships on this show. How good Catherine was to Mary after the rape, and how Mary and Lola's friendship has weathered Lola's pregnancy, etc.
And YES. Preach! ITA with all your points about the rape storyline. I think while Downton Abbey did it incredibly wrong, Reign is getting it right. I totally thought she would try to keep it a secret, and that she'd push Francis away and he'd be hurt and confused, and I'd be yelling at the TV, JUST TELL HIM!! But she told him right away! And while his rage and guilt and pain is very valid, the focus is still on MARY. And I love that she told her ladies and that they're using the word "rape" and not being vague. I'm sorry to hear there's backlash, because I don't think it's deserved. I understand the fatigue some viewers feel re: sexual violence, but I do think it's an important issue that needs to be addressed. I'm not sure if the CW did, but at the end of the episode CTV put up the number for a rape crisis line. I thought it was all very well done. The attack wasn't eroticized at all. It was stark and violent.
they'd introduce storylines where the main character is almost raped, but very rarely follow through because apparently once you're raped, you're either a) damaged goods, b) incapable of living a full life after that, and/or c) somehow less relatable as a character.
YES. I think it was gutsy for this show to have their star character raped, and to really deal with the ramifications realistically. It's much easier to have it happen to a minor character, and then still be able to have fun sexytimes with the main characters. But Mary is the heart of this show, and as such it's much more affecting.
My favorite characters/relationship on Reign continues to be Mary and Catherine. I just love how layered and complicated their dynamic is.
As for the rape storyline, I've seen the big backlash to it on Tumblr and while I completely understand the outrage, I personally thought the subject matter was handled deftly. The rape scene itself stayed completely on Mary, she remained the subject never the object, and the camera lingered on her pain and horror instead of any bare limbs as other shows might have done. And then in the aftermath I was pleasantly surprised that while we saw Francis' upset, the story didn't suddenly become all about his manpain and his need for revenge. I loved that Mary tracked the man down and killed him herself. And I appreciated that that didn't magically make everything better for Mary.
I'm relieved Mary told her closest friends what happened to her, used the word 'rape,' and that this trauma isn't just going to be swept under the rug like it never happened. When it first happened I had been concerned the writers would isolate Mary, make her keep the rape a secret from everyone, but Catherine to create further drama and that would have really pissed me off.
I thought it was interesting that so many viewers on Tumblr were comparing this storyline to the one that almost happened on Felicity years ago. Apparently Felicity was going to be raped at college in that show, but the higher-ups intervened at the last minute and made the writers change the storyline. Today's Reign viewers were praising that show's TPTB for intervening and were angry that this storyline hadn't been prevented from airing, too.
Call me cynical, but I don't think Felicity's PTB intervened because they doubted the writers' ability to explore the subject matter with the necessary gravitas. I would bet money that they intervened because they thought Felicity being the victim of rape would irrevocably taint her in the eyes of viewers. I've noticed this trend with a lot of shows in decades past...they'd introduce storylines where the main character is almost raped, but very rarely follow through because apparently once you're raped, you're either a) damaged goods, b) incapable of living a full life after that, and/or c) somehow less relatable as a character.
It's the same with abortion. I remember being shocked when it was revealed that Carrie on Sex and the City had had an abortion in the past. Because up until then (and even now) it seemed like lead female characters could make vague allusions to it as a possibility when they thought they were pregnant, but either they'd spontaneously miscarry or choose to keep it.
All of that is to say that I'd rather shows/books actually delve into real issues that women face today than ignore them altogether as if they didn't exist or only happen to bit characters that are worth less than the leads and who are easily disposable.
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And YES. Preach! ITA with all your points about the rape storyline. I think while Downton Abbey did it incredibly wrong, Reign is getting it right. I totally thought she would try to keep it a secret, and that she'd push Francis away and he'd be hurt and confused, and I'd be yelling at the TV, JUST TELL HIM!! But she told him right away! And while his rage and guilt and pain is very valid, the focus is still on MARY. And I love that she told her ladies and that they're using the word "rape" and not being vague. I'm sorry to hear there's backlash, because I don't think it's deserved. I understand the fatigue some viewers feel re: sexual violence, but I do think it's an important issue that needs to be addressed. I'm not sure if the CW did, but at the end of the episode CTV put up the number for a rape crisis line. I thought it was all very well done. The attack wasn't eroticized at all. It was stark and violent.
they'd introduce storylines where the main character is almost raped, but very rarely follow through because apparently once you're raped, you're either a) damaged goods, b) incapable of living a full life after that, and/or c) somehow less relatable as a character.
YES. I think it was gutsy for this show to have their star character raped, and to really deal with the ramifications realistically. It's much easier to have it happen to a minor character, and then still be able to have fun sexytimes with the main characters. But Mary is the heart of this show, and as such it's much more affecting.
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