The Serpent Queen Season-Premiere Recap: Something’s Afoot at the Palace

As a devoted fan of historical dramas, I’ve seen my fair share of adaptations that left me feeling underwhelmed and longing for more depth. But The White Queen has always managed to capture my heart with its richly drawn characters and intricate plots. Now, as we delve into this new season, I find myself both excited and apprehensive.


If you’ve got a photographic memory and recall all the events from season one, I’m truly amazed! For newcomers, the three-minute recap may as well be gibberish, leaving us veteran viewers scratching our heads, “Which character was that again?”

It’s perplexing indeed that this series, which already boasts a large cast, has introduced new actors for at least two characters. I can understand the reasoning behind it – perhaps Rahima is now older in the storyline. However, the absence of Original Montmorency and the lack of explanation about the character changes leaves viewers with an additional challenge. Not only do we need to keep up with multiple plotlines, but we’re expected to figure out that Montmorency has undergone a facial transformation on our own.

The Guises and Bourbons with their distinct identities have been kept hidden from us for quite a while in the series. To clarify, the Guises are Catholic while the Bourbons are Protestant. Among them, François is known for his martial skills, and Charles holds the cardinal position. Antoine de Bourbon goes by the nickname “Pinky,” and his brother Louis is referred to as “The Brain.” Previously, there was a power struggle regarding whether François would convert France to Catholicism via Mary’s manipulations. However, Mary was later outwitted by Catherine, resulting in her imprisonment at the hands of Elizabeth I. In this new season, Elizabeth, portrayed by Minnie Driver, has yet to make an appearance, but I am genuinely thrilled about it.

In our second season introduction, Catherine expresses her disagreement with the common belief that you get the life you deserve. Instead, she asserts that life is shaped by one’s determination to endure. Catherine de’ Medici is known for her readiness to go to great lengths. I think Catherine would make a fantastic contestant on “The Traitors,” but succeeding in this game requires maintaining a friendly and dedicated appearance towards the Faithfuls, which is something Catherine might struggle with. Perhaps she could be an excellent addition to the cast of “Real Housewives.”

In the year 1572, that’s when we are, and this brings to mind the tragic event known as the St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre. A grim reminder of history, if you prefer to avoid such unpleasantness on your Starz show, I suggest looking away now. The term “massacre” should provide a clue as to the nature of this historical event, which was far from pleasant. However, it seems Montmorency, who passed away in 1567, is still among us, alive and well, though his appearance has changed. Perhaps we’re bending the rules with the timeline?

As a devoted fan of historical dramas, I’ve seen my fair share of captivating openers that draw me in and leave me eagerly anticipating the rest of the season. However, this latest episode left me feeling somewhat underwhelmed and even slightly irritated.

Despite my reservations about the rest of the season, I’m keeping an open mind since getting a new series going can be challenging. Once the initial hurdles are overcome, things often improve. We haven’t been introduced to Elizabeth I yet, and I’m eagerly anticipating Minnie Driver’s portrayal of an unstable version – it promises to be entertaining! Additionally, I’d like to see more of Catherine’s children: Charles, Alexandre, Hercule, Elisabeth, and Margot. Their squabbles and immaturity remind me of the Gemstone family, and I enjoy watching dysfunctional adults on TV. It won’t be satisfying if only a couple of them are present; I need all of them in one room, bickering and taunting each other.

As a passionate spectator, I can’t help but express my relief if the Guises and Bourbons were to take an unexpected plunge off a cliff. Their constant power struggles remind me of two feuding contestants on “The Bachelor,” who end up getting sent home together in a two-on-one elimination. But why limit it to just two? I’d be happy if all four were shown the door – and by that, I mean, off the proverbial cliff.

It’s assumed that after being captivated by “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace,” the writers believed that audiences enjoyed trade negotiations, leading them to include the Bourbon plot for negotiating with England. They requested Jeanne d’Albret’s help in gaining access to the English court, but she demanded that Charles IX attend a local Protestant church service as a condition. Agreeing, they managed to persuade Charles to make an appearance. However, unbeknownst to them, this was the very same church where the Guises’ mother had manipulated or coerced them into planning to set on fire, with the intent of igniting a religious conflict in France.

As a dedicated fan of this captivating show, I’ve grown accustomed to the intricate web of secrets and mysteries that unfold with each episode. In last night’s installment, my heart raced as François and his men barricaded the church doors, trapping Aabis – the enigmatic woman linked to the poisoner from the previous season – within, along with Montmorency’s adopted daughter. The scene was filled with palpable tension, and everyone around me in the living room leaned forward in their seats.

I miss Old Rahima, but New Rahima seems great. She has a coterie of sexy spy ladies! New Montmorency is so incredibly boring, and he and Catherine have negative amounts of chemistry, so I hope they never show them in bed together again. Oh. Also, François is gay? Or possibly bi? Which his mother uses to blackmail him to burn the aforementioned church down. Can you imagine being like, Well, my mom said I’d lose the respect of my fellow soldiers if these letters got out, so I guess I’ll murder all these civilians? She doesn’t even threaten him with death due to being a “sodomite.” Just the losing respect thing! This is on you, François.

It’s plausible that Charles is still among the living, yet with Catherine’s wake of fatalities, that won’t last much longer. As for Mathilde, her whereabouts remain uncertain.

Read More

2024-07-22 18:07