Something that helped put Reynolds into perspective for me as a character was as a screenshot of the novelization. Like obviously, we can tell he and George are closer, much closer than Charlotte and Brimsley(Not hard to do). That Reynolds can soothe George’s smaller fits with his hand as an anchor.
But the novelization flat out states that they’ve been friends since they were kids. Reynolds was the first. To notice. George’s episodes. He’d sing to him to try to bring him back when his mind spiraled and hold his arms when they trembled. And he kept the secret from the start.
That’s so much to burden on two young children, but they no doubt knew a sign of weakness meant ruin, so they kept it hidden as long as they could. (I love and break over the image of Reynolds holding a twelve, thirteen year old George close, singing, both terrified, no idea what is going on, but knowing he won’t leave him even if he hears their names called).
He also tried to hide George from his grandfather. From his abuse.
But his loyalty got repaid. George knew and didn’t care that he preferred men. George kept Reynolds’ secrets and Reynolds’ kept George’s secrets and he sang and held George close during the nightmares and when he could’ve left to follow his father to be a goldsmith he stayed and made less money.
He stayed to ease the burden of the darkness.
He says he always knew his station, but he calls him Georgie to Brimsley and my heart aches to imagine them having to go through the phase where someone probably had to tell them that Reynolds could no longer call George George and they had to start acting like king and valet not something akin to friends. And how much that hurt and isolated George.
I imagine it was so hard to let someone near George, but Reynolds just had to hope that Charlotte and therefore Brimsley didn’t burn them. But he would be by George’s side no matter what, during the worst nights or the best of balls.
Because that’s what he did before he had to. It wasn’t his duty, and his duty was painful, but as natural as breathing. And it didn’t go unpaid, even in the novelization, when George and Charlotte find him dancing with Brimsley and George draws Charlotte away because, the guys need this moment more then the royals do.
George and Reynolds are my favorite underrated relationship from QC. (I’m still not sure if I like like Reynolds but I love the complexity of him and his situation.)
Reynolds putting his hand on George’s shoulder in 1x04 while they were waiting for Charlotte is such an under discussed scene.
👏SO. 👏MUCH. 👏HAPPENED. 👏IN. 👏5.👏 SECONDS.👏
- He noticed George losing control. Because of course he did.
- He looked around to ensure no one was looking. Protecting his King’s privacy.
- He then made an incredibly weighed decision in reaching out to touch him. He had to wager that it would be received well by George. That it wouldn’t be seen. And that it would help at all.
He is, as Brimsley is to Charlotte, the closest, yet the farthest away.
