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The CW hopes to 'Reign' with a new historical fantasy By Kate O'Hare © Zap2it When it comes to games of thrones, anyone's expendable, even family. After keeping her cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots, in custody for more than 18 years, Britain's Queen Elizabeth I became convinced Mary was plotting against her and lopped off the 44year-old's head in 1587. Mary's wasn't the longest of lives, but it was an eventful one, and the excitement started young. On Thursday, Oct. 17, The CW premieres "Reign," a fanciful look at the teenage Mary (Adelaide Kane) and her rocky road to power. If you're expecting a dreary docudrama or even something as somewhat historically accurate as "The Tudors," you may be disappointed. "Reign" takes its cue from movies such as "First Knight" and the 2006 version of "Marie Antoinette" in playing fast and loose with costuming and language and throwing modern music in the soundtrack. Executive producers are Laurie McCarthy ("Ghost Whisperer") and Frank Siracusa ("Beauty and the Beast"). As the story opens, the headstrong Mary arrives in France with her ladiesin-waiting — Greer (Celina Sinden), Kenna (Caitlin Stasey), Lola (Anna Popplewell) and Aylee (Jenessa Grant) — to formalize her arranged engagement (and political liaison) to Francis (Toby Regbo), the Dauphin of France and heir to the throne. Complicating the situation is Francis' strong-willed royal mother, Catherine (Megan Follows), and her adviser, Nostradamus, along with the handsome, roguish Sebastian (Torrance Coombs), aka Bash, Francis' illegitimate half brother (a character drawn from imagination, not history). "We're taking a little bit of creative license," 2 explains Kane, a poised, self-possessed 23-yearold, during an interview in a hotel lounge in Beverly Hills as part of a press event. "You know what, it's all in good fun. We're not the History channel. We want to make the show fun and relatable. It looks great. That's all we're doing." And since the lives of women have changed dramatically in many ways since the Elizabethan era, Kane hopes some of that comes through. "I'm hoping we can bring up some pertinent and relevant social themes as well. I would very much like to see the whole notion of women as property (explored). "We're already touching on that and other issues, like female "Reign" premieres Thursday on The CW. "So yeah, I know I'm you walk. The tops flap sexuality in those times, going. But then again, around." the whole virgin thing, they're taking some Anyone who knows mistresses versus liberties with history, so Elizabethan-era history marriage versus what — and if you don't want to maybe when I do go, it'll kind of freedom young know any, you might want be in a really interesting women had, especially way, like I'll get struck by young noblewomen, not to to leave now — is aware lightning and explode." that Mary did indeed mention royalty, love and For the 30-year-old marry Francis, but his lovemaking." untimely demise cut short Coombs, who had a role While Kane is eager to in "The Tudors" as the illtheir union. dig into some big issues, fated Thomas Culpepper The prospect doesn't the porcelain-skinned (a courtier of Henry VII faze Regbo, who turns Regbo is thoroughly who was caught dallying enjoying all the benefits of 22 the day after the show with Queen Catherine and being a not-quite-yet-king. premieres. was beheaded), it's just "He's going to die?" "What are the benefits another day in doublets he says, feigning shock. of not being a king?" he and hose. "Everyone's going to die. says, in the same hotel "Dumb luck," he lounge. "You don't have to I'm just going to die a says during his turn at bit earlier. I don't know worry about Toby running the table. "It's exciting. exactly when, because I the country. You do get Obviously I've had some don't know what sort of to wear quite excellent time frame we're shooting fun with some period clothes. It's pretty nice drama in the past. It's — silks, suedes, leathers, the season over, so I always something I've don't know when me and buckles, belts, stitching, been drawn to. There's Mary will be wed. We will all sort of stuff. Kneesomething about the be wed, but I don't know high boots, so you get clothes fitting a little when. to waddle around when The Goshen News • Viewer's Choice • October 14-20, 2013 tighter, pulling your shoulders back and giving you a little bit of a manly air." As an entirely fictional character, Coombs has no idea where Bash will go. "Historically, I don't exist," he says. "They could kill me off tomorrow. They could kill me next episode, or they could keep me alive, and I could outlive everybody. Also, as the bastard son of a king, Bash falls outside the societal hierarchy. "While he's a good guy at heart," says Coombs, "he's there for his friends and wants to do the right thing, there's a darkness to him, where he'd like to bring the whole system down."

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