As a seasoned admirer of historical dramas and a connoisseur of strong female characters, I must say that this week’s episode of “The Serpent Queen” has truly captured my heart. The portrayal of Elizabeth I by Minnie Driver is nothing short of spectacular, a breath of fresh air in an era where we are often inundated with sympathetic and overly sentimental portrayals of queens.
As a film enthusiast, I’m thrilled we’re getting more of Elizabeth this week rather than Sister Edith. If I wanted to immerse myself in the struggles of peasants, I could just watch a video of me and my spouse calculating our grocery expenses. In these challenging times, I don’t need more depressing documentaries; instead, I choose to escape into the world of Love Island. (Why did Rob pick those overalls?) This is my preferred method of distraction. That’s why watching Minnie Driver as the eccentric and brilliant Elizabeth I was such a delight. I’m tired of seeing soft portrayals of Mary, Queen of Scots, where Elizabeth seems melancholic due to her childless state. In this series, Elizabeth doesn’t care about children one bit; she’s here to conquer France and make French nobles kneel before her.
It turns out that the Bourbons have been under the impression that Elizabeth is in the Netherlands, but they’re wrong – she’s actually at court, being considered as a potential bride for Charles. This fictional tale might seem absurd, yet it’s fun to imagine. In my Wattpad fanfic based on One Direction, Elizabeth is engaging with Catherine de’ Medici. Catherine is adamant about making this marriage a reality as it would serve her ambition of unifying France and ensuring peace.
At risk of ruining that goal is Cardinal de Guise, who was baptized by Sister Edith last week and now agrees to spy for her at court. I don’t know how effective of a spy he can be when everyone is like, “Oh hey, the cardinal got baptized by Protestants and probably can’t be trusted now.” Also, he’s being super off-putting in that particular way recent converts can be. He tries to convince his brother François to go see Sister Edith.
The cardinal’s change to a different faction has become so well-known that the ominous Catholic League pays a visit to Antoinette, urging her to straighten out her son’s affairs. Antoinette then communicates this warning to François, emphasizing that their family symbolizes the Catholic nobility and that the cardinal should be careful not to jeopardize this with his “religious transformation” and “search for purpose in life.”
As a seasoned observer of human nature and someone who has encountered my fair share of individuals claiming divine communication, I can confidently assert that Sister Edith’s situation this week is all too familiar. The cardinal being asked to spy on her behalf is not unexpected, as many people in such positions believe they are acting under God’s guidance. However, Montmorency’s attempt to clarify the difference between divine intervention and inner thoughts was met with resistance, as I have often witnessed.
Elizabeth enters the French court accompanied by Throckmorton. The music is superb here. The Guises are consulted about the possible union between Elizabeth and Charles, and Antoinette voices her worries for Mary, Queen of Scots. Throckmorton proposes that if France returns Calais to England, they might be able to negotiate concerning Mary’s fate. Elizabeth was eager to reclaim Calais! It seemed illogical why it belonged to England in the first place. An intriguing exchange between Elizabeth and Anjou takes place, one of my favorite scenes, and Catherine extends an invitation for Elizabeth to join a hunting party.
Prior to the hunt, Louis pays a visit to Elizabeth as he’s feeling hurt and thought they had a connection. Elizabeth informs him that she intends to marry Charles, reside in England, and essentially leave France for Louis to manage. In a rather brusque manner, she then invites him to be helpful by revealing her skirts and suggesting he should be useful. As a teenager, I would have certainly disliked this situation.
At last, during the hunt, the show delivers the owl headdress we’ve been anticipating since season previews. It’s what drew me here. Elizabeth rides a horse adorned with an owl-like headdress, and she carries it off flawlessly, I must say. OWL HEADDRESS. Elizabeth makes a wager with Catherine: whoever bags the largest deer can dictate the terms of their marriage. Alrighty then. Charles tumbles from his horse upon seeing Catherine spot a crow devouring a snake near a nest of shattered eggs. The scene is an overt symbol for England, as Cosimo Ruggieri clarifies. If another de’ Medici child perishes, we’ll be left with Anjou and Margot. This feels eerily reminiscent of “five little monkeys jumping on the bed,” with only three or possibly two left.
In passing, we find Alessandro engaging in conversation with Rahima, informing her that the Earth is not flat – a concept she finds surprising. However, it’s important to clarify that this scene is perpetuating some historical inaccuracies, as by the late 16th century, people were well-aware of a non-flat Earth. The controversy at that time revolved more around the heliocentric model (the Earth revolving around the sun), not the shape of the Earth itself. Regardless, I must express my disagreement with this depiction. Rahima is too noble to associate with someone like Alessandro, who seems more interested in self-promotion and spreading misinformation. Subsequently, she confides in Catherine that Alessandro may be embezzling funds from the Tuileries project, an accusation he acknowledges to Rahima, and then they presumably engage in intimate activities. I cannot help but express my disapproval.
At the conclusion of events, Catherine wakes up to discover mysterious symbols drawn with witchcraft implements on the pillow beside her. When she ventures deep into the forest to confront Ruggieri, expressing bewilderment over this strange discovery and demanding an explanation, he claims it’s a “warning.” This leaves Catherine puzzled as she believes trouble is brewing. Instead of sending a direct message, they decide to plant witchy twigs around her living space, something she doesn’t comprehend in the first place. One might think a simple message like “Come see me in the forest” would suffice. Catherine becomes furious when Ruggieri implies she’s surrounded by betrayers and can’t seem to grasp the situation. She orders him to leave, and an owl follows her. Elizabeth appears!
As a movie enthusiast, in my own words, I’d rephrase the scene as follows: After shifting back from her owl form (which, for those unaware, isn’t like in ‘My Lady Jane’), Elizabeth incites Anjou and Charles into a fencing match. Catherine warns Anjou to let Charles win, despite Charles being rather wobbly after his tumble from the horse. Anjou attempts to grant victory to Charles, even amidst Charles hurling an insult at him, but Charles’ condition deteriorates, leading to him collapsing completely. As Catherine checks on him, Charles spits blood onto a handkerchief. She insists he’s okay, he’s okay. Now, I have a question – will Anjou take the throne now?
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2024-08-17 05:54