‘The Serpent Queen’ Recap: ‘All Saints Day’

8/31/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Samantha Morton as Queen Regent Catherine de Medici in Episode 208 of ‘The Serpent Queen’ – ‘All Saints Day’. (Photo Courtesy of STARZ.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season Two Finale of ‘The Serpent Queen’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.

Over the course of the past two years, we’ve learned a lot about Queen Regent Catherine de Medici via the STARZ series, The Serpent Queen. For instance, we learned she came from humble beginnings and defied incredible odds… to find herself standing amongst titans in the French Court. We also learned she was cunning and intelligent and knew how to read a room and a situation in order to benefit herself, and we also learned she used those skills to become the Queen Regent of France and maintain peace for some time despite having usurpers and irritations nipping at the heels of her power. So more or less, we have learned she was one of the most resourceful royals in history and was ahead of her time. Since modern politics are flush with people who harbor some elements of her journey.

But what we’ve been patiently waiting to see… is how she truly earned the moniker of ‘The Serpent Queen.’ For while she has been wily and ruthless in matters of state, we’ve not seen the brutal nature she is known for and we’ve never fully understood how she got to that point. But that all changed during last night’s episode of the show. For the season two finale finally showcased how Catherine earned that title and that made ‘All Saints Day’ quite the incredible tale. One that used deception to lull both the audience and the King’s Court into a sense of safety. For early on, it appeared as though… nothing of dark consequence was going to happen. After all, Rahima showcased the King’s order to hand Edith the Regency, to Edith, and she also let Edith know she would have safe passage to the city.

Back in the castle, life was going on as dysfunctional as ever, as well. Since the Guises were plotting to steal Margot’s virginity. All so the wedding would not take place, and power could be maintained because that was simply how they do, and that plan seemingly worked. Since Margot and the Duke gave into carnal pleasures and enjoyed them long enough to be caught by the King. Who was furious that such an act happened behind his back, when warnings and protections were issued by him, and he in turn ordered Margot to marry Henri and bring peace. For Charles was also grasping at straws in this tale to have some kind of legacy, and agency, with death on the horizon and well, Catherine’s lack of intervention on Margot’s actions made it seem as though the moniker related to serpentine actions over brutality. Since she did want this kind of chaos to take place.

All of which brought forth one epic and royal wedding. One that saw Margot suffer but obey and one that seemingly prepared France for an ascension and transfer of power. For Edith was ready to have her due, and Catherine was still willing to give it. Not to mention Catherine was kind to all, and full of forgiveness and well… that seemed to be the end of her Regency, and the end of the rule of her family for all time. But alas, that was the trick. That was the genesis point of the Serpent Queen. Wherein she used guile via grace to get everyone to trust her and get everyone to gather gently in the castle where she could control the narrative and control lives. For all this time, she had been deeply pondering and hatching an incredible and stunning plan to save her standing as the leader of France and to offer vengeance to those who dared to cross her and well, when the hour was right… the coiled Serpent Queen struck true… and shocked all of France.

Raza Jaffrey as François de Guise in Episode 208 of ‘The Serpent Queen’ – ‘All Saints Day’. (Photo Courtesy of STARZ.)

Because just like that, Edith’s throat was slit, by Catherine no less and all her enemies were dealt with. For she and Anjou staged an attack from the House of Guise, and that brought about murder and mayhem. Wherein Alessandro paid for his treachery, where the Bourbons were stabbed and slashed and even Montmorency paid the ultimate price for even attempting to challenge Catherine. And of course… the Guises were locked away for their crime and the bloodshed didn’t end there. For all of Edith’s followers were slaughtered, an order from the King no less. For when Charles learned that Catherine did this, she spoke to what lie ahead, specifically revolt, and no King wants that. Plus, even Rahima paid the price for betrayal, by being locked away for all time with a de Medici growing inside of her, and the Catholic League was disbanded through execution.

Giving rise… to the birth of the Serpent Queen. A ruthless queen that let no one stand in her way and that made… for one stunning and shocking season finale. One that in some ways, speaks to the old idiom of be careful what you wish for. Because we did wish for this moment and wow… did it turn out to be far darker than expected. But that is what Catherine was known for and now we know how she got there and hopefully we get a third season of the show to showcase what an unleashed Serpent Queen did upon the throne, and to see how those that did survive, since apparently the Bourbons cannot die, challenge her and her newfound super power. But while we wait, we can applaud truly the best episode of the series to date. For not only did it offer up an epic bloodbath born from vengeance and fury, but this episode was filled with incredible performances across the board, with Samantha Morton putting in some of her finest work here. For there are moments where Catherine’s fury is simply chilling, but Samantha is one of the best in the business.

In the end however, this was simply a sublime and powerful story, one that truly stands as a flawless end to a two-year journey. One that spoke to how struggle, strife and a fight to be more… while noble… can indeed bring about real darkness and real sorrow. When of course, the person fighting for that agency is tested in all the wrong ways and seen as a nuisance over a guiding hand. Making this also, a tragedy and a cautionary tale. Of the trappings of ambition and greed, and a fine reminder of what happens… when we take broken people with the best of intentions in their heart… and tear them down, deny them agency and marginalize them… and push them beyond their breaking point.

Watch ‘The Serpent Queen’

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