The Serpent Queen - Season 2

With The Serpent Queen, you don't need fantasy. Perhaps not always known, but much of the inspiration behind fantasy films and television series comes from our history. Historical series, especially those that address socially and politically turbulent times, are therefore an excellent way to learn about history and to highlight sources of inspiration.

The Serpent Queen is the story of Catherine de Medici (1519–1589). Samantha Morton gives an excellent performance. Originally from Italy, Catherine, along with her Valois family, wielded considerable influence over France for years. One of her alleged exploits is known as St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre (1572), a gruesome massacre in which Protestant Huguenots were hunted down by their Catholic compatriots. The opening of the evening, a massacre during a dinner party, will be familiar to fans of Game of Thrones, among others. This was followed by a days-long massacre of Huguenots in Paris, followed by a nationwide civil war.



The second season of The Serpent Queen is a prelude to this St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre. The political struggle, the distrust, and Catherine's position within it are given a contemporary and dramatized version. The series' greatest merit, besides the excellent acting, is that the sharp and powerful dialogue is adapted to the present day, without, however, compromising the historical character. Furthermore, the series scores highly for its lighthearted moments and the clever interweaving of various time periods. A lot is told in a short time. The pace is pleasantly fast. This does mean that some facts are misrepresented, but that doesn't spoil the enjoyment. The lighthearted moments help keep the series bearable.

The start of this evening, a massacre during a dinner party, will be familiar to fans of Game of Thrones, among others.

Catharine remains central to the series. Thanks to her thoughts, which she also speaks directly to the camera, and her story, we as viewers maintain a point of reference. This is necessary, because many people are circling around her, eager to seize power. Even the British Queen Elizabeth (a striking role by Minnie Driver) makes an appearance. In this version, Elizabeth is "bigger than life." The court struggle between the Catholic Guise family and the Protestant Bourbons is a constant threat to France's stability. Even the interrelationships within the Valois family pose a headache for Catharine.

The greatest danger, however, comes from the canonized Edith (Isobel Jesper Jones). She escapes death twice. As a result, her Protestant followers are rapidly increasing in number. Her increasingly strong position is, of course, also noticed by other powerful figures. While Catherine tries to contain the problem, the Guise, Bourbon, and Queen Elizabeth want to use Edith's power in their own way. The result is a grand climax at the end of this second season.



Don't expect a history lesson from The Serpent Queen. It deviates too much from the truth for that. For instance, as far as I can tell, Edith is based on fiction. Furthermore, there are more characters involved who aren't readily found in history books. The story is still broadly sound, but in reality, things took a slightly different turn. However, if you can look at this series with that in mind, it's a fantastic epic. As a viewer, you don't need fantasy. It's clear, however, that the creators behind The Serpent Queen have used their imaginations to great effect. The result, however, is an excellent series.

The result is an excellent series.

Unfortunately, this is a series that has been canceled. The injustice has perhaps never been so great. While we're on the subject of drama, I can be dramatic for once ;) Oddly enough, they're apparently working on a spin-off, but nothing more is known about it than that the same people behind The Serpent Queen will also be creating that series. We'll wait and see. Until then, my tip is to enjoy two seasons of The Serpent Queen.