MovieChat Forums > Reign (2013) Discussion > John Knox, Mary, and Elizabeth

John Knox, Mary, and Elizabeth

posted 9 years ago by jabell
5 replies | jump to latest

I was born and raised a Presbyterian, so I must take some offense at the way John Knox, who founded the Presbyterian Church, is being portrayed. He was not an evil man. He was perhaps something of a religious fanatic, but I do not believe he did some of the things that are being attributed to him in this show. His legacy lives on. Although I truly love this show, it is definitely biased pro-Mary and anti-Elizabeth, who may have been one of England's greatest rulers. If it weren't for Elizabeth, very likely we would not know who Shakespeare was. And if she had not had her navy (led by Sir Francis Drake) beat the Spanish Armada, we might all be speaking Spanish nowadays.

Boo Hoo! Let me wipe away the tears with my PLASTIC hand!--Lindsey McDonald (Angel)

[–] Chica112684-884-759531 9 years ago

The show takes lots of liberties. Consider the fact it started with Catherine/Henry's daughter Elizabeth marrying the Spanish man married to Mary, queen of England...who didn't die until what,end of season 1 or beginning of season 2?
We all know Queen Elizabeth 1 is one of the greatest queens ever, regardless of how the show portrays her. But ultimately she killed Mary, who's the main character. She's going to get a villain portrayal.

[–] jstitely1 9 years ago

My issue is that the show through this finale is completly erasing how the Mary and Elizabeth were involved in the conflict. Having John Knox construct an assasination plot that spurs the conflict to become deadly is cheap because in history it was caused by the two ladies ambitions. Neither were victims. They played a dangerous game and Mary lost. John Knox didnt really impact that.

[–] artdogg50 9 years ago

I haven't got the chance to actually watch the last show yet, I'll watch tonight, so I'm not caught up. History doesn't seem to know how much he was truly involved in certain things, which tended to lead to a lot of speculation even way back then. What does seem clear is that he and Mary clearly had an uneasy relationship. This show hardly follows history "that" closely, but I personally find tension between them very fascinating.

[–] bh117-103-35553 9 years ago

The opening of next season will be an anachronistic mud wrestling match between John Knox and Joseph Smith to decide which one more believes women are incapable of leadership.

[–] rowanoak 9 years ago

I understand the OP feelings, I am Protestant(though not Presbyterian) whose church has respect for the reformers, though I understand this is from Mary's perspective. The show is doing the same thing with John Knox that the did with Elizabeth making them him close/if not villain like, though it is true he didn't have modern views and was one of Mary's most outspoken opponents in Scotland.