Set in the 16th century, Reign is a historical drama tv show created by Laurie McCarthy and Stephanie SenGupta for The CW.
Starring Adelaide Kane, the series premiered in October 2013 and ran for four seasons, ending in June 2017.
Reign is loosely based on the life of Mary Stuart, also known as Mary Queen of Scots, and is more fictional than it is accurate.
But that didn't stop its legion of fans from tuning in every week. So whether you want to watch Reign for the first time or you want to rewatch the four seasons, we're here to let you know where you can stream it worldwide.
Where To Stream Reign?
The US: As a CW original, you can still watch all four seasons of Reign on CW as well as on Amazon Prime Video in the United States.
The UK: Reign is not available to stream for free in the UK. Instead, you can buy it on Apple TV or Amazon.
Australia: You can watch Reign on Stan.
Canada: Canadians have the series available on Paramount+.
Argentina: There are two options in Argentina where Reign can be streamed on Paramount+ and Movi Star.
Japan: Reign is only available one streaming service, and that is Hulu.
France: Fans of Reign in France will have to buy or rent the show on Apple TV+ as it is no longer available to stream for free.
Germany: Reign is only available to rent or buy in Germany. The two platforms to find it are Apple TV+ and Amazon.
Ireland: Reign is not available to stream, rent or buy in Ireland.
Central Europe: For the vast majority of the European countries such as Portugal, Poland, Spain, Czech Republic etc… Reign is not available on any streaming platform.
What Is Reign About?
Reign begins in 1557, with fifteen-year-old Queen Mary Stuart (Adelaide Kane) awaiting her marriage to fifteen-year-old Crown Prince Francis (Toby Regbo).
Mary must navigate politics and power plays, as well as her feelings for Francis and his half-brother, Bash (Torrance Coombs). But what Mary doesn't know is Francis' mother, Catherine de' Medici (Megan Follows), is trying to prevent the marriage following Nostradamus’ prediction that it will lead to Francis' death.
As the seasons progress, they charter the rise of Francis and Mary as King and Queen of France and Scotland. Together they must deal with the rising religious conflicts as well as the rival House of Bourbon who wants the French throne.
The third season introduces Queen Elizabeth I of England, who plots against her own cousin Queen Mary, and by 1587, when the show ends, Queen Mary has returned to Scotland as its rightful ruler.
Tensions mount between Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth I as they battle for the throne. So who wins? Well, if you don't already know, you can watch Reign to find out.
When Does Francis Die In Reign?
King Francis dies half-way through the third season. In real life that was December 5th 1560 when he was King of France.
Francis was only 16 years old and had been on the throne for just 17 months. It is suspected that the died from an ear condition but there really is no way of knowing exactly what caused his death.
Francis II died childless, so his younger brother Charles, then ten years old, succeeded him.
Why Was Reign Cancelled
Reign wasn't canceled. After four seasons and 78 episodes, the story of Queen Mary Stuart was played out completely.
In 1567, she was forced to abdicate the throne and fled south hoping for the protection of Elizabeth I of England.
However, Elizabeth saw her as a threat and had her confined in various castles across England. Eighteen and a half years later, Mary was found guilty of plotting to assassinate Queen Elizabeth in 1586 and was beheaded the following year at Fotheringhay Castle.
So Reign covers her life from the age of 15 to her death at aged 44.
Who Plays Who in Reign?
Adelaide Kane as Mary, Queen of Scots, who is betrothed to Francis, the Dauphin of France. Her character evolves from a naive young queen to a cunning and resilient ruler.
Toby Regbo as Prince Francis II of France, who is conflicted between his duties as a prince and his love for Mary.
Torrance Coombs as Sebastian “Bash” de Poitiers, the illegitimate son of King Henry II of France and his mistress. He becomes a close friend and sometime romantic interest to Mary.
Megan Follows as Catherine de' Medici, Queen of France, who is initially skeptical of Mary's influence on her son Francis and the French court.
Anna Popplewell as Lady Lola, one of Mary's close friends and ladies-in-waiting. She becomes romantically involved with several key characters, including Francis.
Celina Sinden as Greer Norwood, another of Mary's ladies-in-waiting. She comes from a lower social standing and seeks to marry well to elevate her family's status.
Caitlin Stasey as Lady Kenna, a bold and free-spirited lady-in-waiting to Mary who ends up in a relationship with King Henry II.
Jonathan Keltz as Leith Bayard, a kitchen servant who rises through the ranks to become a soldier. He falls in love with Greer.
Alan van Sprang as King Henry II of France, the patriarchal figure who is both loving and ruthless. His complicated relationships with his family form a significant part of the series.
Craig Parker as Stéphane Narcisse, a wealthy and cunning nobleman who is a political rival to the royal family but later becomes an unlikely ally.
