Catherine's New Alliances Create a "Second Coming" in 'The Serpent Queen'

The Serpent Queen’s second episode of Season 2 sees Francois Guise completely destroy the Protestant church run by the secular preacher, Edith, a powerful demonstration of Catholic might. Both Ruggieri and Montmorency visit the smoldering ruins. Montmorency reports to Catherine that there are no survivors (there are also no remains, which seems odd) and that the fire was no accident.

Ruggieri: "Since the beginning of time, hatred has been the easiest story to tell."

Meanwhile, the young French King Charles is missing. Catherine knows, but has no proof, that the Guises Bros are responsible for the fire, and she is also furious with their rivals, the Bourbon Bros, whose bright idea it was to take Charles to the church as a gesture of goodwill. At a tense Privy Council meeting, Montmorency threatens to kill Francois Guise if he’s found guilty, and when the meeting is over, Catherine tells him in private that he has her permission to cut Francois’s throat. But Catherine is frustrated: “I had been played by all of them.”

Then Charles shows up. Brace yourselves; we’ll spend some time in the Royal Kids’ playroom. As usual, they are bored and bickering, not too interested in how their big brother and King escaped a fiery death. (It appears he ran away). They are fully aware that the Guises are behind the church attack but are more interested in trivialities. Princess Elisabeth (Laura Marcus) is fitted with a new dress, which is naturally more important than an impending civil war. Anjou insists on trying it on, claiming it will suit him better. Margot dabs rouge onto his lips, and Jeanne d’Albret, Queen of Navarre, enters the room with her son Henri to admire this charming family cross-dressing scene and is shocked at their behavior. (When is Catherine going to do something about her horrible children? She adores her heir because he always does what he’s told, but she needs to get the rest of them married off or sent elsewhere to become adults.)

Ruggieri visits Catherine at the palace, and she is not pleased to see him. At this point, the last thing she needs is to be accused of dabbling in the dark arts. But he was there, watching the church burn, and he understood that now it was time for different tactics. Catherine insists that the people need unity, even if they don’t know what she’s trying to do. He is skeptical. Antoine Bourbon doesn’t want a war, but neither he nor his brother Louis understand what their next step should be. Should they pretend to convert to Catholicism as a bluff? Just in case, Louis tries on his armor, and he’s bulked up since he last wore it and looks like an egg. 

After swearing to duty and brotherhood, they have run out of ideas, but Catherine visits them with a proposition. Everyone knows Francois Guise is to blame for the fire, but no survivors or witnesses exist. She gives the Bourbons permission to begin negotiations with England, although she will have the ultimate word on any decisions. Antoine tells her he’s already arranged for his wife to use her contacts at the English court. Antoine and Jeanne are not getting along well – she’s much more intelligent than he is – and he’s delighted to get rid of her. Their son Henri will stay in France with his father.

Next, Catherine visits the Guises Bros and their mother, Antoinette. Catherine knows Francois is guilty; she’s angry that the peace she has worked hard to establish has been almost destroyed. She tells them that the Bourbons’ trade deal with England is underway, and to keep the peace, the Guises and other Catholic nobles will finance the stupendous, costly new palace Catherine plans to build in Paris. If they refuse, Francois will be arrested and executed. Essentially, Catherine argues, they’ve forced her hand. The Guises complain that Montmorency is a loose cannon and he’ll do what he wants. Although we all know Montmorency is seeking revenge and grieving for Edith, Catherine dismisses their fears but can’t escape the ruined church.

Catherine’s alliance building continues with a visit to Diane de Poitiers (Ludivine Sagnier), her cousin/former rival for the late King’s love. Exiled from the court, Diane lives in high style and luxury, with Catherine’s former maid Angelica (Ruby Bentall) as lover/servant. Catherine is accompanied by Rahima, who learns Angelica is dissatisfied with her position since Diane’s banishment from the court. Diane plays the victim: “Everything I do is to ensure my children do not have to endure what I went through.” She also assures Catherine that she loves the royal children (and in fact, she spent a lot of time with them when they were younger.) Despite her banishment from court, Diane is still immensely wealthy, and Catherine pitches her to fund the new palace. 

Diane considers the offer but can only contribute if her daughter inherits her estate, freeing up her cash. It’s a deal; Catherine promises to change the law (which mandates sons inherit) and then mentions her upcoming fundraising trip to Italy. Since Diane is so fond of Catherine’s children, she can look after them while she is away. Caught in Catherine’s trap, Diane responds by whining about how they could never be friends and how deeply hurt she is. Do you think Catherine cares?

Thirdly, Catherine visits Charles and finds the guard reluctant to admit her, and with good reason. She finds Charles and his sister Elisabeth in the middle of some weird incestuous game and threatens to kill the guard’s children if he ever tells anyone what he knows. “Heavy is the crown,” she comments as she strides away.

Thomas asks Francois to meet in the forest, claiming he wants to explain why he betrayed him by selling his letters to his mother. But his real mission is to tell Francois there are survivors from the fire, and word is out that it’s a miracle, with Edith leading her congregation through the flames and smoke to safety. Francois only now realizes he’s been played and betrayed as Thomas explains he needed money for his sick father. He kisses Thomas and strangles him. As the camera moves away, we see Francois cradling Thomas’s body and stroking his hair.

But now, it’s time for Catherine to bid the Privy Council and her children farewell. She encourages Charles to act like a king and his brothers and sisters to respect him. As the group breaks up, with minimal name-calling between the Guise and Bourbon Bros, Margot approaches Francois. She asks him directly if he set the fire. No, he replies, he’s a soldier; he doesn’t kill women and children. Margot is flirtatious, which is worrying, and she seems to believe him. As Catherine leaves for Italy, Rahima tells her there are rumors that survivors from the fire have been seen. Catherine hopes it is only a rumor since her plans are centered on maintaining her interpretation of events. 

Unfortunately for her, deep in the forest at night, Francois finds the rumors are true. Edith and her congregation are in hiding, giving thanks for their miraculous escape. Holding the crowd spellbound, Edith proposes that corrupt kings or queens cannot remain in power and that the people must rise up. She looks straight into Francois’s eyes, and he turns and disappears into the forest.

The Serpent Queen Season 2 will release a new episode weekly on Fridays through August 30, 2024.