Despite previous rumors that the American historical drama TV series “Reign” might no longer see the light of day for Season 4, The CW has renewed the show for a fourth season in April.
It shall be returning to the small screen next year instead of its usual fall premiere, apparently because of some programming changes that the network would be implementing.
It seems that the push back in its release date would also cover for the fact that the fourth season of “Reign” shall only have 16 episodes, which shall be the shortest for the TV series in four years. The first two seasons of “Reign” had 22 episodes apiece while the just-concluded third season had 18 episodes.
With the deferred release date and the cut-back in the number of episodes, critics immediately came up with the assumption that the fourth season of “Reign” shall be its final season.
However, The CW has yet to make an official statement regarding the TV series, which has suffered from a significant drop in ratings during its Season 3.
The same critics are saying that if the TV show is doing very well in the ratings, the network would not even dare alter its usual airing dates nor lessen the number of episodes. They believe that The CW is just giving the show enough number of episodes to finish all plotlines and tie all loose ends before it finally wraps up.
By opting to go six fewer episodes for “Reign” Season 4, the network and the show producers are playing it safe so as not to incur so many loses just in case the fourth season of the TV series still does not do well in the ratings.
A third husband for Queen Mary
It has also been reported that actor Adam Croasdell shall be joining the TV series for Season 4 as Bothwell, who shall be the third husband of Queen Mary, played by Adelaide Kane.
In the history books, Bothwell is a loyal husband and truly loves Queen Mary but it would be interesting to find out if their relationship will survive the test of time or suffer the same fate as those of the first two husbands of the Queen of Scots, reports the Ecumenical News.
Initial reports have it that Adam Croasdell shall only appear in three episodes of Season 4 of “Reign” but there is a good chance that he will still be seen in other episodes since his character is very important to Queen Mary.
But it has yet to be confirmed whether he shall become a series regular in “Reign” or simply make cameo appearances or guesting stints in several episodes of the fourth season of the show.
Fans are already excited to see Queen Mary getting her shot at love anew even as she prepares for battle with her cousin, Queen Elizabeth of England, played by Rachel Skarsten.
The second husband
Speaking of Mary’s husband, actor Will Kemp was also taken in by the TV series in June to play the role of Lord Darnley in the upcoming Season 4 of “Reign.”
Based on history, Lord Darnley is an English nobleman who actually became Queen Mary’s second husband.
Lord Darnley is Queen Mary’s first cousin whom she fell in love while still mourning the death of her first husband, Francis, played by Toby Regbo, details the Christian Times.
The actor would start out charming and warm but would eventually grow arrogant, a trait that could lead to his murder. There are even allusions that Lord Darnley’s murder was pre-meditated and that Queen Mary even have a hand in it.
Incidentally, if Season 4 of “Reign” would stick to history, then Queen Mary might bear a child with Lord Darnley but the child would be growing up without knowing his or her father.
After the death of her second husband, the Earl of Bothwell shall come and sweep her off her feet. Croasdell was originally set for a three-episode-appearance only in “Reign” Season 4 just like Will Kemp would be, but given the weight of his character both in history and the story arc of the TV series, Croasdell would be around much longer than Kemp.