Reign 'Shocker': Francis Dying in Season 3, EP Confirms 

fans, because Queen Mary is about to find herself a single lady.

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Given the grim prognosis King Francis received at the end of the CW drama’s second season, this probably shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise, but Toby Regbo’s character is going to meet his maker during the upcoming third season, premiering Friday at 8/7c.

“I wanted people to get used to it; there was no way around it in the storytelling,” executive producer Laurie McCarthy tells EW.com about why she’s chosen to reveal Francis’ impending death. “We’ve done shocking deaths and that’s not the tone of this story.”

This news should make Friday’s season premiere — particularly the more tender moments between Mary and Francis — all the more bittersweet.

Reign-dears, are you crushed by the news of Francis’ death? Or were you already preparing for the worst? Drop a comment with your thoughts below.

Personally I wish they had kept it quiet. Yes, we all know it’s coming but now that it’s confirmed it’s taken some of the drama away.

I’m hoping that the shock will come from it happening early into the season. While I love the character, he is well past his historical time to go. I am also hoping that a move to Scotland might reinvigorate the show and the ratings.

Hope it’s early. Otherwise I feel there’s no reason to watch until it happens.

Agreed. It should have happened half a season ago.

In real life Francis does indeed die, now if the show wants to try and stay close to the real history, this means Mary will go back to Scotland and Catherine will become regnant, as Francis’s brother is still a boy So this should mean the show will change locations but I read that they are time warping the younger brother to make him older so who knows where they are going to go. Just don’t know if his death will be early in the season or later

Wondering how this is a “shocking” announcement when Francis died two years into their marriage with a possible out-of-control ear infection?

(But then, I don’t watch the show, so what do I know?)

Stopped watching last season…don’t know how it got to this but seems disappointing

I worry this drive the last few viewers away.On fb a lot have said if/when they Francis dies,I’m done with the show”

There was too indeed a way around this. With them skewing SO far from the actual history in the rest of the show. Bash didn’t exist in real life (Diane had a baby girl). Francis couldn’t get women pregnant (as his testicles never dropped).

There is no way around it-Nary & Francis were real historical Peopke and he dire and it shaped Mary and the rest of her Lfe.They might not historically accurate all the time but have said on the major points of Mary’s life they’ll stick to history.Plus as someone else below said,it’s been predicted/planned to happen from episode one.Not killing Francis off would be like a Yoko Ono docurmtbrary where John Lenon Dosent get shot dead or a documentary about Princess Di or her sons where she Dosent die-untrue,inaccate and not true to the real life people.

I don’t watch this show cause I couldn’t quite connect with it. But I always wonder if they hurt themselves by basing it on a real person. There are some things that HAVE to happen, which is somewhat limiting.

I already knew the king died in history so im not surprised.

Is this upsetting? Absolutely but we all knew it was coming eventually. it was written in the first episode, and they have prolonged it for quite some time. It shouldn’t be a shocker that we won’t be seeing much more of Toby Regbo but it will definitely be an emotional Journey

Knew it was coming but honestly don’t think the series will get a fourth season so Francis needs to dies this season.

Anyone know if we will see kenna this season?

I think she’s gone-I heard she’s on a new Australian show & a social media pist of her last scene with the Reign ladies said”Catlins last scene”

Yeah i saw that post, but i thought it was her last scene of the season.

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