The Serpent Queen
GenrePeriod drama
Created byJustin Haythe
Based onCatherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France
by Leonie Frieda
Starring
ComposerBear McCreary
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes8
Production
Executive producers
ProducerNick O'Hagan
Production companies
Original release
NetworkStarz
ReleaseSeptember 11, 2022 (2022-09-11) –
present (present)

The Serpent Queen is an American period drama television series about the life of Catherine de' Medici, the 16th century Queen of France, as portrayed by actress Samantha Morton. The series was created by Justin Haythe and is based on the 2004 nonfiction book Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France by Leonie Frieda. The Serpent Queen premiered on Starz network on September 11, 2022. Starz renewed the series for a second season on October 27, 2022.

Plot

The series follows the story of Catherine de' Medici, who marries into the French Valois court as a fourteen year-old teenager expected to bring in a fortune in dowry and produce heirs. Despite many challenges, a lifetime of clever political maneuvering allows her to rule France as queen for 30 years.

Cast and characters

Main

Recurring

Guest

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateU.S.A. viewers
(millions)
1"The Medici Bitch"Stacie PassonJustin HaytheSeptember 11, 2022 (2022-09-11)0.194[1]
Catherine de' Medici, Queen of France, begins telling servant girl Rahima about her early years. An orphan from a wealthy Italian family in Florence who has been raised in a convent, Catherine is sent by her uncle, Pope Clement VII, as a potential wife for Henri, second son of King Francis of France. Though not considered desirable by the royal family, shrewd Catherine takes the negotiation into her own hands and convinces Francis to accept her. Catherine falls in love with Henri immediately, and believes he feels the same. They are married, and Catherine's distant cousin, Diane de Poitiers, gives her advice about how to handle Henri on their wedding night. The consummation goes smoothly, but afterward Henri is upset and sends Catherine away. Looking for answers, she returns to his chambers in time to find him in bed with Diane. In the present, Catherine tells Rahima that what she learned from this is never to trust anyone. The Queen becomes annoyed with the servant girl and has her dragged away.
2"To War Rather Than To Bed"Stacie PassonJustin HaytheSeptember 18, 2022 (2022-09-18)0.183[2]
Catherine chooses Rahima as her new maid, and continues her story. Young Catherine is desperate to conceive a child to secure her place at court, especially after she has a vision that predicts the death of her uncle, the Pope. Diane plots to be rid of Catherine, but Henri scoffs at Diane's suggestion that he marry the older woman. Henri resists Catherine's invitation to her bedroom thanks to Diane's influence, so Catherine beds a stable hand to get pregnant. Soon after, Henri comes to her room to do his duty, sympathetic to her plight. Catherine and Henri bond over their mutual dislike of the Dauphin, Henri's violent older brother. Recognizing that Francis and the powerful Sultan Suleiman, the king's guest, both have an enemy in the Holy Roman Emperor, Catherine puts in motion an alliance between them for which Henri is credited. In the present, Catherine correctly deduces—seemingly by magic—that Rahima is being bullied by a servant named Nathalie. Catherine gives Rahima a small sachet of gunpowder, which the servant places in bread dough that she knows Nathalie will be baking. As Rahima scurries away, the kitchen explodes behind her.
3"The Price"Stacie PassonJustin Haythe & Elizabeth ChakkappanSeptember 25, 2022 (2022-09-25)0.234[3]
Nathalie has lost an eye, and Catherine appears in time to spare Rahima punishment. Catherine's widowed daughter-in-law Mary, Queen of Scots, vows to prevent "that Italian witch" Catherine from ruling through her son Charles. Young Catherine swoons over Henri's wartime letters, but is distressed when he returns with his Italian mistress Filippa Duci and infant daughter Diane. Diane exiles Filippa and her baby, and offers to assist Catherine in conceiving to secure their future. Henri's military success in Italy wins his father's favor, and the king is impressed with Catherine for masterminding the alliance. Bourbon suggests to Francois that an "accident" befall Catherine to eliminate France's distracting ties to Italy. Assailants ambush Catherine, but she escapes. Catherine seeks help getting pregnant from Ruggeri, who cites a future price to be paid and throws her a book of potions. Francois collapses playing tennis and dies of heart failure. In denial, the king accuses the Italians of poisoning him. Ruggeri's book is found in Sebastio's room, and Catherine tearfully allows her atelier's arrest to save herself. Sebastio is executed and Catherine falls pregnant, the price having been paid.
4"A New Era"Ingrid JungermannJustin Haythe & Elizabeth ChakkappanOctober 2, 2022 (2022-10-02)0.188[4]
Nathalie threatens Rahima with revenge if Mary ascends the throne. Catherine’s narration jumps fifteen years and nine children as she and Henri lose a newborn son. In seclusion, Catherine falls into a fog. The Guises seize Château de Chenonceau from Pierre Marques, while the Bourbons attempt an alliance with Marques to thwart the Guises. King Francis suffers a fall during an early morning hunt and later succumbs to his injuries, but not before assuring Catherine that she will prevail after his death. Catherine is added to the privy council and warns Henri of a challenge from the Holy Roman Emperor. She offers Château de Chaumont as a gift to Diane, who is indignant at being banished. Diane pays Angelica handsomely to supply her with a gold solution that will purportedly preserve her youth. Henri dons Diane’s colors on coronation day, to Catherine's disbelief. A messenger delivers the severed head of a Valois envoy from the Holy Roman Emperor. In the present, Catherine receives a written message that troubles her. Rahima claims she is unable to read it, but later reads a book in her room.
5"The First Regency"Ingrid JungermannJessica Brickman and Justin HaytheOctober 9, 2022 (2022-10-09)0.102[5]
Catherine tells Rahima the message contains evidence that Mary and her cousin Elizabeth I, Queen of England, are conspiring against her. Catherine recalls that Henri named her regent while he was away fighting the Holy Roman Emperor. The Bourbons and the Guises try to manipulate Catherine to their own ends, but she outmaneuvers them and appeals to the Protestant faction for both financial and military aid. Angelica warns Diane that too much of the gold solution can drive her mad, but Diane is addicted and insists on more and more. Diane persuades Henri to not fight in the battle, and though he returns to court victorious, he fears he is seen as weak and under Diane's control. Catherine suggests to Henri that he find Montmorency and bring him back to court. Protestant Pierre lashes out with a warning that the self-indulgent ruling class will soon be overthrown by the commoners. An incensed Diane slashes his throat. Henry is impressed by Catherine's astute and effective regency. In the present, Rahima searches Mary's rooms at Catherine's request, looking for more correspondence between Mary and Elizabeth. Though Catherine has distracted Mary, she sends one of Mary's ladies to her rooms. Rahima is discovered.
6"The Last Joust"Justin HaytheDawn M. Kamoche & Ariella Blejer and Justin HaytheOctober 16, 2022 (2022-10-16)0.156[6]
As a path to power, the Guises have plotted with Diane to move forward with the wedding of their devout, Catholic niece, Mary, to Henri's heir, Francis II. Despite Catherine's interference, Henri ultimately bends to Diane's will. Wanting to be rid of Diane once and for all, Catherine finally locates Ruggeri, and recounts her dream of Diane's and Henri's deaths. Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and the King of Spain, attends the nuptials. Believing that sacrificing Henri is worth neutralizing Diane's influence, Catherine encourages him to joust. She changes her mind at the last minute, but Henri proceeds and is killed. In the present, Catherine refuses to release an imprisoned Rahima, and it becomes clear she is manipulating her maid into some course of action.
7"An Attack on the King"Stacie PassonAshley Cardiff and Justin HaytheOctober 23, 2022 (2022-10-23)0.222[7]
In the present, Mary visits Rahima to tell her side of the story in an attempt to sway the maid to her side and produce evidence of Catherine’s involvement in the dark arts. In the past, Henri is impaled during the joust and succumbs to his injuries in the arms of a disbelieving Diane. Catherine banishes her from court. Charles V flirts with Catherine at the funeral and affirms Mary’s zealous determination to unite a Catholic Europe. Antoinette de Guise and Antoine have a final tryst the night before an edict criminalizing Protestantism goes into effect, resulting in the expulsion of the Bourbons and rampant executions. Catherine finds Montmorency at a clandestine Protestant service and importunes him to reason with Francis II. Catherine and the Bourbons plot to kidnap Francis II and ultimately return him to paint the Protestants as patriotic. In the present, Rahima flatters Mary and agrees to search for the letter from Elizabeth I in Catherine's quarters. Rahima and Catherine reconcile.
8"A Queen Is Made"Justin HaytheJustin HaytheOctober 30, 2022 (2022-10-30)0.202[8]
In the recent past, Catherine thwarts the kidnapping plot, and the Bourbon princes flee. Catherine stabs Montmorency so that Antoine, the regent, can escape, while Louis is captured by François and sentenced to death for treason. The Guises seek to install a recovering Montmorency as puppet regent to appease the people, whereas Catherine goads Mary into requesting the regency for herself. Francis II, dying of consumption, emotionally rejects Mary's request, but approves Catherine's regency. Louis is pardoned in the nick of time as Catherine's regency is proclaimed. Rahima steals a letter from Elizabeth I to Mary that Catherine has intercepted. Realizing it is a forgery, she hands it over to a trusting Mary, demanding a title and land from Catherine for her loyalty. In the false letter, Elizabeth I promises Mary her help in securing the French throne, and as Catherine intended, Mary flees to Scotland. There she learns that the message was a lie. At the coronation of 11-year-old Charles IX, Catherine places the crown on his head herself.

Production

Development

In February 2021, Starz granted an eight episode series based upon the book Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France by Leonie Frieda, with Justin Haythe set to serve as a writer and executive producer, with Francis Lawrence and Erwin Stoff also set to executive produce. Stacie Passon will direct multiple episodes of the series, including the pilot. Production companies involved in the series were slated to consist of Lionsgate Television and 3 Arts Entertainment.[9] Starz renewed the series for a second season on October 27, 2022.[10] Lorris Chevalier is the historical advisor.

Casting

In April 2021, Samantha Morton joined the cast as Catherine de' Medici.[11] In May 2021, Amrita Acharia, Enzo Cilenti, Barry Atsma, Nicholas Burns and Danny Kirrane joined the cast in starring roles, while Charles Dance, Ludivine Sagnier, Liv Hill, Kiruna Stamell, and Colm Meaney in recurring capacity.[12] In June 2021, Ray Panthaki joined the cast of the series.[13] In August 2021, it was announced Raza Jaffrey, Sennia Nanua, Beth Goddard and Alex Heath had joined the cast of the series, in undisclosed, starring and recurring capacities, respectively.[14][15][16]

Filming

Principal photography of the first season began in April 2021 in Marseille and in the Loire Valley in France and in the Papal Palace in Italy.[17][18]

Music

The Serpent Queen (A Starz Original Series Soundtrack)
Soundtrack album by
Bear McCreary
Released28 October 2022 (2022-10-28)
GenreOrchestral
Length49:15
LabelSparks & Shadows
Bear McCreary chronology
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
(2022) 		The Serpent Queen (A Starz Original Series Soundtrack)
(2022) 		God of War Ragnarök
(2022)
The Serpent Queen (A Starz Original Series Soundtrack)
No.TitleLength
1."The Serpent Queen" (feat. Esjay Jones)3:35
2."Catherine de' Medici"3:10
3."Rajima and the Queen"5:20
4."Arrival in France"3:46
5."Catherine Meets Henri"3:18
6."From Duke to King"5:19
7."Diane de Poitiers"4:04
8."Drenched in Gold"3:12
9."Forbidden Fruit"3:56
10."An Eye for an Eye"4:59
11."Mad Love"3:36
12."Trust No One"4:30
13."The Serpent Queen Main Title"0:25
Total length:49:15

Release

The Serpent Queen premiered on Starz on September 11, 2022.[19]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 19 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.7/10. The website's consensus reads, "The Serpent Queen dramatizes one of history's most infamous monarchs with a deft, sardonic touch, with Samantha Morton's commanding star turn likely to swallow viewers' attention whole."[20] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 76 out of 100 based on 12 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[21]

References

  1. ^ Salem, Mitch (September 13, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 9.11.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  2. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (September 20, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 9.18.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  3. ^ Salem, Mitch (September 27, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 9.25.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  4. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (October 4, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 10.2.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  5. ^ Salem, Mitch (October 11, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 10.9.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  6. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (October 18, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 10.16.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  7. ^ Salem, Mitch (October 25, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 10.23.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  8. ^ Salem, Mitch (November 1, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 10.30.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  9. ^ White, Peter (May 4, 2021). "Starz Orders Catherine De Medici Drama The Serpent Queen From Justin Haythe, Francis Lawrence & Erwin Stoff, Stacie Passon to Direct Opener". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  10. ^ Bell, BreAnna (October 27, 2022). "The Serpent Queen Renewed for Season 2 at Starz". Variety. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  11. ^ Petski, Denise (April 7, 2021). "Samantha Morton To Star As Catherine De Medici In Starz's 'The Serpent Queen'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  12. ^ Petski, Denise (May 10, 2021). "'The Serpent Queen': Starz Casts Catherine de Medici's Royal Court". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  13. ^ Del Rosario, Alexandra (June 25, 2021). "'The Serpent Queen': Ray Panthaki Joins Cast Of Starz Catherine De Medici Drama". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  14. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (August 5, 2021). "Homeland's Raza Jaffrey Set By Starz For 'The Serpent Queen'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  15. ^ Petski, Denise (August 6, 2021). "The Serpent Queen': Sennia Nanua Joins Samantha Morton In Starz's Catherine de Medici Drama". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  16. ^ Petski, Denise (August 9, 2021). "The Serpent Queen: Beth Goddard Set As Series Regular, Alex Heath To Recur In Starz's Period Drama". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  17. ^ "Where was The Serpent Queen filmed?". express.co.uk. September 14, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  18. ^ Shrethsa, Naman (September 10, 2022). "Where is Starz's The Serpent Queen Filmed?". The Cinemaholic. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  19. ^ Remley, Hilary (July 28, 2022). "The Serpent Queen Trailer: Samantha Morton Bites Back as Catherine de Medici". Collider. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  20. ^ "The Serpent Queen: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  21. ^ "The Serpent Queen: Season 1". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved September 9, 2022.

External links

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