In October 1529, when Florence was besieged by the Medici loyalists, the rebels used the 11-year-old Medici child as their best bait. This article contains affiliate links and we may receive a commission for purchases made. And the fact that the series is trying to go into a more comedic vein than the rest of similar shows tackling history. 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. In addition to Morton reprising her role as the titular Queen of France, you can likely expect the key characters surrounding her to return, too such as Rahima (Sennia Nanua) and Mary (Antonia Clarke). 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. For now, Kathryn Busby, the president of original programming at Starz, simply says in a statement that Season 2 will unveil more of her incredible life and reign, per Variety, adding that the next installment promises to be even more provocative and sublime.. She'll suck the soul right out ya. $14 at Amazon "What interested me is what a completely contemporary, modern character Catherine de Medici was. 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. But we shouldn't entirely believe in her 'dark legend', writes Dr Estelle Paranque Published: September 25, 2022 at 9:05 am Promised to the Catherines son and dauphin of France, the future Francis II, Mary was sent to be raised and educated at the French court when she was just five years old and brought up alongside Catherines own children. Because she was only a fifteen year . Starz once again delivers its fearlessly anachronistic brand of history in The Serpent Queen, directed byStacie Passon (Dickinson) and written byJustin Haythe(Revolutionary Road). With so many British shows arriving all the time and spread out across so many streaming services in the U.S., we rounded us some of the highlights of 2022 for anglophiles to check out. Don't look in the mirror. On the day of the coronation, Catherines second son is crowned King and she becomes his Regent. It is a disturbing scene, and Catherine leaves in horror. 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. Poor Louis is one finger down and about to lose his head, with Mary jittery with excitement at the execution. territory have been allowed back into Britain. 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. She'll suck the soul right out ya. After she does not fail, the audience leaves and Henri yells at Catherine to get out. Henry II was very fond of Mary and, as a result, so was Diane de Poitiers. Very awkward, especially with your father-in-law making jousting jokes. But Montmorency wakes and holds a knife to her throat. 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 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 show chooses to emphasize more of the many tales surrounding the historical figure and to present them with a new, humorous angle, rather than adopting any of the two possible and very clichd extremes. Back in the present day, Catherine finishes to tell her story to Rahima, and then accuses her of stealing. She was many things: born into high Franco-Italian nobility, she was an orphan at three weeks old, a kinswoman to two popes, princess of France, dauphine of France, queen consort of France, and then regent of France. Perhaps this is why she remains such a charismatic and enigmatic historical figure. Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters. These attacks against her reputation have been shared for centuries, as she and her sons were accused of being the catalysts for the French Wars of Religion. 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. Catherine will need to navigate the dangerous waters of the court as she faces the consequences of having been born as a Medici, the most hated family in Europe. Because her scheming and then succeeding in her endeavors make her a lot of enemies, she also has to start making some allies. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Certainly, some xenophobic ideals prevailed during the 16th century, but there is no strong evidence of this in any royal letters. From hair trends to relationship advice, our daily newsletter has everything you need to sound like a person whos on TikTok, even if you arent. The Bourbon Bros decide to do the smart thing and run away, as does Catherine, who grabs a riderless horse, but the brothers become separated. They could have been rougher with her, but she is dumped in the street, forgotten. There's no shortage of TV queens at the moment. Sennia Nanua ("Rahima") in "The Serpent Queen" (Courtesy of Starz). The series begins by introducing us to a framing device that will serve to tell the story of the Queen in the form of a flashback. She fell in love with him, which could only mean suffering and despair for her. Starzs The Serpent Queen is a period drama that is set in the court of France in the sixteenth century. 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. Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. Yes, 'The Serpent Queen' is based on real events. Was Catherine de Medici really a serpent who would betray her closest friends the moment they stopped serving an obsequious purpose or was she merely a powerless orphan who had to make the best out of her situation in order to survive? And then he catches her a frog! But why were the Medici so hated in particular? 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 impressive ceremony brings everyone back: Diane de Poitiers and Angelica; Aabis and her apprentice; the Bourbon Bros, who swear revenge while masquerading as allies. Catherine asks Rahima to search Mary's room for a letter. He reassures her she'll be fine, and he should know: He's a magician! 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. Nanua was awarded Best Actress at the Sitges Film Festival for her performance, and was nominated for a Critics Choice Award and a British Independent Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer. It wasnt until after he died and Catherines first son, Francis II, came to power that Catherine truly took over control. As Mary grew up, she started showing disrespect to Catherine, just as Diane would have done and Catherine would never forget it. Catherine is already there with Louis finger, promising more pieces of his brother if Antione refuses, just as Montmorency and the Guise Bros burst in with pistols. Lets find out. Then she faints as Catherine watches. Clement underestimates how much the royals despise the Medicis, leaving it to young Catherine to win over her husband's father, King Francis (Colm Meany) since her spouse's affections lie elsewhere. It is a very uncomfortable experience for both of them. The Serpent Queen, which tells the story of Catherine de Medici and her complicated rise to power as the Queen of France, has quickly become a critical favorite and its easy to see why. In contrast, during her regency during Charles IXs reign and her role as a political advisor under Henry IIIs reign, Catherine had always shown more interest in finding a compromise that would bring peace to the country. With murder on his mind, Montmorency and Catherine come across Antoine. The idea that Catherine de Medici poisoned her enemies was spread over the centuries, yet there is no evidence that she did so. 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. Catherine takes charge. She has gone from a timid young woman chosen as the least likely to cause interference with the wicked queen to a trusted. Where and What Year Does The Serpent Queen Take Place. According to Frieda's book, the rebels considered leaving the child in a military brothel, where she would likely be turned into a prostitute, or killing her in front of the entire city, with not a single piece of cloth on her body. The first season focuses on her journey as a young girl from Italy, trying to survive in the French court. The Guises are glum; Antoinette complains about Catherines plans for no fixed religion and a break with the Holy Roman Emperor. Fortunately, The Serpent Queen season finale doesnt mark the end of Catherines royal saga, which spans much of the 16th century. After the death of his father and his elder brother, Henry became the King of France, giving Catherine the first taste of the power that comes with being a queen, but barely so. Prepare for a royal drama unlike any that you've seen before on TV. Despite her incredible life, however, she has been either overlooked or vilified for centuries. Believing that the Bourbons revolted against the King, the Guises decide to transfer the regency to Montmorency, hoping that they can keep him in their control and keep their zealot niece from taking over from her husband, who is going to die anytime now. 2023 Fiction Horizon, a property of Incomera d.o.o. Starting at 8 a.m. Charles de Guise nods gloomily. When Francis becomes king, Mary takes over command effortlessly. Catherine had to suffer many losses to get herself to the position of Queen Regent. Having embraced who she is, she now employs her nerdiness to analyze her favorite films and TV shows. Let's dig into the first episode! The Serpent Queen is an entertaining show, but ultimately one that portrays a sliver of the real Catherine de Medici. Eighteen-year-old Nanua first drew praise for her award-winning title role in The Girl With All The Gifts opposite Gemma Arterton and Glenn Close. Montmorency turns the gun on Francois, shoots him in the leg, and then points the gun at Antoine, who finally signs away from the Regency. is not as Catholic as he could be. Rahima asks why Catherine sacrificed those closest to her for power. Maybe she has learned something from Catherine after all. The nickname Serpent Queen stems from the dark legend of Catherine de Medici, which casts her as being manipulative, scheming and untrustworthy. How much of it is taken from reality and what parts of it have been concocted for the purpose of entertainment? She is also aware that Catherine herself doesnt trust her completely, which means that she can still unknowingly serve as a pawn in her games, and when the time comes, Catherine wouldnt think twice before disposing of her. Enchanted, Catherine fails to be offended. Catherine (Samantha Morton) is flanked by courtiers as she approaches the altar at her son's coronation. In The Serpent Queen, Mary (Antonia Sophia E. Clarke) tells Rahima (Sennia Nanua) her side of the story, hoping the servant would team up with her instead of Catherine. She is seen giving gunpowder to a maid, to help said maid maim another servant. They can, at times, be found in chronicles, but mostly aimed at the Spaniards, who were seen as dangerous and arrogant mainly because of their ruler, Philip II of Spain, as he dominated Europe and posed a great threat to the sovereignty of France. Its not a request, its an order, and Mathilde is unhappy about it. A number of absurd things stand out in the show, which makes the audience wonder if these things have been added for comic relief, or to simply make things awkward. Rahima mumbles out some New Testament platitudes, and Catherine, frustrated at her response, shouts, "I learned never to trust a single soul!" But Catherine's not satisfied. First, she had to lose her husband, who had never been hers, to begin with. This is a complete myth. Catherine tells Rahima that she reminds her of her. Given how closely the show adheres to Frieda's non-fiction book, its safe to assume that The Serpent Queen will not digress too significantly from history but it'll be interesting to see how the battle between Catherine and the enemies she's made now that she's been declared regent heats up heading into Season 2. Catherine quickly figures out Rahima's low status and casually suggests revenge. However, once there, she realizes that she has been duped. . Amrita Acharia, Liv Hill and Kiruna Stamell in "The Serpent Queen" (Courtesy of Starz). Thats going to be very useful. However, Catherine confesses to Rahima that the moment he met Henri, something terrible happened. . Rahima sets her demands in writing: a title and property. There she grew up being a servant to the nuns and was often punished physically if she committed one mistake. Mary cannot claim his throne for herself rightfully. It's a tough material to fashion, let alone master, which can only be achieved through conquering other areas of expertise . 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. Catherine de Medici makes the best out of a traumatic situation and chooses to focus more on securing her position at the French court than in Henrys fickle heart a move that only suits her character so well. The actors have completely different, much more modern styles in real life. At the age of fourteen, she was married to Henry, Duke of Orlans, the second son of the French king Francis I. Mary (Antonia Clarke) is becoming a threat to France's stability. She is repped by Paradigm, Hamilton Hodell, and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher. ET on EWTN: Holy Mass and Rosary on Thursday, June 22, 2023 [Saint Paulinus of Nola, Bishop; Saints John Fisher, Bishop, and Thomas. 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. Not for power, Catherine replies for freedom. And in a world where we talk about glass ceilings, she was somebody who broke a. While the real Catherine de Medici did show an interest in alchemy and other forms of natural science, and also consulted Nostradamus on the future of her family, there is no evidence of her practising dark magic; on the contrary, she was an incredibly pious person. King Francis (Colm Meaney) suggests the two young people should get to know each other. She's led to another bedchamber; confused, upset, and then angry. 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. Being a woman and wielding as much power as Catherine did in the sixteenth century, Haythe found that her story had many parallels to the place of women in the current world. The series begins by introducing us to a framing device that will serve to tell the story of the Queen in the form of a flashback. And how will Rahima's life turn out? While The Serpent Queen might have taken some liberty with the historical facts in the show, it will not resort to outright changing history. Morton's cutting gaze, sly smile, and dangerously honeyed way of relaying Catherine's story establish an anxiety that buzzes with a seduction. If the next installment follows suit and begins filming soon, fans might be able to expect The Serpent Queen Season 2 release date sometime in early 2024. The Serpent Queen makes much of the idea that the French hold little love for the Italian peoples. Rather than instilling fear, it was Catherine who encouraged royal progresses to connect the people with Charles IX (the second of her three sons to wear the crown of France), and herself as regent of France. 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. Catherine moves the court to Chenonceau, demanding Rahima declare sides. Perhaps thats why Catherine de Medici despised her. This was an absurd world they lived in, he said. Catherine immediately falls in love, a big mistake. Rahima enters, and the queen greets her. Young Mary, Queen of Scots (Antonia Clarke) is attempting to recoup her position of power in the French court after her husband's death. This leads Mary to pack her bags and leave for Scotland, where she is to meet Elizabeth for further talks. Samantha Morton and Sennia Nanua are having a lot of fun this season as Catherine de Medici lures Rahima into her inner circle, gaining her trust while simultaneously educating her on the rules at court. Catherine came from humble beginnings but learned the ways of the court soon enough. As such I was elated when I heard that STARZ was developing a show based on Catherine de Medicis story. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. (Although I don't believe having friends and family as ringside spectators was the norm!) 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.. Copyright 2023 Salon.com, LLC. There is no going back now, but reaching for the throne means making a lot of enemies in the process. The creation of the myths and legends surrounding her, especially giving her the title of the Serpent Queen, among others, was only a testament to how powerful female figures were treated by history, as compared to their male counterparts. She sweeps the food off the table and calls the guards to take the "clumsy girl" out. "The Serpent Queen" may be the latest Starz drama that plumbs the ghastly inner workings of court intrigue to remind us that in the past, as now, a woman's life was far from the stuff of fables. This story is entirely untrue: dAlbret died of an illness that shed had for months before receiving those gloves. Henri and Catherine remain clothed in voluminous white nightgowns (Catherine looks like a giant meringue). She cant sleep, and so she tries to go back to Henris room and be with him, like a good wife. This, too, was not unheard of back in those days. Please read our, The Serpent Queen: STARZs Catherine de Medici drama offers "myths and caricature". Production is underway in France. With Charles still a child, it is she who rules France, and as regent, has secured her position, should the throne be passed on to her next child under unfortunate circumstances. Francois de Guise finds Louis hiding under a fallen tree. In the show, she claims that all lords, Protestants and Catholics are to be granted a private audience with the king to put their grievances forward. 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. The eighth and final episode of Starzs The Serpent Queen opens with Catherines maid Rahima in the forest looking for Ruggieri. Here's a side-by-side comparison of the actors of "Selma" and their real-life counterparts, as they appeared in 1965. I promise you, the most absurd thing that happens in the show is true. 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. . She manages to imply (and this is on Catherine's wedding day!) He counts David Lynch, Quentin Tarantino, Akira Kurosawa, Wes Anderson, and Denis Villeneuve among his favorite directors. Samantha Morton plays the elder version of Queen Catherine de Medici. The Pope is facing the rage of the masses, and the Vaticans coffers are almost empty. Catherine isnt pretty or refined, but the Pope and his team do their best to make her presentable. So when a lowly servant arrives with a trayful of food, Catherine decides to entertain herself in the way she does best--lure in a victim with easy, vicious charm. Diane is a widow, very enthusiastic about being not under the control of a husband or male relatives. Morton establishes an anxiety that buzzes with a strange seduction. Stacie Passon will direct multiple episodes, including the premiere episode. One is never safe when one is in love." Antoine continues, insisting he cannot just be forced to sign away the regency to whoever has the bigger gun.. Her parents died of syphilis, and her grandmother died shortly after when she was a young child. With excellent performances backed by sharp writing, The Serpent Queen is an entertaining watch that keeps the audience hooked. In the final shot, Rahima turns to the camera and tells the audience to trust no one. However, Catherine will have to remember that Rahima is like her too. 1. STARZ drama The Serpent Queen portrays Catherine de Medici as a queen who will do anything to survive and retain power. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Scullery Maid. We seem to have moved beyond the bulk of young Catherine (Liv Hill)s story, and the actor told Collider that Episode 3 is obviously where [her] journey ends. However, it definitely seems plausible that The Serpent Queen Season 2 could make room for flashbacks to young Catherine, especially to the 15-year period thats skipped over in the time jump. She asks a passerby for help. The Serpent Queen is a triumph. Ahead of the season one finale, Starz announced the show would be coming back for a second season. Was Catherine of Medici a monster or a damaged child? RELATED: 'The Serpent Queen' Showrunner Justin Haythe Has a Bloody Good Idea of Where the Series Is Going. EXCLUSIVE: After a worldwide talent search, Sennia Nanua has been cast as a lead opposite Samantha Morton in Starzs The Serpent Queen, an eight-part period drama about Catherine de Medici, from writer and executive producer Justin Haythe (Revolutionary Road), Francis Lawrence & Erwin Stoff.
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