A number of historical discrepancies have made their way into the show, reinforcing the stereotype the drama chooses to portray for instance, Catherines parents did not die of syphilis or suicide. 'The Serpent Queen' Episode 1 Ending, Explained: How Did Catherine The Real History Behind Starz's Catherine de' Medici Drama, 'The STARZ drama The Serpent Queen portrays Catherine de Medici as a queen who will do anything to survive and retain power. Amrita Acharia, Liv Hill and Kiruna Stamell in "The Serpent Queen" (Courtesy of Starz). Instead, the anachronistic flourishes in the editing along with the saucy performances make it piercing. 4 min read Historical figure Catherine de Medici gets the period-drama-with-a-twist treatment in Starz's "The Serpent Queen," as the show finds a unique way to. One major plot point in The Serpent Queen is Catherine de Medicis relationship with her betrothed (and later husband) Henry II of France. Louis explains hed heard a rumor that the king would be attacked, but Francois doesnt believe him, and hes taken, prisoner. All rights reserved. So the only question is, what are you willing to do to change it? 'The Serpent Queen' Season 2: Cast, Plot, & Potential Premiere Date The show really knows how to explore the more sordid aspects of the French royal court without becoming too extreme. That it occurs in a room with a group of supposedly celibate men doesn't seem to bother anyone except maybe Catherine). Let's dig into the first episode! Another interesting and real event in the The Serpent Queen comes when the young Catherine de Medici begs her father-in-law Francis I not to repudiate her as a wife to Henry. Catherine is always circling Rahima, and neither she nor the audience can guess whether the ruler is protecting this girl in whom she claims to see so much of her younger self, or softening her up for slaughter. . And how will Rahima's life turn out? History | September 9, 2022 The Many Myths of Catherine de' Medici A new Starz series, "The Serpent Queen," dramatizes the life of the much-maligned 16th-century ruler Catherine de' Medici was. Because her scheming and then succeeding in her endeavors make her a lot of enemies, she also has to start making some allies. Well-versed in Christian obedience, Rahima replies, through a mouthful of orange, that she'll turn the other cheek. She is intent on showing how a good, God-fearing girl like Rahima could also be corrupted to commit bad deeds if pushed around enough. Based on Leonie Friedas book Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France. . According to Express, The Serpent Queen Season 1 began filming in the summer of 2021 before premiering in fall of 2022. "Look at me," she tells Henri. To do this, the episode introduces Rahima, a young servant girl working in the palace. While she protests her innocence, we know she planted the substance (provided by Catherine) that caused the explosion. SPOILERS AHEAD The Serpent Queen Episode 8 Recap Image Credit: Shanna Besson/ Starz With Francis married to Mary, Catherine refuses to fall into the inert role of the Queen Mother. This article contains affiliate links and we may receive a commission for purchases made. However, Catherine confesses to Rahima that the moment he met Henri, something terrible happened. 'The Serpent Queen' Trailer: Samantha Morton Is Catherine de Medici in The Guise Bros are concerned that Antoine has evaded them and that Mary, in full zealot mode, will want more Protestants murdered, running the risk of civil war. The Serpent Queen is produced for Starz by Lionsgate Television and 3 Arts Entertainment. Her understated performance plugs into a trickster's energy that constantly reminds us of why so many of Catherine's subjects fear her, and while the bravest of souls like Rahima keep returning to her side despite her artful pettiness and cruelty. Mary visits Rahima and recounts her side of the story of life at the Royal Court; Catherine and Mary have conflicting views when it comes to freedom of religion in France. Where was The Serpent Queen filmed? | TV & Radio | Showbiz & TV Dr Estelle Paranque is a historian in queenship, royal and diplomatic studies, and assistant professor in early modern history at New College of the Humanities at Northeastern University. The show smartly selected to dramatise this moment and portray Catherines shrewdness and ability to play the games of the court. 'The Serpent Queen': Sennia Nanua Joins Samantha Morton - Deadline In 1527, she was sent to live in a convent, from where she was held captive, two years later, by the rebels, and was rescued by her uncle, Pope Clement VII. Catherine also chooses her retinue, Mathilde (Kiruna Stamell), a survivor of the convent attack, to be her fool; fortune teller Ruggieri (Enzo Cilenti) she met earlier as her magician; Aabis (Amrita Acharia), a dressmaker; and a parfumier's daughter, Angelika. She'll suck the soul right out ya. Catherine, notorious for having an inkling for the Dark Arts, would go on to consult several doctors, magicians, and diviners to be able to conceive an heir. Last week, Catherine gave her maid, Rahima, some gunpowder to exact her revenge on Cruel. 'The Serpent Queen' Season 1 Finale Recap: "A Queen is Made" | Telly As Catherine and her son Charles ride in the coach to his coronation, she tells him she will let nothing harm him. . Catherine encourages her to try for the Regency while instructing Mathilde to murder Montmorency. Once that was done, she asked Rahima to break into Marys rooms, which then led to the girls arrest and her getting angry with the queen. Born to a French noblewoman and a rich aristocratic family, Catherine, the moment she was orphaned, became susceptible to life-threatening situations. In January 1544, the Queen of France gave birth to her first child, at last securing her position in court. Families fight, and that's what the French court, one big dysfunctional family, is doing in The Serpent Queen, as the country enters a crisis and Mary the future Queen of Scots tests her power. Whatever backing she had, with the Guises and the Bourbons, will also fizzle out when they discover that she doesnt have Elizabeths support. In the present, Catherine asks Rahima what she learned from this experience. This is what we know about where she is based now and her attempts to return to Britain. Elsewhere, her magician implies there will be a price to be paid, which leads to a spectacularly gruesome death by cartlement dismemberment, in this case by horses. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Catherine had first seen Rahima after she had become the regent. The costumes! The French court is surprised at her arrival, although they giggle at her high platform heels. In the end, when Rahima . While Queen Catherine de Medici may be at the center of the action, she's not . Sofia Black-DElia Reacts To Single Drunk Female Cancellation, Thanks Fans, SAG-AFTRA & Studios Agree To Extend Contract To July 12 As Negotiations Continue, Fire On Warner Bros Studio Lot In Burbank Is Out After Transformer Explosion, Two Michigan TV Station EPs Ousted Over Criticism Of Memo About Pride Month Coverage, Invasion Gets Season 2 Premiere Date At Apple; First-Look Photos. But we shouldnt entirely believe in her dark legend, writes Dr Estelle Paranque. Catherine struggled with bearing a child for years, which greatly reduced the strategic value of her union with the future king of France. Like many historical women, Catherines existence revolved around her ability to conceive an heir. Catherine suggests cutting off his fingers to get the truth; Louis tries to tell Mary Catherine is behind everything. It seems that both characters have entered into a sort of agreement that we will see develop in future episodes. Nelsons ability to analyze themes and characters and go beyond what films and video games show on the surface has allowed him to work doing script covering for several production companies and even being part of the Golden Script Competition. Mary thinks if she tells Rahima all the facts, Rahima will lend her her mediocre snooping skills. She is abused and shunned by the palace staff but would prefer any such treatment to a one-on-one meeting with the evil Queen. Poor Louis is one finger down and about to lose his head, with Mary jittery with excitement at the execution. He has also covered excellent anime shows like Chainsaw Man, Vinland Saga, and even some independent comics here and there. Sajid Javid's decision on Shamima Begum suggests a dangerous two-tier approach to British citizenship. When Francis becomes king, Mary takes over command effortlessly. Catherine de Medici and Mary, Queen of Scots had a complicated relationship, which had mostly been stained by Mary Stuarts own worship and love for Diane de Poitiers, Catherines archenemy. It's corrupt, devious, and competitive. On The Serpent Queen Season 1 Episode 1, Queen Catherine begins to tell the story of her life to Rahima, a servant girl, revealing how she came to enter the French Royal Court at the age of 14. The queen is more clever than people think she is. Writer Janet Mullany is from England, drinks a lot of tea, and likes Jane Austen, reading, and gasping in shock at costumes in historical TV dramas. Threatening to expose Catherine sent her, he escapes. Buy it now on Amazon, Waterstones or Bookshop.org, LAST CHANCE to claim your book of choice + FREE access to HistoryExtra.com when you subscribe to BBC History Magazine or BBC History Revealed. Catherine takes charge. The following paragraphs contain spoilers for The Serpent Queen Episode 1. Henry II was very fond of Mary and, as a result, so was Diane de Poitiers. or alive. In 1527, the Medici orphan was taken hostage and forced into a convent when rebels rose against her famed family. Meanwhile, she begins telling Rahima her story. Despite promising once hes signed away the Regency, shell upgrade his living conditions, and if he doesnt sign, Louis will be executed, and Antoine will not be convinced. So, when Rahima says trust no one, it includes Catherine, and everyone else in the court, who might have sworn fealty to Catherine now, but are busy plotting their own power plays. "A Queen is Made:" Catherine triumphs in the Season Finale of 'The Serpent Queen', 'The Serpent Queen's Seventh Episode Reveals "An Attack on the King", Catherine Aces "The First Regency" on 'The Serpent Queen'. The ceremony was arranged without further ado and the young couple wed in October 1533. My hope is that it creates a real appetite for a queen whose life and character were far more entertaining and compelling than the one we see here. (Its also Louis, not the suave Antoine, who is the smarter of the two. Prepare for a royal drama unlike any that you've seen before on TV. The Pope is facing the rage of the masses, and the Vaticans coffers are almost empty. In return for titles and riches, she declares her loyalty to Catherine by delivering the fake letter to Mary and sending her off to Scotland. The soundtrack! And rightly so. Shamima Begum's Family Appeals Her Citizenship Revocation | Time How much of it is taken from reality and what parts of it have been concocted for the purpose of entertainment? "She may not know her place, but she happens to be right," the Pope mutters with a reluctant smidgeon of avuncular pride. Rahima Gets an Earful - The Serpent Queen Season 1 Episode 1 But we shouldn't entirely believe in her 'dark legend', writes Dr Estelle Paranque Published: September 25, 2022 at 9:05 am Catherine tells Rahima that she reminds her of her. In reality, Catherine suffered in silence. Henri (Alex Heath, romantically disheveled from jousting) invites Catherine to visit the pond. Hence, the show finds the perfect balance between the ruthless events leading up to her freedom, thanks to Pope Clement (Walter Charles Dance), and her unique, cunning, and essentially light narrative. With Montmorency and the Bourbons, she hatches a plan to kidnap Francis and then uses it as an opportunity to bring the Bourbons out of exile. However, Marys letter is intercepted by Ruggieri, who sends back a fake one inviting her to Scotland. She has gone from a timid young woman chosen as the least likely to cause interference with the wicked queen to a trusted. A recap of 'An Attack on the King,' episode 7 of season 1 of The Serpent Queen on Starz . While a servant tends to an abscess on his bottom, he tells his niece she will marry Henri, the King of France's second son, pondering how to make her more attractive, although he's confident the dowry, including a handful of duchies, will do the trick. If she can't get pregnant, she can't produce an heir for France. The Serpent Queen brings dynamic life to the complex historical figure Catherine de Medici through strong casting and a compelling story. Don't look in the mirror. Everyone's working an angle to keep their heads on their shoulders, giving even her servants and confidantes who journey with her from Italy (wonderfully rendered byKiruna Stamell, Amrita Acharia and Ruby Bentall ) a measure of power others don't possess. As far as history dictates, Mary never returned to France. After a lot of plotting and bloodshed, in the final episode, Catherine finally makes a move to establish herself as the ruler of France. (Charles: Its like a Privy Council meeting with guns!) On the point of signing, Antione backtracks; he has principles. Her household near Washington DC includes two badly-behaved cats about whom she frequently boasts on Facebook. Henry II was a staunch Catholic, who despised Protestantism and heresy. One is never safe when one is in love." Thanks to her quick wits, however, she manages to prolong what can only be seen as a probation period until she can bless the French court with a child. She is the author of Blood, Fire and Gold: The Story of Elizabeth I and Catherine de Medici (Ebury Press, 2022). Catherine offers him the opiate, fearing he isnt strong enough to take it. The Serpent Queen Season 2 News, Cast, Premiere Date Read at your own risk. Considering all the treacherous things that Catherine has survived and done by far, it would be stupid to think that she could be so easily bested. STARZ drama The Serpent Queen portrays Catherine de' Medici as a queen who will do anything to survive and retain power. Between Westeros, Middle Earth, and the array of historic dramas that populate Starz's and PBS' respective catalogs, audiences are in no danger of forgetting how tough life can be for a royal. Yes, The Serpent Queen is based on real events. Shamima Begum and the problem of citizenship - CapX . The Serpent Queen Recap, Season One, Episode 7 - Vulture After a triumphant first outing, Starz has confirmed that its period dramaThe Serpent Queenwill return for a second season. She's supposed to be arranging the coronation of the future King of France, but she isn't interested in all the girly stuff such a task demands (think of being "mother of the bride"). She needs allies, and with most of the court against her, she decides to make one in Rahima. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Catherine: "Be careful not to cloud your judgment. She has successfully installed her young son on the French throne, taken control of the kingdom by winning the regency, and tricked Mary, Queen of Scots (Antonia Clarke) into leaving the court.. Despite her incredible life, however, she has been either overlooked or vilified for centuries. After Pope Clement rescued the Medici child from the cornered rebels, he began making plans for her marriage. $14 at Amazon "What interested me is what a completely contemporary, modern character Catherine de Medici was. Antoine goes into hiding, and when Montmorency tries to capture him, Catherine stabs him. For instance, by helping a maid face her enemies and offering advice on the rules of the games of court, Catherine is ultimately portrayed as being cautious, and as being a supporter of the underdog if she felt they were stuck in an unfair situation. ------------------------------------------, Catherine de Medici as a cultivator of chaos, The lesson of Starz's "The White Princess": Not all family affairs are worth watching, "The Crown" returns with Princess Di & Margaret Thatcher testing the Queen's humanity, The magic of "Wolf Hall": The exquisite (and chilling) details that bring history to life. Nelson is passionate about storytelling, and this road has made him a massive fan of film as a medium. The Serpent Queen Quotes - TV Fanatic Here's a side-by-side comparison of the actors of "Selma" and their real-life counterparts, as they appeared in 1965. But the drama's creator and writer Justin Haythe earns the script's caustic humor by establishing the roots of Catherine's pragmatism and strategic ruthlessness through Liv Hill's wider-eyed portrayal of Catherine as a young woman who is constantly reminded of her unattractiveness. They could have been rougher with her, but she is dumped in the street, forgotten. Catherine instructs Antoine to take refuge at a farm nearby, and when Francois finds her alone with Montmorency, she tells him that Antoine is responsible for his wound. It's a psychological juxtaposition, to be sure. The Serpent Queen makes much of the idea that the French hold little love for the Italian peoples. Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. There is no one quite like Catherine de Medici. Considering all this, it is best for Mary to leave France in the past and focus on ruling Scotland, though we all know how tragically it ended for her. (That could have been a deal breaker. Catherine moves the court to Chenonceau, demanding Rahima declare sides. There's no shortage of TV queens at the moment. In real life, Catherine gave a speech when her husband was at war to get funding for the conflict, which was later granted. In order to strengthen his position and solidify the continuity of the Medici house, the Pope plans to marry her to the second son of King Francis, the young Henri II, future king of France. Having embraced who she is, she now employs her nerdiness to analyze her favorite films and TV shows. Had the birth and upbringing of Catherine de Medici drawn too faithfully from the original source, the enigma surrounding the mysterious queen would perhaps have been lost.
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