‘The Serpent Queen’ Recap: ‘The First Regency’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘The Serpent Queen’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Over the course of the past couple of weeks, we’ve talked at length about how the STARZ series, The Serpent Queen has offered up a dynamic and unique examination regarding the journey that dark individuals take in life. Since we’ve been able to learn that the people who do bad in this world, aren’t always conducting twisted deeds, sometimes they live life like the rest of us and early on they struggle with their dark decisions. Or as was shown to us during this week’s episode of the show, sometimes… they try to step away from the darkness and try to conduct themselves as decent and wonderful people who want to do nothing more than the right thing, only to find themselves pushed toward the darkness.
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For when we catch up with Queen Catherine de’ Medici in ‘The First Regency’, she was given quite the set of gifts from her husband, the king. For Henri spoke to the fact that she was right… about everything, especially that a show of force was necessary against France’s enemies. Which meant he was going to need to head off into the field to fight for the honor of France and well… since she clearly had an eye for what he did not, and the intelligence and savvy to handle such matters, he decided she would be the Regent in his stead. Giving her a first real taste of power in running the kingdom of France and well, she quickly took this to heart and did her best to be a proper Regent.

Which meant… she worked to hold council meetings and opted to use those meetings to try and lead the country and of course to drum up support for something the king desperately needed at the front… money. For the war was quickly eating up resources. But sadly… the council paid her no mind and opted to do their best to manipulate her to fulfill their needs. A move that Catherine saw through immediately, which in turn prompted her to get creative to be a true and wondrous leader. Wherein she opted to step past the council altogether and address parliament, and the folks that were more ‘common’ in nature. For they had no voice and perhaps the promise of being able to speak to the king and express their concerns and needs, could pay off in spades and wouldn’t you know it? It did.

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For she received the support she needed for her husband and he in turn was able to win the day. Making Catherine appear to be a hero at last, leaving one to wonder… how on earth ugly can come from such a noble and joyous moment in her life. But a series of unfortunate moments, made it clear that sometimes… the will of one to be seen and honored, can create chaos, and potentially push a person deep into the darkness. For Diane felt the need to accompany the king on his journey, and even offered advice at the front. The kind that made the king look cowardly and indecisive in nature, and that brought about shaky ground for Diane when she returned with Henri. For his actual wife, made him look strong and honorable and that motivated Henri to give Catherine the respect she finally deserved.
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But alas, since Diane wasn’t privy to the deal that was made… when the day came to hear from a member of Parliament whose roots were grounded in hard work and determination and not money and nepotism… she in her lurid state (since she was also downing gold the way an athlete downs Gatorade) felt that disrespect was being paid to the King, and that brought forth a verbal and violent altercation. One where Diane killed that member of Parliament and was so broken by the moment that all of that unhealthy codependency she and the king shared came bubbling up to the surface and he was quick to protect her and bring her back into his stead and his bed. To the point where even he even pulled the gift of a new homestead away from his wife to satisfy his mistress. A move that left Catherine, once again beside herself.

Because once more… she was disrespected, cast off and forgotten, despite doing everything right and even playing the hero in this tale. But alas, this is the world she populates, one where her agency means nothing in the shadow of those who will push and fight to gain their own. Which likely means, we are continuing to inch toward the moment that Catherine realizes she must do unto others as they do unto her in a manner so terrifying, that others will think twice about such acts. Making this story a fascinating look at the corruption of the soul and how being pushed and prodded and broken repeatedly, removes all light from a soul, and it will be interesting to see what her breaking point is, and learn why she did what she did at the end of this tale as this fascinating series continues along. Until next time.

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