Reign

If you want a drama that takes its characters as seriously as its plot, Reign is available in Australia on Stan, and in the US on Amazon Prime Video and The CW right now. The 4-season run is exactly the right length for what it is doing. An 8/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Watch it for Adelaide Kane — one of the stronger performances out there right now. Available now on Stan — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Reign earns its spot. Reign trusts its audience to sit with discomfort instead of resolving it too quickly. Mary, Queen of Scots, faces political and sexual intrigue in the treacherous world of the French court. Adelaide Kane and Will Kemp lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. The series ran for 4 seasons (2013–2017), building a story that gave its audience time to invest properly. The performances in Reign do a lot of work in the silences between the dialogue. The hit rate here is high enough that skipping ahead never feels like an option.

Reign is what you recommend to people who say they do not really watch much. The tonal similarities to Versailles are real, though Reign carves out its own identity quickly. A contained run means every episode is doing real work. Adelaide Kane anchors a cast that never overplays its hand. The kind of drama that stays with you well after the finale.

Reign wrapped up in 2017, created by Laurie McCarthy and Stephanie Sengupta — and 4 seasons are available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.