The Serpent Queen: The Serpent Queen
July 20, 2024 9:20 PM - Season 1 (Full Season) - Subscribe
Series depicts the path of Catherine de' Medici, from orphaned teen of Medici nobility, to adult Queen of France in the 16th Century, and her reputation as a cunning manipulator of power.
Stars Samantha Morton as Catherine de' Medici. Based on book Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France by Leonie Frieda.
Stars Samantha Morton as Catherine de' Medici. Based on book Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France by Leonie Frieda.
I'd never heard of this and had to do some digging to even find out what network it's on (Starz, in case you're interested). A couple years ago the AV Club did a review of the first season, giving it a solid B. If I happen to run across it on one of the few streaming services I subscribe to I might watch it, but it doesn't seem worth actively searching it out. In S2 (just starting last week) Minnie Driver joins the cast as Elizabeth I -- that has some delicious potential that might change my mind, but given I hadn't been hearing anything about it to date how would I know?
posted by Pedantzilla at 7:10 AM on July 21 [1 favorite]
posted by Pedantzilla at 7:10 AM on July 21 [1 favorite]
I watched the first season. The acting was delicious, the costumes were stunningly gorgeous, and the sets were convincing. I don't know if it was filmed on-site, but it felt expensive and immersive.
I adore Samantha Morton, and she delivers in this role. However, like The Great or other stories about intelligent sensitive women learning to fight for power, it's pretty heart wrenching.
posted by Illusory contour at 8:40 AM on July 21 [7 favorites]
I adore Samantha Morton, and she delivers in this role. However, like The Great or other stories about intelligent sensitive women learning to fight for power, it's pretty heart wrenching.
posted by Illusory contour at 8:40 AM on July 21 [7 favorites]
Adding: S1 gets a 100/84 on Rotten Tomatoes, which ain't nuthin! I guess I'll be more proactive about keeping an eye out for this.
posted by Pedantzilla at 10:06 AM on July 21
posted by Pedantzilla at 10:06 AM on July 21
I watched the first season when it came out, more or less concurrently when the first season of House of the Dragon was showing. They both shared some similar themes, which I liked. I thought The Serpent Queen felt more refreshing in its attitude.
I haven't read the (nonfiction) book it claims to be based on, and know very little about the time and place, but did notice what I thought was a historical blunder, which was fairly easy to confirm to indeed be a blunder. Presuming the book isn't complete crap, I'm assuming the "based on a book" angle isn't to be taken as "striving for complete historical accuracy". Dialogue alone feels pretty anachronistic. Add plenty likewise plot devices, such as much of the story being told through the POV of Rahima, a servant girl sort of taken under the wing and groomed by Catherine, but regardless, it works well and feels far less Masterpiece Theater than you might expect going in. And breaking the fourth wall to get inside the heads of our characters.
All that said, I quite enjoyed the first season. Yes, sets and costumes are really quite nice. Acting for the most part is good, and often entertaining. I liked Antonia Clarke as a fanatical and outclassed mean girl Mary Queen of Scots, and Rupert Everett as hammy villain Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. And especially Liv Hill, portraying the young Catherine with both innocence and determination as she learns to roll with punches that her lot has in store.
posted by 2N2222 at 1:14 PM on July 21 [2 favorites]
I haven't read the (nonfiction) book it claims to be based on, and know very little about the time and place, but did notice what I thought was a historical blunder, which was fairly easy to confirm to indeed be a blunder. Presuming the book isn't complete crap, I'm assuming the "based on a book" angle isn't to be taken as "striving for complete historical accuracy". Dialogue alone feels pretty anachronistic. Add plenty likewise plot devices, such as much of the story being told through the POV of Rahima, a servant girl sort of taken under the wing and groomed by Catherine, but regardless, it works well and feels far less Masterpiece Theater than you might expect going in. And breaking the fourth wall to get inside the heads of our characters.
All that said, I quite enjoyed the first season. Yes, sets and costumes are really quite nice. Acting for the most part is good, and often entertaining. I liked Antonia Clarke as a fanatical and outclassed mean girl Mary Queen of Scots, and Rupert Everett as hammy villain Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. And especially Liv Hill, portraying the young Catherine with both innocence and determination as she learns to roll with punches that her lot has in store.
posted by 2N2222 at 1:14 PM on July 21 [2 favorites]
I liked this. It's one of those intentionally anachronistic interpretations of history, but I thought that it was done well. It's humorous, but not slapstick. The actors are great.
posted by confluency at 1:37 PM on July 21 [2 favorites]
posted by confluency at 1:37 PM on July 21 [2 favorites]
well... thats a lot more of colm meaney than i ever expected to see, no offense intended.
posted by AlbertCalavicci at 3:33 AM on July 22 [1 favorite]
posted by AlbertCalavicci at 3:33 AM on July 22 [1 favorite]
Well, my question, above, has been more than answered. Thanks, all -- this sounds awesome!
posted by wenestvedt at 8:08 AM on July 22
posted by wenestvedt at 8:08 AM on July 22
We're enjoying The Serpent Queen muchly, plus I adore Samantha Morton.
Do take a minute to watch her accept her BAFTA fellowship from Feb 2024. I was moved.
posted by Short Attention Sp at 3:36 PM on July 25
Do take a minute to watch her accept her BAFTA fellowship from Feb 2024. I was moved.
posted by Short Attention Sp at 3:36 PM on July 25
Just started watching and loving it so far - far darker than The Great. By far.
But yeah, many of the same vibes and (maybe a touch less) production quality.
posted by porpoise at 10:18 PM on July 26
But yeah, many of the same vibes and (maybe a touch less) production quality.
posted by porpoise at 10:18 PM on July 26
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Did they film on-site or just on soundstages?
And did you like it? :7)
posted by wenestvedt at 5:19 AM on July 21 [1 favorite]