: Adelaide Kane's performance is widely praised for its depth and maturity. Mary’s refusal to feel shame and her righteous quest for justice—culminating in her personally striking down her attackers—is seen as a powerful, albeit dark, character arc.
: A common criticism of the episode involves Catherine de' Medici’s storyline. Many critics felt the ghostly hauntings of her dead children were a distraction from her usual strength as a cunning political strategist. [S2E10] Mercy
: The episode ends on a polarizing note when Mary tells Francis that while they may still rule together, their marriage is effectively over, followed quickly by Lord Condé’s declaration of love for her. Episode Statistics Director Rich Newey Writers Wendy Riss Gatsiounis, Drew Lindo, & Daniel Sinclair Air Date December 11, 2014 IMDb Rating Approximately 8.7/10 : Adelaide Kane's performance is widely praised for
: Overwhelmed by guilt, Francis begins a transformation that mirrors his father’s madness. His decision to chain and freeze Protestant prisoners to extract information signals a "terrifying change" in his rule. Many critics felt the ghostly hauntings of her
Reviewers from The Film Chronicles and Entertainment Weekly highlight the following: