Reign: Francis' Best Moments

At first glance, it wasn’t clear if Francis and Mary were destined to fall in love, but by the time Francis first kissed Mary, any hint of doubt was immediately erased. Not only did he have feelings for her, but he was willing to let her marry another man if it would help her country. Immediately, one thing was clear: He understood her.

Risking his life to return home to Mary, Francis declared that in order to stay sane, they had to be together. It was time for the two of them to stop thinking about countries and spend a moment alone … in bed.

After a brief love triangle with Francis and his brother Bash, this episode marked Mary’s decision: She loved Bash, but she loved Francis more. Upon hearing the news, Francis immediately proposed. That same day, the couple would be married in an emotional ceremony, and if Francis’ face didn’t prove his love for Mary, nothing would.

Francis and Bash had their differences — particularly when it came to Mary — but when King Henry drew his sword and threatened Bash’s life, it was Francis who stood in their father’s way. At the end of the day, Francis loved his brother and was willing to die for him if necessary.

Yes, Francis may have killed his father, but what choice did he have? Most importantly, Henry’s death gave us one of the best brother moments of the series when Bash went to kneel before his new king, and Francis instead chose to hug it out with his brother.

After learning that Lola was giving birth to his son, Francis rode off to be by her side, even if it meant riding into a plague-infected land. He wasn’t worried about his life. It was a risky move, but it showed a lot about Francis’ priorities.

When Francis held his son for the first time, he became a different man. He not only decided against sending Lola and John away, but he also chose to bring them back to the castle, where he would then claim his bastard son in the hopes of giving him a better life than Bash had.

In a highly emotional hour, Francis experienced absolute joy when Mary told him that she was finally pregnant, followed by absolute pain when Mary later lost the baby. And yet, he was by Mary’s side through it all.

As a king, Francis didn’t have very many friends, but after he and Leith fought together on the battlefield, he made sure to do right by him. When Narcisse claimed Leith’s land, Francis repaid him by giving him a position at court. Because friends don’t leave friends without status.

To be a successful king, you need to be both smart and brave, and Francis showed the extent of his bravery when he refused to surrender to Condé despite the fact that his castle was surrounded. Thankfully, it ended up being the right call.

The second season finale featured Francis at his weakest, his strongest, and his most sincere. When he thought his son was dead, he was crushed. And yet, when he discovered that his mother was behind the fake kidnapping, he banished her from court. Then, he reconciled with Mary, recommitting his heart to hers and finally accepting that they couldn’t save each other, but they could love each other.

Knowing that his death was imminent, Francis did everything he could to make sure his country and his loved ones would be safe when he was gone. From bringing Charles home to allowing Lola to marry Narcisse, to even forcing the Bourbons to sign over their right to the throne, Francis didn’t care how sick he was. He put everyone else before himself.

After being given a second chance at life, Francis planned a surprise trip to Paris for Mary. And when the happy couple paused their journey to go for a swim in a lake, Mary was attacked by assassins. It was Francis who came to her rescue, but he would not walk away alive. As he told Mary, “We wanted to be happy and we were, but I have another fate, predicted long ago.” He asked Mary to make sure John knows his love before requesting that she stay in France until his mother is secure as regent. His final words were for his wife: He told her to love again, and when she said she’d never love anyone the way she loved him, he told her, “I pray to God that you do.” Who has tissues?