Elizabeth I is "Courting the Valois" in 'The Serpent Queen'

Episode 6 of The Serpent Queen opens with Antoine Bourbon, still feeling the effects of the night before and Ruggiero’s drugged wine. Queen Elizabeth of England and her entourage sweep through the corridors as his brother, Louis, insists she can’t possibly be here; she’s in Flanders awaiting orders. As the Bourbon bros realize they’ve been duped, Henry, Antoine’s son, puts it together; they were drugged so dark deeds – marrying Princess Elisabeth to Philip of Spain – could be carried out. Catherine’s children are outraged, but she explains if they don’t ally with the English Queen, the Bourbons, the leading Protestant family, will strengthen their relationship with Elizabeth and take control. 

Elizabeth I: “How are you all not as fat as swine?”

It’s a duel between two powerful queens, with marriage as the weapon. Forget about marrying for love, as Margot wishes to do. Mother knows best, and her son Charles is to marry Queen Elizabeth, uniting the Tudor and Valois dynasties.

Rumors are flying that Cardinal Charles de Guise was baptized by Edith, who brought France to the brink of civil war. Charles is in a spiritual crisis, and he visited Edith’s encampment, where she is reading St. John’s Gospel, translated into French. (One of the goals of the Protestant movement is for anyone to be able to read the scriptures in their own language). Charles confesses he’s done terrible things in the name of God, a God whom he does not believe in. He yearns to turn around his worthless life and be helpful; Edith tells him to return to the court and report back. However, the Catholic League of France dropped in on his mother, looking into Charles’s recent behavior. His life could be in danger.

Elizabeth is formally presented on Throckmorton’s arm, splendidly dressed and full of sass, commenting on Catherine’s lovely home and delicious French food. Anjou asks what brought her to France; she responds that she was in Holland and might as well stop by. Louis Bourbon reminds everyone that the Privy Council has not cleared any potential marriage (nor Princess Elisabeth’s recent wedding). Throckmorton intervenes; they are merely formalizing arrangements made during Louis’s visit. Louis responds they never discussed marriage; Elizabeth simpers and murmurs, “The heart wants what the heart wants.” Catherine sighs in relief; it’s much easier when someone else does the job for you.

Antoinette de Guise says she has no objection to the proposed marriage but is concerned about Mary Queen of Scots. Elizabeth turns the responsibility of Mary’s position to Throckmorton, who offers to take care of her in exchange for Calais, formerly part of England. Montmorency opposes this suggestion – Calais is under French law. Although Throckmorton wants to hammer out the details of the proposed trade deal, Elizabeth prefers to discuss the marriage, suggesting they get to know each other better. Charles agrees, and Catherine proposes a hunt the next day, just family (AKA, without Throckmorton).

Margot meets with Francois for more push-pull (she’s too good for an evil man like him, etc.). His mother, Antoinette, interrupts, warning him about the visit from the Catholic League and ordering him to get his brother to shape up. Meanwhile, Louis visits Elizabeth, who dismisses the servants and dogs and announces ominously: “I’m onto you.”

The Bourbons worry about Edith’s learning of the proposed marriage between Elizabeth and Charles; it will be seen as a betrayal. Elizabeth tells Louis she’ll marry Charles and return to England. However, she will need a business manager to manage the store, meaning Louis. He preens a little, excited at the thought of the Tudors and Bourbons becoming rich together. He will take four wagonloads of weapons to Edith as leverage; if he refuses, Elizabeth will reveal he committed a little light treason. (AKA: signing the trade agreement with her). “Now make yourself useful,” she tells him. (Louis obliges in precisely the manner you assume she meant.) 

Francois finds his brother praying again; Charles assures him Edith is the real deal and oddly, isn’t alarmed when Francois tells him he knows he’s Edith’s spy. Instead, he suggests his brother meet Edith. Francois responds with the warning the Catholic League has targeted him.

The next day, the Court gathers for the hunt. Charles and Elizabeth get on quite well, with the English queen agreeing to hash out the marriage agreement here and now. Watching the hunt depart, Alessandro tells Rahima that hunting doesn’t interest him, suggesting he offers her a world of infinite possibilities based on science (or something) to make the world bigger. She’s not impressed. Catherine is momentarily separated from the hunt and happens upon a bird’s nest where a raven eats a newly hatched snake — a bad omen. Simultaneously, there are shouts: Charles has fallen from his horse. Back at the palace, Catherine’s physician shares that he is concerned about the frail young King.

The Bourbons take Throckmorton to meet with Edith, who makes no distinction between England and France. Throckmorton insists that the talk of marriage between Elizabeth and Charles is just that: talk. As the weapons arrive, Edith thanks Throckmorton, but she doesn’t trust him. She invites Antoine to stay and read the scriptures, but he turns her down, and Henry, fascinated by Edith, accepts instead. (The dense Bourbon Bros suspect things aren’t going their way but assume their status protects them.) Meanwhile, Montmorency tells Edith accepting the weapons is treason, and she mistakes God’s voice for her own. He makes a last-ditch offer to convert if she meets with King Charles and is roundly ignored.

On the way to the Tuileries building site, Rahima mentions that Alessandro’s accounts have some discrepancies and offers to check them for Catherine. They find Elizabeth is already there, insisting she enjoys visiting Catherine’s brother. They beat a retreat, and Catherine has Angelica brought to her to demand the truth. Angelica confesses she told the Bourbons the poison was fake. Catherine is impressed and invites Angelica to return to her service, specifically to spy on Alessandro. She shuts Angelica up when she asks why Catherine doesn’t use Rahima: “Never ignore an instinct.” 

Rahima and Alessandro have a bedchamber accounting session. (Who says bookkeeping is dull?). Rahima, wearing a lovely but probably historically inaccurate nightgown, has found numerous discrepancies where Alessandro embezzled funds, only to be told it’s just taking a cut from business dealings for Catherine, the same as Rahima does. Alessandro insists he is a Medici, just illegitimate. He is apparently convincing: Rahima tells Catherine the next day the books are correct.

Another day of jolly family fun begins, with Elizabeth flirting with Anjou, wondering aloud if she’s chosen the right brother. Anjou says she wouldn’t know what to do with him; she assures him she would. (If you haven’t figured it out yet, the “Virgin Queen” nickname is just a figure of speech.) Charles interrupts them, jealous of his younger brother’s interest in his Queen-to-be. She declares all this unprocessed emotion “invigorating” and proposes the brothers duel.

Catherine is already having a bad day, having started it with one of Ruggieri’s straw totems on her pillow. When she confronted him, he responded it was a warning, as was the raven, a bird particularly associated with England. Catherine raged at him, snarling her soldiers would destroy his hut. Now worried about Charles’s health, she suggests he refuse the duel. Charles’ ego won’t allow that, claiming he’s well. (Even so, he tells Anjou to let him win, assuring him it’s not a joke, and his younger brother agrees.) Elizabeth announces she will marry the winner.

The two brothers fight in the blazing sunlight, and at first, they seem equally matched until Anjou tells Charles to back off. As they agreed, he’s allowing Charles to win, but now the King is becoming more aggressive. Charles responds by collapsing; when Catherine takes him in her arms, he’s spitting up blood. Sadly, it looks as though Catherine is about to lose another of her children at a time when enemies beset her, and she cannot afford to show weakness.

The Serpent Queen Season 2 continues with new episodes weekly on Fridays through August 30, 2024.