The Serpent QueenTV-show · 2022
If you're into queens who serve major morally gray energy and play the long game, buckle up. Catherine de Medici is basically the OG girlboss in a cutthroat 16th-century French court, turning every setback into an opportunity to snatch power. This is pure period drama glam meets strategic genius, watching her outwit everyone who dares to underestimate her. Get ready for the ultimate 'she's a problem' anthem, because Samantha Morton's Catherine is absolutely iconic.
The Serpent Queen chronicles the improbable rise of Catherine de Medici, an orphaned teenager married into the opulent yet treacherous 16th-century French court. Expected to bring a fortune and produce heirs, Catherine quickly finds herself in a precarious position when her dowry is unpaid, her husband is infatuated with an older woman, and she struggles to conceive. Rather than succumb to her fate, she strategically navigates the ruthless royal politics. With sharp intelligence and unwavering determination, Catherine transforms from an outsider into a formidable force, ultimately mastering the monarchy and ruling France for five decades.
In season two, Catherine de Medici is Queen Regent of France now that her son, Charles IX has come of age. Distracted by the personal conflicts of the Valois children, a new mysterious prophet named Edith gains a loyal following who vow to challenge the current religious establishment, sparking tension across the country. Feeling threatened by the rising strain, the divided court turn to their own schemes for selfish benefit. The Guises commit unholy acts while the Bourbons turn to a familiar foreign sovereign, Queen Elizabeth I of England in hopes of personal gain. As France falls into political and religious turmoil, Catherine struggles to maintain her power, but The Serpent Queen will do whatever she needs to regain control.