[Spotlight Post] Reign vs. Renaissance Festivals
Originally published at Rhonda Eudaly. You can comment here or there.
So, this is supposed to be a spotlight post - where I focus on something or someone good. But in a way it’s going to be part rant, and I apologize for that, but I’m going to get this off my chest.
From The CW website.
I watched Reign last night on the CW. I should’ve heeded warnings and ran away, but I didn’t. I watched it. It was so very bad. Not even the girl from the Narnia movies can save this thing. The dialog is typical of a CW tweener drama (it’s a “prime time drama” - aka soap opera). The secondary and male characters make an attempt at period costuming - the main female characters, not even a little. It’s all “Prom Wear”. And the “modern” soundtrack just doesn’t work for me. Okay, so it’s the CW, I don’t expect a lot from them, but come on.
Why does this grate on my nerves so much? Well, one, it’s supposed to be Mary, Queen of Scots. And of all my Northern European roots , I identify with the Scot blood in me most, so a show about a Scottish Queen? Yay. Except it’s not. Mary’s being shipped off to marry the Crown Prince of France. Okay, maybe historically accurate - except for the fact that everyone has a British accent. COME ON. In the age of pop culture embracing DR WHO find at least ONE freakin’ Scot and French actor - or heck a decent dialog coach. I can recommend some.
Because that’s my other peeve. I’m around Renaissance Festivals, and okay, we’re not accurate either, but heck, they at least TRY HARDER. Scarborough Renaissance Festival uses Queen Margaret of Scotland and Henry VIII and (until this year) Anne Boleyn. And I always say Queen Margaret is my queen. They brogue with the best of ‘em, make a concerted effort to get a lot CLOSER to period appropriate attire - and if you think a Royal Court is not a Soap Opera just in and of itself? Dude. Pay attention. If you want to get into the spirit yourself? Go check out Texas Renaissance Festival down by Houston, or Kansas City or any number of other faires. It’ll be a lot less…wrong.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not slamming the actors of Reign, they can only do so much with the material they’re given. The scriptwriters, though, come on. I know you’re busy but Google is your friend. Or, heck, OPEN A BOOK. I guarantee you the Renaissance Festival actors have -everything they’ve been able to get their hands on. The faire actors put in months and years on their characters - and under even harsher conditions - the Reign actors don’t have to deal with kiddoes that have just eaten their body weight in fried food and then want to hug you - or worse.
So go out and support a local renaissance festival if you need your dose of “Olden Times” fun. You’ll get more out of it, and it’s fun. Besides there are awesome musicans and artisans to support as well.