‘The Serpent Queen’ Recap: ‘Time With the Family’

8/10/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Enzo Clienti and Samantha Morton as Ruggieri and Catherine de Meidici in Episode 205 of ‘The Serpent Queen’ – ‘Time With the Family’. (Photo Courtesy of STARZ.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 205 of ‘The Serpent Queen’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.

Sometimes in this life, when we are trying to put together an agenda and lead a group of people forward, something unfortunate happens. In that, those we wish to lead, outright rebel against everything we are attempting to put together. It could be because we have assembled the wrong mix of individuals, and they simply won’t work in a team setting. It could be because we haven’t been that great of a teacher and their rebellion relates to a lack of knowledge. Or it could be, because they have a grand agenda they wish to follow and have been riding our coattails in the hopes of usurping leadership at the first possible opportunity. But regardless of the core reason, this can happen, and it is a jarring moment for certain.

Simply because it catches one by surprise and leaves us unsure of what to do, and there are indeed a bevy of options available to us if this happens. In that, we can acknowledge our failure, clear the room and start over from scratch. Apologize and try to find common ground, or outright quit and start over period because what’s fallen to pieces is not salvageable. All of which are reasonable options that make sense in the modern world because of how often we can reinvent ourselves. But for some folks, those are not viable options. Not when lives and fates are on the line, and that prompts them to take a different option to keep a status quo, one that is brutal in nature, as evidenced by the next episode of The Serpent Queen on STARZ.

For ‘Time With the Family’ saw the delicate peace and control that Catherine de Medici has worked so hard to build, begin to fall to pieces due to outright rebellion. Primarily because the assassination attempt on Edith failed. But also, her enemies had influence, and so many others wanted agency and power, and that was indeed a perfect storm in which to bring forth quite the rebellion. The kind that saw Angelica testify before the Privy Council regarding what she was influenced to do. Which infuriated the king since he didn’t sanction assassination in the slightest and of course, set forth a divide amongst the room, and pure fury directed at Catherine. Which put her in that tough spot, wherein she had to make a quick decision and well, she made the most shocking decision possible amid such incredible tension and fury.

Bill Milner, Philippine Velge, Stanley Morgan, Minnie Driver, and Alex Price as King Charles IX, Margot, Anjour, Queen Eliabeth I, and Lord Throckmorton in Episode 205 of ‘The Serpent Queen’ – ‘Time With the Family’. (Photo Courtesy of STARZ.)

In that, she would step down from the council and let the King rule without her ‘mistakes.’ Which brought forth shock and more trouble behind the scenes. Some of which related to the sheer stupidity of the members of the council. Since the Cardinal somehow thought Edith’s survival was divine and that he was following the wrong faith, prompting him to be baptized as protestant. But more so because Catherine’s void on the council allowed for people to make swift moves and shore up their own agenda. Which brought the queen of England to the shores of France and saw Edith make a power play against the Bourbons. Not to mention, Elizabeth’s arrival made it clear that war was coming, and well, that was Catherine’s worst case scenario, and she truly seemed helpless since everyone else’s desire to be at the top left her abandoned.

But that was merely an attempt to showcase weakness. To give Catherine a moment to step back and observe the situation objectively and let everyone show their respective hands to give her a chance to ponder upon a solution, and what she came up with… was diabolical. For she came to understand that if a room of selfish men and selfish children weren’t going to appreciate her insight and give her what she wanted… then she would use the powers granted to her to avert war and create a status quo. Which she accomplished by first, getting Anjou on the council so that constant bickering would get nothing stupid accomplished and leave the council at a stalemate… and… she would also begin to marry off her children. For marriage always averted war in this era of history, and that led to Elizabeth tying the knot with a badly brain damaged Philip, and she also set forth a plan, to have Charles marry the queen of England.

All of which was within her right. After all, in that age, a woman’s understanding of love and marriage was cherished over her mind and her understanding of the world. So, she simply leaned into her queen duties and in the process, averted all-out war., and in many ways… regained control without a single person knowing. Which brought forth, one amazing episode, one that truly lived up to the title of the show. For this was indeed a slithering and slippery maneuver that only a serpent could accomplish, and it does leave us eager to see what lies ahead. For now, Catherine has found a new path forward, one that is brilliant and brutal in unique ways, and we simply must know what kind of wonders she will accomplish with her mind and her bravery as season two continues along. Until next time.

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