Critic’s Rating: 5 / 5.0
5
Good God, it’s fair to say that The Serpent Queen is taking the gloves off and ready to play dirty.
The aptly titled “Time with the Family” perfectly exemplifies the kind of cut-to-the-core writing this series has become known for.
Then again, The Serpent Queen does boast a perfect score on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.
So, it doesn’t come as a surprise that each episode of this series is filled to the brim with one exciting moment after another.
People sometimes forget that the craziest parts of historic retellings are the parts based on what actually happened.
The Serpent Queen does audiences one better by taking on those events with a firm, shaking grip.
The Serpent Queen Is A Mother First, Queen Second, And An All Around Force Of Nature
And no one is keeping a tighter grip on what happens in this series than Catherine.
The Queen Mother is up to her eyeballs in other people’s agendas and conspirators.
Suffice it to say that Angelica is on the queen’s shit list, which is really just a hit list. And we don’t blame her.
Samantha Morton’s ability to say so much without words and with subtle hints of expression was a triumph of talent.
The level of self-control she had as Catherine to not to roll her eyes, followed by that fourth wall break, was a perfect example of when genius writing meets phenomenal craft.
More to the point, Catherine, played by Samantha Morton, is doing what serpents do best, pivot.
As always, The Serpent Queen has a strategy up her sleeve ten paces ahead of everyone else. It’s not her fault everyone is frustrated trying to play catch-up.
Did you see how quickly she turned the tables on her son, Charles, when he wanted to play the big king?
Catherine basically said, “You want the kingdom? It’s all yours. I’m going back to being a mom.”
And if we’ve learned anything about this series, you don’t have to be a queen to be one hell of a mother.
One Way Or Another, The Guises Are Gonna Get Ya
Since The Serpent Queen Season 2 Episode 1, Antionette has been proving that she doesn’t need a crown to rule. She’s been moving her sons around like pawns throughout court.
But make no mistake — she’ll still get what she deserves. In this case, that would appear to be Antoine.
The writers deserve praise for that perfectly placed scene of Antione and Antionette together.
That was a level of superb execution between the dialogue and physical comedy. This Starz series had me in stitches laughing.
It gave Antoinette a nice little bird’s-eye view of Francoise and Princess Margot. And to everyone’s shock, Francoise showed an ounce of concern for once.
Given the duke’s otherwise cold and calculated nature, it was almost out of character for him to be so protective of Margot to his mother.
Although, it could have more to do with Antionette than with Margot.
Still, if the duke’s mother should be worried about anything, it should be her other son, the cardinal.
Take The Serpent Queen To Church Because She May Be The Only One Who Can Stop The Madness
Charles, the churchman, is not okay. Throughout the episode, he looked like he was coming off a bender.
He’s having a midlife crisis, crisis of faith, and an existential crisis all at the same time.
You know it’s bad when Anjou has to call you out on looking like a mess. The last thing anyone wants is to be scolded by the poster child for petty temper tantrums.
The most ironic thing is that it has turned him to religion in a tangible way for the first time in his life.
As great as that is, we hardly think Edith should be his spiritual guide. The girl is starting to go “Old Testament” in a big way.
At first, she was mostly spouting about love and faith, but things have turned. She clearly recognizes the power she now wields.
Seriously, this is turning into Game of Thrones Season 5.
Soon, her movement will go from protecting the innocent to punishing the guilty.
Although Edith may have less power and fewer allies in her corner than she thinks.
As I said, Catherine is always ten steps ahead of everyone else.
The Serpent Queen Is A Mother Who Is Going To Love You Until You Hate Her
The Serpent Queen is a cold-blooded broad when she has to be. And necessity is the mother of invention.
Catherine needs to maintain a manageable amount of discord among her children right now. Sadly, the easiest one to manipulate died an episode ago.
However, Catherine has not lost her stride and continues to slither into the ears of her other children.
In The Serpent Queen Season 1 Episode 4, Catherine uses her knowledge of Charles’s unnatural feelings for Margot to her advantage.
Granted, that plan more or less blew up in the Queen Mother’s face. But she showed she lives much further in the grey area of life than the characters and viewers might’ve thought.
Then there is Elisabeth, who, in the course of a few scenes, goes from reading to a disabled Philip to being his full-on wife.
The queen carted the happy couple off and sent them on their way before anyone on the council or court was fully awake.
But like a blistering cold shower, everyone was wide awake when Catherine revealed the ace up her sleeve.
How iconic was Minnie Driver’s (The Witcher: Blood Origin) Queen Elizabeth stepping out of the carriage and greeting the royal brats and bastards?
Minnie Driver must be having fun playing “The Virgin Queen.” The actress has been chewing up every scene.
Every time she enters the frame, I get a jolt of excitement.
The writers are having a good time with the character, and I am entirely on board.
Between the sharp dialogue and perfect execution by Minnie Driver, the character could have her own spinoff.
It would not be surprising in the least because all of the characters are so well-written.
While that’s not uncommon with shows based on books, The Serpent Queen still paves its sharp path.
Whatever the case, this series has continued to deliver one fantastic episode after another.
It just shows you don’t need dragons to create an exciting and entertaining story.
What kind of drama do you think Queen Elizabeth will stir up?
How is Edith surviving all these attempts on her life?
Drop a comment below to let us know, and join me again when I review the next episode of The Serpent Queen!