So, Shall We Talk About THAT Scene in the Season Premiere of Reign?

Sooooooooo.

Didja watch Reign last night?

If you didn't, you likely have no idea why I'm acting all sketchy right now. But if you did, I think you know what's got me all squirrelly.

OK, but before we get to that: I generally liked Reign. More than any other drama this year, the first few minutes hooked me: Loved the scenery, loved the nuns, loved (to the extent that one can) the poison scene. By the end of the episode, Mary, whom I was afraid would turn out to be one of those girls who mostly just looks pretty and sad, sprouted some moxie. I felt appropriately annoyed at Francis' budding patriarchal tendencies. And I love all the girls doing their medieval Gossip Girl thing.

All that being said, we obviously have to talk about the masturbation scene, in which Kenna pleasures herself in a stairwell. (Actually, the original pilot contained a longer version of the scene, and I can tell you that what aired last night was decidedly tamer.)

But the scene made me feel weird in a couple ways, and the actual content of it strangely isn't at the top of that list. First off, my I'm Getting Old sensors went off immediately: The CW is still the favorite network of every teen I know. And it's not the idea of them watching a masturbating scene that makes me uncomfortable—it's the idea of them watching how that scene ends. A much older guy joins the effort, so to speak, without exactly buying a girl a drink first. If you listen closely, you can hear him mumble "May I?" after he originally rubs up on her. That's the extent of the consent exchange. I'm not arguing with the potential historic accuracy of this, but in the context of today, as a piece of pop culture, my gut found this to be a moment that glamorizes gray areas. And not one I necessarily want young women to associate with "hot."