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"A fight is upon us, and a king must stand his ground."
Francis in the wake of the siege

In the season premiere, Francis rides to the cottage where Lola has given birth to their son. When he arrives, he expresses his anger at Lola not telling him about her pregnancy. When they realise that a young boy named George who resides in the same cottage is ill with the plague, they rush outside and prepare to leave in Lola's carriage. Before they leave, Estelle advises them to conceal their true identities for their own safety. On their way, the pair run into Louis of Condé, Francis' cousin, who promises them shelter and protection. Francis later asks Lola again why he couldn't have just told him the truth. She tells him that she wanted to handle it herself to save him and Mary the trouble. Francis reminds her that he's the king and that child is whoever he says he is.

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Francis and Condé talking

They are later joined by Stéphane Narcisse who has Estelle caiged in tow, who is only to be released once they determine if she has the Plague or not. Before leaving, Narcisse blatantly mentions Condé's ship leaving France, knowing Francis' wouldn't know about it. He tells him suggestively to know who his real friends are. After Francis is advised by Condé to send Lola to The Netherlands with the ship so she can lead a normal life, he decides to do it. However, the next day, when he holds his child for the first time, he chooses not to send Lola away to keep his son in his life.

In Drawn and Quartered, Francis returns to court with Lola and his son and is embraced by Mary. He asks Sebastian to be a member of his privy council, but is refused. He then introduces Condé to Mary before he and his wife retreat to their chambers. After their passionate reunion, they discuss the idea of Francis claiming his son with Lola. Mary is okay with Francis spending time with his son, but begs him not to claim him officially. Later at a celebration, Narcisse walks up to him and demands that Nostradamus be killed for misdiagnosing his son with the Plague. Francis orders guards to take Nostradamus away for questioning. After Mary, Catherine, and himself discuss their options to deal with Narcisse, Mary confesses that she was indeed the one who ordered Narcisse's son to be locked in the a room filled with people who had the Plague, earning the ire of both Catherine and Francis.

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Francis and Mary arguing

Later that day, he and Mary take a stroll on the grounds and decide what to do. He gets angry at Mary for having Narcisse's son killed. They decide to look for something to blackmail Narcisse with so that he'll step down. Later that night, he's joined by Bash who tells him that the dead are still among the living due to being murdered. He and his mother go to his father's tomb, they discuss whether he should claim his son or not. Narcisse comes to Francis to convince him that he needs him to keep the country afloat. When Louis joins them Narcisse accuses him of being a Protestant. He's assured by Louis that this is not true and that he should trust no one but himself. The next day, he and Mary put on an act to play Narcisse into giving in. He later gives Bash the role of King's deputy. Later that night, he's requested to join Mary in the nursery where she tells him to claim his son. A wet nurse called Caroline possessed by his father walks in on him with his son calling him a usurper.

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Catherine sharing her coronation plans

In Coronation, Francis and Mary are strolling through Tent City as Catherine tells them all about her plans for their upcoming coronation, including a banquet for 1200, new military uniforms and a golden-horned unicorn. Both Francis and his wife protest that throwing such a large party in the middle of a famine is in poor taste, but Catherine reminds them that they need to show the leaders of other countries that France is not to be messed with.

When Mary and Catherine get into a quarell, Francis breaks it off and tells them that he has another plan to get grain should Lord Narcisse continue to delay his shipment. Catherine leaves and Mary and Francis continue their stroll, coming across a tent belonging to The Summoner. Francis' face turns pale, but when Mary asks him what's wrong, he takes off to discuss his deal for grain with Lord Ducasse. On his way he is approached by Lola, who is displeased that he dismissed Caroline, her favourite wet nurse. He simply brushes her off and returns to Mary.

The couple are soon approached by Narcisse and they talk about the grain shipment, with Narcisse finding excuses as to why he has not delievered his grain and Francis' passive-aggresive hinting at Narcisse's duty to ensure that France does not starve. When Narcisse leaves, a frustraed Mary tells Francis to simply take Narcisse's lands and be done with it, but Francis knows that he would anger every Noble in doing so.

Suddenly, a thief steals a basket from a nearby tent and tries to evade the guards. He ends up getting a sword to the torso, with the contents of his basket spilling out – a chicken and a load of bread. Incensed that a man was killed for trying to help his family, Mary tells Francis that they have to find a way to get grain to their people.

Francis and Mary making a deal with the Ducasses

Later that night at a banquet, Lord Ducasse, accompanied by his family, formally meets Francis and Mary to discuss their grain deal. Ducasse shares his fear of Narcisse with them, and Francis vows to protect him. A short while later, Francis is approached by Bash, who has been looking for Lord Montgomery per Francis' order. Although Bash doesn't understand why Francis is looking for him, Francis trusts Bash to not ask questions he can't answer. While dancing with Mary, he learns that a German duke named Charles Schuler came to Mary with an offer of supplying grain in exchange for having German prisoners and his friends released. Francis and Mary decide against acting with the German, since working with Protestants would only inflame their Catholic subjects.

The next day, after learning that Ducasse has decided to rescind his offer, the royal pair realize the only way to save their people from famine is to accept Schuler's deal. However, before he has the prisoners released, Francis is determined to know what crimes they committed and if they were really only jailed for their faith. Later, Francis meets with the Summoner in Tent City to find out if Caroline is truly possessed by his father's ghost. There, Henry takes possession of the woman again, telling Francis that he knows he was behind his death.

It is evening by the time Francis returns to his chambers with Mary, where she tells him that she agreed to the deal with the German duke. Francis is annoyed at Mary for making decisions in his stead, because that undermines him as a king and prevents him from earning the respect of both his peers and the people he has been tasked with leading.

The next day, when at a spectacle Duke Schuler returns angry to tell them that the prisoners where not were Mary said they would be. Francis yells for everyone to lower their weapons. He and Mary converse in private about how to deal with the situation. He's later shown by Mary that Condé has returned with the prisoners so that they can salvage their deal with the Germans. He and Mary go to Narcisse to tell him of the new deal for grain, taking away the power he held against them.

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Francis being crowned the new King of France

The following day, Francis assures Mary that he wants the same world that she does, telling her that they have to trust one another if they are to be the best rulers they can be. At their coronation, Francis receives a ring, scepter, and crown before taking the throne, while Mary herself is crowned before assuming her place beside Francis. They later retreat to their chambers and make love, overcome with passion from working together and from the pomp of their coronation.

In The Lamb and the Slaughter, Francis and his mother reminisce about the christenings of his younger siblings as everyone in the castle prepares to celebrate the christening of his son with Lola. Francis suggests his sister, the Queen consort of Spain, to be the godmother of his son, but Lola remains undecided.

Later, Francis and Mary are sharing a moment by the lake and they remember the fun times they had together as children. Mary gives hints and finally confesses to Francis that she is pregnant at long last and that she didn't say anything at first because she wanted to be positive. Francis is ecstatic about this news as he embraces his wife happily. In their chambers, Francis and Mary are under their covers laughing happily about their baby when Catherine bursts into their room ranting with overwhelming happiness about her new unborn grandchild of how she hopes it's a son as there's time for daughters later. She had Mary's chamber pot tested, she's noticed signs that Mary has been pregnant for some time though Mary still has her trim figure, and finally one of Catherine's ladies saw Francis and Mary embrace happily by the lake. Mary and Francis are more than a little stunned by how happy Catherine is and Mary says to Francis, "Tell me again how happy you are?"

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Francis being happy about Mary's pregnancy

At night, Francis and Mary attend the pre-christening party which is a little slow getting started despite the dancing music, so Francis chats with Mary. The next day, Francis gets to hold his son at the christening ceremony in the castle chapel where the baby is named John Phillip Valois-Angouleme 1st Baron of Vallie.

Later, Francis visits Mary in their chambers after hearing from Conde that she is not well. When Francis arrives he finds his wife in tears as she tells him that she has lost their baby and Mary weeps in Francis' arms as he comforts her. During the night, he takes her to their balcony and shows her a lanterns floating in the sky for her. Francis tells Mary that the world is cruel and unfair and that they will get through it together. He holds her in his arms as she cries and tells her, "Whatever the future brings, you are my light."

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Francis reassuring Mary

In Blood for Blood, Mary asks Francis about what he has been up to, knowing he didn't play cards with Bash last night, and he admits he went to see his son. He tells her he hid it because it's a sensitive subject, but Mary asks him not to tip-toe around it, as it makes her feel like he has given up hope. Francis then affirms that he believes in her, and just as the two are about to kiss, they are interrupted by Bash and Leith, who inform them about an attack on a Protestant service.

Later, Francis finds a shard of the lance he used to kill his father on his bed. As he exits his chambers, he stumbles upon Caroline, whom he confronts about the lance on his bed. She appears confused and disoriented, so Francis sends her to the infirmary. In the throne room, Francis learns that a group of Catholics burned down a Protestant church and murdered Condé nephew, Emile. Francis elects to punish the Catholics responsible.

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Narcisse overhearing Francis' confession

At a celebration in Tent City, Francis sees Caroline getting comfortable on his throne, seemingly possessed by his father again. He has her taken away to the infirmary, where he and his "father" argue. No longer being able to take his father's attacks toward him, Francis confesses to committing his murder, which Narcisse conveniently happens to hear. Francis eventually finds out that the whole thing was all an act. Caroline pretended to be possessed by Henry and was paid for it by Narcisse. Since Francis' crime is treasonous and grounds for execution, Narcisse leverages his blackmail to free the Catholic prisoners. He also forbids Francis from telling Mary the truth because that would make her an accomplice to treason.

After Francis telling her he has changed his mind overnight and decided to free the Catholics, Mary knows he is hiding something. Francis plays on Mary's insecurities over her failure to bear him an heir and claims that he is disappointed in her and that is why he has been distant. Hearing this breaks Mary's heart, but she believes him and backs off.

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Mary and Francis embracing

In Three Queens, after Mary decides to join Catherine on a trip to a noble's party, both Queens soon go missing and Francis calls out a search party. Near the end of the episode, Francis and the others finally find Mary and Catherine. When they return to the castle, Catherine tells her son to about how Mary nearly got killed trying to see a physician and please Francis. She tells him to trust his wife and be honest, because if he doesn't, she could end up thousand miles away playing her rule out of duty. Francis quickly tells Mary that he didn't mean what he said back in the previous episode. He promises to fix the space that’s between them.

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Narcisse gives Francis and Mary the edict.

In The Prince of the Blood, Narcisse pressures Francis into signing an edict which would force all citizens of France to publicly declare their faith in front of the king. Later, Francis is reunited with his sister, Claude. Meanwhile, he confesses to Bash of him killing their father. The two work together to figure out a way to get rid of Narcisse and his minions. Catherine shows Francis an English cipher key she found on the guardsman spy from last week. Francis seeks Lola's help to plant the key at Narcisse’s house to accuse him of treason and put him to death. However, she lets him down when she tells him that she did not hide the cipher in Narcisse’s residence and she demands that he stop using her as a pawn in his political games.

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Leave me. Leave France.

Just in time, Conde and other nobles step forward and present themselves as Protestants. Thanks to them, Francis refuses to sign the edict. However, he finds out that Narcisse has witnesses to Mary and Catherine's part in Henry’s assassination attempts as well. In order to protect his wife and mother, he signs the edict. Mary confronts him and he still refuses to tell her the truth. She states that she is done and he tells her to leave him and France.

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Francis vs the Vatican.

In Terror of the Faithful, Mary denounces Cardinal Vasari and blames Francis for ratifying the edict and he compounds that by refusing to take care of the men himself; he wrote a letter to the Pope requesting that the inquisitors be removed and, he argues, taking matters into his own hands would defy the Pontiff and turn the Vatican against France. Francis suggests that she return to Scotland but she refuses. His brother tells him that if he keeps pushing Mary away, he will lose her. Later, Mary and Francis are told by Louis that the minister wants to rebuild the Protestant church. Francis is threatened by the Vatican that he will start a war killing Catholics by setting off explosives planted somewhere in the kingdom if the Inquisition doesn’t stop within two days. Francis has him arrested and sends Bash to find the explosives. When having the pastor tutored, the torturer snaps the pastor's spine on the rack. The Protestants hang the pastor upside down, crucified on a cross in the main square, inciting a riot amongst France’s people. Mary then blames Francis for everything.

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Catherine and Francis

In Acts of War, Mary proposes a political marriage between Princess Claude and Louis Condé. The match between a prominent Protestant prince and French Catholic royalty would serve as a gesture of tolerance to the divided kingdom. Francis is against the idea at first but eventually agrees to it as he finds it to be a great advantage towards Narcisse's blackmail. He and Bash devise a plan to get from under Narcisse's grasp by killing all of Narcisse's witnesses against him. Francis pretends that he has lost his mind and is trying to divide the nation. The plan is successful and the brothers leave the castle to get rid of Narcisse's witnesses. Unbeknown to the two of them, Protestant assassins snuck into the castle to kill Francis and Mary. When Francis returns to the castle, he learns of Mary's rape.

Francis seeks revenge in Mercy. As Francis tries to find Mary's rapists, he decides to tell her the truth about how he was the one who killed Henry and of Narcisse blackmailing him. This strains their relationship even further and later on, Mary manages to kill her rapists with Conde's help. The next day, Mary blames Francis for her rape and tells them that they need to spend some time apart.

Francis tries to repair his marriage with Mary in Getaway. However, Mary decides to distance herself from Francis and visit one of their chateaus, so while Mary is away, Francis decides to prove himself to her.

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Francis duels Conde.

In Banished, Mary explains to Francis that she saw him asleep with Lola and the baby the previous night when visiting Lola's chambers. Francis tries to explain to Mary that there was nothing going on and that John was sleeping and he didn't want to wake him. However, Mary tells Francis that it was a glimpse of what he could have if he was with Lola instead of her as she has failed to give him an heir. Although still incapable of being touched by him, Mary agrees to help Francis delegate out Narcisse's lands.

In Sins of the Past, Francis suggests that he and Mary get away to a chateau for a while. In the throne room, they are approached by the King of Navarre, who asks for funds to finance French refugees in Navarre. At the Winter Ease Feast, they dance. Later, they are gathered in a room by Narcisse, who tells them that Navarre is indeed poor and in need of funds. They speak with Antoine, who reveals that Elizabeth has offered to send help. That thought of English troops being that close to France scares them. Later, at night, Mary releases Francis from their marriage. When he asks her how she could send him to another, she tells him that at least one of them should be happy.

In The End of Mourning, Francis and the rest of the Royal Family learn from Catherine that she has been poisoned via a bible. Francis suspects Condé, which is further supported by evidence of Condé paying a butler who was close to Henry. At a dinner with Antoine and Condé, Francis and Mary confront them, but are interrupted by Catherine, who announces that it was the Duke of Guise who poisoned the bible that Henry and Catherine used. Unbeknown to them that it was, in fact, Antoine.

In Forbidden, Francis tells Lola that he's found a potential alliance for their infant son. However, the prospective bride's parents want to meet Lola first. At night, Francis is escorted to Mary's chamber with the intention to try a baby after Marie de Guise pressured Mary to produce an heir. Mary tells him that she is ready and makes the first move. After a few kisses in bed, freezes and Francis pulls away, telling her that he'd rather they continue in a month or so as she's not ready. Mary reveals that she has feelings for Condé in a roundabout way and he forbids their union.

Francis later attends a party, in which Lola meets the parents of the potential bride for her and Francis' son. When Francis realises that she is not in the right state of mind, he has her taken away by a carriage into the castle.

In Tasting Revenge, Francis makes a last attempt to reconcile with his wife. Taking Lola's advice, he allows Mary to be with Condé under his roof with his protection if that will be able to heal her.

In Tempting Fate, Francis is keeping Mary's affair under wraps, but knows that Catherine is onto Mary. At the end of the episode, Catherine discovers Mary's treachery and when revealing it to Francis, he collapses.

In Reversal of Fortune, Francis spends most of the episode in a coma. When he awakes, he decides to send two thousand French troops to Scotland to protect Mary's throne. He is beyond done with Mary.

In Abandoned, it turns out that Francis' decision to send troops to Scotland to protect a Catholic queen has sparked quite the controversy. As a result, a group of protestants have broken into a monastery and killed the priest. When Francis hears of this, he is furious. Because his troops are away fighting in Scotland, his military is depleted and they don't have enough men to send to reclaim the monastery.

Despite his hesitance to do so, Francis decides to turn to General Renaude for help. General Renaude and his men rescue the boys from the monastery and kill the protestants, resulting in a victory. Condé then returns to court, which Francis is not pleased about. He later learns that Condé may have been behind the attack on the monastery, and has him arrested. Mary bleads on his behalf, and Francis gives in, promising to give Condé the benefit of doubt.

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