The Serpent Queen
The Serpent Queen
Now Showing

The Serpent Queen

"It feels good to be bad."

7.4
Yr 2022
Status Canceled
Your Verdict

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Series Brief

Overview

Considered an immigrant, common and plain, Catherine de Medici is married into the 16th century French court as an orphaned teenager expected to bring a fortune in dowry and produce many heirs, only to discover that her husband is in love with an older woman, her dowry is unpaid and she’s unable to concieve. Yet, only with her intelligence and determination, she manages to keep her marriage alive and masters the bloodsport that is the monarchy better than anyone else, ruling France for 50 years.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 82 /100

Critical reception for The Serpent Queen was largely positive, with reviewers praising Samantha Morton's standout performance as Catherine de Medici. Critics commended the series for being a wickedly fun, darkly satirical, and intriguing take on the historical monarch, blending complex characterization with sharp humor and scheming court drama.

Many commentators highlighted the show's modern stylistic touches, comparing its tone to satirical period pieces like The Great and Harlots. Meanwhile, the series' backstabbing politics, explicit content, and ruthless violence led multiple critics to draw comparisons to Game of Thrones, noting that the show offered dynamic bite and strong entertainment value.

While the consensus was widely favorable, some critics noted slight shortcomings, suggesting the series did not quite reach the heights of the shows it aimed to emulate and occasionally lagged when Morton was not on screen. Nevertheless, its dark humor and compelling storytelling earned it substantial critical acclaim.

“brings dynamic life to the complex historical figure Catherine de Medici through strong casting and a compelling story”

“Samantha Morton is perfectly cast in this darkly satirical period drama”

“scheming court politics, vulgar language and sexuality, and gruesome violence make The Serpent Queen reminiscent of Game of Thrones”

“blend of delicious drama, complex female characters, and even a few nods to Grimms' Fairy Tales sprinkled in”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Why fans love it

The 16th century French court functions as an unforgiving arena here. Rather than a standard costume drama, the series treats state affairs as a high-stakes bloodsport where survival hinges on intellect and strategic coldness. The focus remains locked on the machinery of power, stripping away the romantic polish often found in historical narratives to highlight the brutal realities of maintaining a monarchy.

Samantha Morton anchors the production as Catherine de Medici, transforming from an isolated, underestimated teenager into a formidable political player. Her journey through the complexities of the French court showcases how an orphaned outsider leverages limited resources to dominate a hostile environment for five decades. It is a calculated study of ambition and endurance, where the cost of ruling is measured in every alliance formed and dismantled.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 49
Regulars 9
Longest run 8 eps
Show 41 more
Beth Goddard as Antoinette de Bourbon 8 episodes Raza Jaffrey as Francis de Guise 8 episodes Danny Kirrane as Louis de Bourbon Ray Panthaki as Charles de Lorraine 8 episodes Bill Milner as Charles IX Paul Chahidi as Charles de Bourbon 1 episode Navid Negahban as Claude de Lorraine 1 episode Alex Heath as Henry II of France 1 episode Ruby Bentall as Angelica 1 episode Louis Landau as Francis III of Brittany 1 episode Naomi Battrick as Anne de Pisseleu d'Heilly 1 episode Colm Meaney as Francis I of France 1 episode Charles Dance as Clement VII 1 episode Adam Garcia as Sebastiano de Montecuccoli 1 episode Rebecca Gethings as Eleanor of Austria 1 episode Memet Ali Alabora as Suleiman I of Turkey 1 episode Gemma Dobson as Nathalie 1 episode Anna Cottis as Cook 1 episode Ludivine Sagnier as Diane de Poitiers 4 episodes Delcho Koprivshki as Lorenzo de' Medici 1 episode Pierre Cévaër as Footman 1 episode Loïc Azorin as Footman 1 episode David Pearse as Cardinal 1 episode Raphael Roger Levy as Leader of Soldiers 1 episode Lucy Edkins as Mother Superior 1 episode Antonin Totot as Catherine's Guard 1 episode Nicolas Buchoux as Doctor (Pope) 1 episode Carlotta Moraru as Prostitute 1 episode Barbara Laurent as Prostitute 1 episode Simon Parmentier as Antoine de Bourbon 1 episode Nathan Parent as Louis de Bourbon 1 episode Adam Amara as Francis de Guise 1 episode Louis Pencréac'h as Charles de Lorraine 1 episode Solenn Mara-Lewis as Justine 1 episode Anne-Lise Maulin as Françoise 2 episodes Clarisse Lhoni-Botte as Delphine 1 episode Anaël Snoek as Ann-Marie 2 episodes Philippine Velge as Margot 1 episode Emma McDonald as Rahima 1 episode Ashley Thomas as Alessandro de Medici 6 episodes Laura Marcus as Elisabeth 5 episodes
Production Board

Crew

Post Production Supervisor
Director
Production Design
Supervising Art Director
Set Decoration
Creator
Signal Match

Similarity

Where The Serpent Queen overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

period drama political intrigue  medici 16th century catherine de' medici french history court intrigue marguerite de valois
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
September 11, 2022
Status
Canceled
Origin
US
TMDB Votes
152