Critic’s Rating: 5 / 5.0
5
Watch out for the women of The Serpent Queen because they are poised and ready to strike without so much as a whisper of warning.
The Serpent Queen sets the series on fire and stokes the fabulous flames of family, fortune, and fashion.
“Second Coming” did not waste a single second between this episode and the previous one, picking up right after the events of the blazing premiere.
Catherine has quite a lot on her plate, but as seen in The Serpent Queen Season 2 Episode 2, she’s not the only mother capable of moving mountains for her motives.
The Serpent Queen Slithers onto the Small Screen With Graceful Viciousness
The series continues to set itself apart from other period pieces with its standard of carefully crafted sets for the otherwise whimsical characters that parade through each scene.
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From the hair, wardrobe, and general gesticulation, The Serpent Queen raises a delicate hand for audiences to join in this ridiculously entertaining story.
The main issue with many period dramas is that the pace can grind to an exhaustive halt with just one or two scenes of flowery words that confuse more than thrill.
However, the Starz series keeps a tight grip on viewers’ attention by never letting a moment go by without pomp and circumstance.
Some might have said that fast-forwarding the series right after the premiere season was a risk, but The Serpent Queen is reaping the rewards.
After only two episodes, the season is rich with possible storylines and plots created by the simplest gestures and looks.
The most remarkable signal of a fantastic series is when you have a cast of characters that could each easily lead a series of their own.
The strength of The Serpent Queen lies in its complex and captivating characters, who bring next-level drama to every conversation and deliver decadent dialogue.
Messy Mothers Make for Messy Men
There are mama bears who will fight fiercely for their children, and then there are black mamba mamas who will strike once and then watch the poison set in as the light dies from their victim’s eyes.
Catherine may be the Serpent Queen, but where there is one snake, more are not far, and in this series, the garden is brimming with venom.
For starters, there is Antoinette Guise, who manages to eviscerate and dictate with just about every word to her sons despite her soft voice.
With a sweet smile, Lady Guise is the personification of “mother knows best,” going as far as blackmailing Francoise in The Serpent Queen Season 2 Episode 1.
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However, watching Antionette, played by Beth Goddard (Outlander), go toe-to-toe with Catherine was like watching an entire battle.
But in their case, their weapons are words, and instead of bloodshed, there’s shade and sarcastic devastation.
Then there is Antoine’s wife, Jeanne d’Albret, who is as subtle as a shotgun and just as attention-grabbing.
From how her husband fears her to how her son follows her every command, with Jeanne barely uttering a word, this mother is not one to mess with.
Surprisingly, though, Catherine displayed genuine affection towards her children in this episode, especially Charles, who was just as shocked as we were based on the look on his face.
Still, she wouldn’t be Catherine if she didn’t turn around and use that soft touch to smack the ever-living crap out of someone as she did at the beginning of “Second Coming.”
The Kids, the Court, and The Council are Not Alright, but They Keep it Tight
The Serpent Queen is home to a whole roster of amazing and hilarious characters who are not shy about having hidden agendas and motives.
Sometimes, siblings play the nastiest tricks, but in the case of Catherine’s children, there seems to be an honest bond despite its tenuous nature.
Sure, the siblings might rip and tear into one another on occasion, but how else are the cubs of a lioness supposed to play with each other?
Speaking of siblings, the Guise brothers seem to have perfected the idea of complementary agendas as they work to keep the country under the Church’s thumb.
After that exchange between Francoise, played by Raza Jaffrey (Code Black), and Margot, played by Philippine Velge (Station Eleven), things could get messy.
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Despite Francoise’s puppy dog eyes and calm nature, the man is one of the most dangerous characters, willing to burn innocent people and kill his former lover.
If he’s capable of going that far to keep his secrets, he’s certainly not above playing it straight to influence and possibly control one of Catherine’s daughters.
If he goes down that route, heaven help him because The Serpent Queen is likely to rain down hellfire for her children and country.
The Church is set to Challenge The Serpent Queen for Total Dominion
Beyond characters motivated by maniacal machinations, The Serpent Queen’s real and true threat is the Church and its desperate hold on the people.
To go as far as to lock innocent people in a church before setting it ablaze and then watching as the flames burn is some Old Testament type of tyranny.
It’s no big secret that, historically speaking, religion has been at the forefront of war and genocide throughout the centuries, and The Serpent Queen isn’t trying to sugarcoat it.
The Church wants the people, the country, and total power, and burning down one Church is likely only the start.
None of which will win Charles or Francoise any favor with the cold and calculated Catherine, played by the sensational Samantha Morton (The Walking Dead).
It looks like it was a failed attempt, especially since it only encouraged the survivors and assured them that they walk with the Lord.
But did you catch that little preacher girl’s side eye right there at the end?
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Oh, Francoise. You done did it now.
There is nothing so dangerous as a group of people that feel they were divinely chosen by God to survive the flames meant to leave them as ash.
Things are about to heat up in a bad way for the Guise boys because where there is smoke, there is fire, and Catherine will throw gasoline on the inferno to burn them up if she has to.
Only two episodes in, The Serpent Queen is blazing a trail of lies, luxury, and deadly leading ladies.
How far do you think the catholic Church is willing to go to see their agenda and goals met?
Were you as surprised as we were that everyone in the protestant Church survived the fire?
Drop a comment below to let us know, and join us again when we review the next episode of The Serpent Queen!
