What happens when maintaining power becomes a precarious balancing act encumbered by familial drama and religious turmoil? The Serpent Queen Season 2 addresses this topic, as Catherine de Medici (Samantha Morton), the titular “serpent queen,” finds that power slipping through her fingers. Does the sophomore season of the STARZ period drama hit deliciously wicked new heights? Read on for our review.
About The Serpent Queen Season 2
Here’s a synopsis of the season per STARZ:
“Catherine de Medici is Queen Regent of France now that her son, Charles IX, has come of age. Distracted by the personal conflicts of the Valois children, a new mysterious prophet named Edith gains a loyal following who vows to challenge the current religious establishment, sparking tension across the country.
Feeling threatened by the rising strain, the divided court turn to their own schemes for selfish benefit. The Guises commit unholy acts while the Bourbons turn to a familiar foreign sovereign, Queen Elizabeth I of England, in hopes of personal gain. As France falls into political and religious turmoil, Catherine struggles to maintain her power, but The Serpent Queen will do whatever she needs to regain control.”
The Serpent Queen Season 2 stars Samantha Morton, Raza Jeffrey, Ray Panthaki, Nicholas Burns, Danny Kirrane, Enzo Cilenti, Ashley Thomas, Philippine Velge, Isobel Jesper Jones, Bill Milner, Emma McDonald, Stanley Morgan, Alexandre Willaume and Minnie Driver. The series hails from Justin Haythe and is adapted from Leonie Frieda’s Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen.
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Going to War for God
Season 2 presents no shortage of religious and political warfare. As history has shown, religion and politics go hand in hand. While we see seeds of the conflict between Catholics and Protestants planted in Season 1, they bloom in Season 2 in unexpected ways. Some of the best parts of the season tackle our need to deify “prophets” (which aren’t always religious in nature) as a means of having answers. These “prophets” use their faith as an excuse to commit treacherous acts.
Of course, placing fallible humans on a pedestal leads to a corrosion of the soul. After all, power corrupts, and The Serpent Queen Season 2 delivers an unflinching depiction of this. The season cleverly questions the movement of human progress versus religious suffocation—religion can impede that progress and stifle free will.
The political machinations and scheming are as fun here as in the first season. The Guises and the Bourbons provide entertainment aplenty and participate in their fair share of nefarious activities. This quartet’s appeal is partly thanks to the layered (and, in the Bourbons’ case, hilarious) performances from Raza Jeffrey, Ray Panthaki, Nicholas Burns and Danny Kirrane.
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All in the Family
The show’s second season has a different (although not unwelcome) tone, embracing more family drama. It’s an adjustment, to be sure, especially as certain prominent characters (no spoilers) take a backseat. However, the new players prove they can be as compelling as those who came before them. They can all go toe-to-toe with Samantha Morton’s Catherine.
Season 2 methodically establishes the dynamics between Catherine’s children and their respective relationships with Catherine herself. From a narrative perspective, these carefully cultivated dynamics pay off brilliantly in later episodes. Among Catherine’s kids, Stanley Morgan’s Anjou is an absolute standout. He presents a messy, nuanced young man who suffers from “second son” syndrome and is looked down upon because of his proclivities.
Morgan gives a full-throttle performance brimming with vim and vigor. Like many of the characters on this show, you can’t help but feel for his plight while also condemning the morally bankrupt things he does.
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A Modern Edge
The Serpent Queen keeps its feet firmly placed in modernity with its contemporary language/cadence, physicality and music. I’m a sucker for a period piece with a modern edge. Season 2 uses these elements to great effect, allowing us to relate to these characters and, let’s face it, timeless issues. Wars are still fought in the name of religion, politicians are corrupt and misogyny, racism and homophobia still exist. The show’s usage of contemporary language makes these people who lived centuries ago feel more accessible.
In addition to religion and politics, Season 2 deftly explores queer discrimination and repression, along with upholding societal gender norms. Women are still under the thumb of the patriarchy; however, they are still four-dimensional, tenacious characters. They are strong in their own right. Catherine, Elizabeth I (Driver) and Antoinette Guise (Beth Goddard) always call the shots, surreptitiously manipulating the men above them. It’s so fun to watch.
Catherine hits new lows this season, struggling to maintain her power and acknowledge her hubris. Watching her rise from the ashes and discover new ways to remain relevant is a blast, too.
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The Characters
Newcomer Ashley Thomas, who plays Alessandro de Medici, is charming as hell. With a voice like silk, he gets deliciously fun scenes and juicy dialogue. Another standout is Philippine Velge as the sweet Margot, who finds herself swept up in the cutthroat political world around her. Driver doesn’t get as much screen time as Elizabeth I as I’d like, nor does she have that many scenes with Morton’s Catherine, but she does well with the material. She brings a flippant, devil-may-care attitude to Elizabeth.
Everyone brings their A-game to the table, though. Morton steers the ship once again, being our eyes and ears into this rip-roaring yet terrifying world of royals. She still provides those fourth-wall breaks, although not as frequently as Season 1. Morton doesn’t get quite as much verbal sparring this go-round. However, she makes good use of the cutting one-liners she does have.
And, as usual, nobody says what they mean, so all you subtext lovers will enjoy reading between the lines (I know I did).
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Patience Is a Virtue
The Serpent Queen Season 2 takes its time putting the chess pieces in place on the chessboard. Don’t expect it to barrel forward at a breakneck pace from start to finish, but don’t also expect it to move like a snail. Season 2 finds a nice middle ground, pacing-wise. In addition, it strikes a great balance between humor and drama.
Keep your eye on those chess pieces and who knocks them aside because, trust me, there are so many politically-fueled twists and turns that, by the time the chessboard is on the ground, you won’t know what hit you. The season builds toward an explosive finale to, dare I say it, rival Game of Thrones‘ The Red Wedding. As a whole, this season doesn’t lack action and violence.
Strap in, folks. The Serpent Queen Season 2 is a slightly different, perhaps more evolved beast, but it takes us on a wild ride throughout its eight episodes. Here’s hoping we get a third season.
The Serpent Queen Season 2 premieres on Friday, July 12, at 8 pm EST/PST on STARZ.
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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