The Serpent Queen (2022)

The Season 1 finale of The Serpent Queen pulls one final trick with the show's narration device -- in Episode 8, "A Queen Is...

'The Serpent Queen' Season 1 Ending Explained: Everything That Happened In "A Queen Is Made"

As The Serpent Queen’s framing device gets closer than ever to its present-day shenanigans, Season 1, Episode 7, “An Attack on the King”...

'The Serpent Queen' Season 1, Episode 7 Recap - What Happened in "An Attack on the King"

Throughout its first season, The Serpent Queen has toyed with the supernatural, but only as a metaphor for a notorious monarch’s complicated legacy....

'The Serpent Queen' Season 1, Episode 6 Recap - What Happened in "The Last Joust"

In The Serpent Queen episode 4, a welcome time jump knocked the narrative forward 15 years and welcomely cast Samantha Morton as Catherine...

'The Serpent Queen' Season 1, Episode 5 Recap - What Happened in "The First Regency"

If I’ve had a persistent complaint about The Serpent Queen thus far, it’s that there hasn’t been enough Samantha Morton. Season 1, Episode...

'The Serpent Queen' Season 1, Episode 4 Recap - What Happened in "A New Era"

Things are, I think it’s fair to say, looking up for Rahima. After maiming the cook who was rude to her with the...

'The Serpent Queen' Season 1, Episode 3 Recap - What Happened in "The Price"

It can’t be just me who thinks that the framing device of The Serpent Queen is much more interesting than the flashbacks to...

'The Serpent Queen' Season 1, Episode 2 Recap - What Happened in "To War Rather Than to Bed"

If there’s anyone who suits a voluminous black dress spewing literal serpents, it’s probably Samantha Morton – which is more of a compliment...

'The Serpent Queen' Season 1, Episode 1 Recap - What Happened in "Medici Bitch"?

The reason the Red Wedding became such a cultural phenomenon is that nobody really saw it coming. Sure, anyone who had read the...

'The Serpent Queen' Season 2 Ending Explained - A Bloody and Brilliant Climax

It’s fair to say that Episode 7 of The Serpent Queen Season 2, “A House Divided”, is not a pleasant one for Catherine...

Recap: Catherine Lives Up To Her Name In 'The Serpent Queen' Season 2, Episode 7

I have little hesitation in declaring Episode 6 of The Serpent Queen Season 2, “Courting the Valois”, the best thus far. Most of...

Recap: 'The Serpent Queen' Season 2, Episode 6 Is The Best Yet

Generally speaking, I like The Serpent Queen quite a bit, but something occurred to me in Episode 5 of Season 2 that gave...

Recap: 'The Serpent Queen' Shifts Focus In Season 2, Episode 5

One of the appeals of historical fiction is that knowledge of real-world events can do a lot of dramatic heavy lifting. It’s easy...

Recap: 'The Serpent Queen' Season 2 Kicks Into A New Gear In Episode 4

“Death of a Prince” finally introduces Minnie Driver’s Queen Elizabeth I, which is a big-ish deal since The Serpent Queen Season 2 has...

Recap: Elizabeth I Makes An Appearance In 'The Serpent Queen' Season 2, Episode 3

Season 2 of The Serpent Queen got off to a wild start by burning down a Protestant church that may or may not...

Recap: 'The Serpent Queen' Season 2, Episode 2 Builds Up Steam

Blessedly, Season 2 of The Serpent Queen opens with a minutes-long recap of the first season. Episode 1, “Grand Tour”, is a reminder...

Recap: 'The Serpent Queen' Season 2 Begins With A Grand Tour