Abstract:
Reign, a CW show that ran from 2013-2017, is based on a little-studied period of a greatly studied woman, Mary, Queen of Scots. Though the show isn’t factual, not by a long shot, and is often accused of "ignoring history", it's arguably, and surprisingly, one of the most accurate portrayals of Mary Stuart as a person. While the show has been lambasted by some critics because of its inclusion of an admittedly great number of inaccuracies, I would argue the heaviest criticism comes from two main reasons. First, its target audience and focus are primarily women, an accurate theme for a show on the life of Mary Stuart. Secondly, there is a failure to see the trees through the forest, per se, regarding the historical interpretation that the show offers of Mary herself. Much media has been maligned due to it being geared towards young women or girls, with Reign just another victim of this trend. So-called credible or respected TV shows and films with errors themselves are given more leeway, simply because they are geared towards a broader -and generally more masculine- audience. This paper will argue that, while Reign takes considerable dramatic license, it delivers one of the most accurate portrayals of the character of Mary Stuart. Nevertheless, it has been subjected to the typical, extreme criticisms aimed at media for teen girls and young women.
Presentation from the Popular Culture Association Conference 2025