One thing that has always bothered me about the tense relationship between Mary and Katherine comes to light in the third season. Yes, Katherine is a holy terror and a foe that NOBODY would want to face in peace time, a time of war or on any other ordinary day. However, I truly believe her lust for power and status comes from her natural desire to protect her children and her family..., especially the eldest son who is in fact the king for her very life, and the lives of all her loved ones, depend upon his standing. Her methods may be harsh and even downright evil at times but I see them as acts of a woman willing to do whatever it takes, risk her on life and the lives of anyone in the way to ensure the safety of her family. She has shown time and time again that she is willing to risk her very freedom and the cost of her own blood to protect them. She may have went too far by conspiring w Elizabeth, that's called treason btw, but even in so doing she was trying to protect her children and herself, especially Francis. Mary steps in after having an affair w Conde', a prince of the blood, who in turn married Elizabeth by proxy, laid seize to the castle in an effort to kill Francis and take his throne, he had an affair w a Mary under her own husband's roof and was conspiring w Mary to abandon France, return to Scotland, in essence leaving Francis to continue their affair away from the eyes of French court. Mary was completely involved and even encouraged Conde's affections w promises of love and a life together. THEN Mary has the nerve to call Katherine a traitor and demand her head for what she saw as treachery on Katherine's part for her mistakes and yet she simply thinks that all of her actions of deceit and treason can simply be forgotten? She has Katherine locked up in the dungeon while she gets to roam free and have access to comfort and luxury? Does nobody else see the hypocrisy in this or is it just me? I'm watching this series for like the fifth time and every time I watch these 10/12 episodes I want to punch Mary as hard as I possibly can and bang her ass up in the dungeon along w Katherine. In my opinion Mary's treason is just as bad, if not worse, than Katherine's and it makes me despise her character even more than I already do. After about the 4th or 5th episode in the first season I found other reasons for watching Reign and they had nothing to do w her, this series has a lot of great actors and wonderful characters and thank god for that bc she is horrible.