The Serpent Queen

Synopsis

Considered an immigrant, common and plain, Catherine de Medici is married into the 16th century French court as an orphaned teenager expected to bring a fortune in dowry and produce many heirs, only to discover that her husband is in love with an older woman, her dowry is unpaid and she’s unable to concieve. Yet, only with her intelligence and determination, she manages to keep her marriage alive and masters the bloodsport that is the monarchy better than anyone else, ruling France for 50 years.

First Air Date: 2022-09-11

Last Air Date: 2024-08-30

Number of Seasons: 2

Number of Episodes: 16

Created By: Justin Haythe

Networks: STARZ

View Technical Specifications on IMDb

Top Cast

Samantha Morton as Catherine de Medici
Amrita Acharia as Aabis
Barry Atsma as Anne de Montmorency
Enzo Cilenti as Cosimo Ruggeri
Nicholas Burns as Antoine de Bourbon
Danny Kirrane as Louis de Bourbon
Liv Hill as Young Catherine
Sennia Nanua as Rahima
Kiruna Stamell as Mathilde
Beth Goddard as Antoinette de Bourbon

Seasons

Season 1 (2022)

Catherine de' Medici marries into the French court as an orphaned teenager and is expected to bring in a fortune in dowry and produce heirs only to discover that her husband is in love with an older woman and that she cannot conceive children.

Episodes:

Ep. 1: Medici Bitch (2022-09-11)

Queen Catherine begins to tell the story of her life to Rahima, a servant girl, revealing how she came to enter the French Royal Court at the age of 14.
Ep. 2: To War Rather Than to Bed (2022-09-18)

Young Catherine begins to learn how to outwit the royal household in order to secure her future.
Ep. 3: The Price (2022-09-25)

Prince Henri returns from war with a new mistress, Filippa, and a baby. Catherine resorts to extreme measures to produce an heir.
Ep. 4: A New Era (2022-10-02)

Catherine has become a mother. King Francis suffers a fall from his horse while hunting with Henri and Catherine.
Ep. 5: The First Regency (2022-10-09)

King Henri departs to lead an army to defend France and places Catherine in charge as Regent, allowing her to test her powers further. Catherine asks Rahima to search Mary's room for a letter.
Ep. 6: The Last Joust (2022-10-16)

Catherine has a dream that predicts that her husband will be wounded while jousting. Catherine and Henri decide that their son Francis should delay his wedding to Mary.
Ep. 7: An Attack on the King (2022-10-23)

Mary visits Rahima and recounts her side of the story of life at the Royal Court. Catherine and Mary have conflicting views when it comes to freedom of religion in France.
Ep. 8: A Queen Is Made (2022-10-30)

The planned kidnapping of King Francis goes awry but Catherine devises a new plan to allow her control of the country.