The darker parts of Catherine’s nature scare the crap out of me. She’s sinister and she’s unforgiving, terrifying, manipulative and self serving. She’s definitely The Serpent Queen.
There is no one scarier than a woman with little left to loose, but there is still something scary about a woman trying to hang onto power. And Catherine, is desperately trying so hard to hang onto some sense of power.
And crush anyone that stands in her way.
This time, we’re hearing from Mary, she’s telling Rahima about things from her point of view. Now, one thing that I have learned really quickly with this show is that you can’t trust anyone and even when you feel the need to do so, don’t.
Mary has told the story of how she came to be Queen of France. The thing about these two Queens, Mary or Catherine, is that they are both manipulative people. They both want what they want, when they want it.
Mary tells the story of the day that Henry died. She claims that Henry allowed himself to get hurt, because he believed that Catherine wanted him gone. Diane on the other hand, she couldn’t accept what was and really was sad that he was gone.
For the first time we see Diane actually act like she loves Henry. Maybe she has, maybe she hasn’t. Personally, I don’t think that Diane ever loved Henry. I think that she loved the control that she had over Henry, because she had no control over her own life.
Diane, I don’t like her. I don’t trust her. But I do feel bad for her. I feel bad because as much as I think she kept Henry a boy, I do believe that she also wanted to be powerful, because something happened to her in her past. Whatever the past was, whatever changed her, feels like it would have been interesting to know.
But it’s also not her story.
They can’t remove the stake that is through Henry’s eye, without endangering his life. Though one would argue leaving it in is equally as dangerous. But they do not know what is happening in medicine in those times, so there is that.
Diane can’t accept that anything could be wrong with Henri and has a banquet for him, saying that he got better. It’s a miracle, she proclaims. But Henri isn’t better and he’s put on display to die in a room full of people. It’s honestly hard to watch – him die, Diane’s hysteria, and Catherine’s coldness.
Up until Henry’s death and seeing the despair on her face, I didn’t think that Diane was capable of loving anyone but herself. She seemed to be hurt, angry, and alone. Everyone around seemed to stare, and Catherine… well she was just cold and told Diane that the King was dead.
The funeral occurs and let’s just say that the Holy Roman Emperor is one of the worst. He’s apparently turned on by funerals, finds them to be hot. He’s straight up hitting on Catherine and I am just like wanting to vom. This whole thing is just uncomfortable.
And we’re not talking like wearing your standing pants when you need to sit down uncomfortable. We’re talking like second hand embarrassment and peaking through your fingers kinda not wanting to acknowledge what is happening here.
The funeral ends and this means that Diane will be leaving court, it also meant that Mary was set to become Queen and she has complete control over Francis, the new King. I admit that I find this is characterization of Mary to be annoying and gross. She’s exerting herself over Francis in order to get what she wants.
And where as I can’t say something bad about that – because we all use our wiles to get what we want, doesn’t mean I can’t be rolling my eyes at Mary.
I just didn’t see her being this person that made all these political moves, but seven episodes into this show, you would think that I would know that is what is happening, with everyone.
Mary encourages Francis to make being a Protestant illegal in France. Though, people try to discourage this action, Francis is under Mary’s spell and does just that. He doesn’t stop Mary when she continues to make things worse, by dismissing part of the privy council, because they are Protestant.
Everyone is worried about Francis’s choices, but the thing is Catherine, as per usual takes it to an extreme. She initiates her son getting kidnapped, and the Bourbons are to negotiate his release.
What a Mom of the year move (not).
Is Catherine going to come to her senses? Who knows. Because it really partially seems as though she does and then it seems like she doesn’t. I think that Catherine is only out for herself.
But then again, both Queens are. Mary is out to control everything that she can. Catherine the same. I am just confused as to what role that Rahima is truly playing, because she seems to be a pawn for them both.
I mean after all, they are both sending Rahima into the lions den in order to try to find the things that help them both. Catherine and Mary are both using her to get what they need.
French court is a bitch.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- Mary is cray and she’s legit unpredictable.
- The Guises and Bourbons fighting was hilarious, but also like not what I expected.
- Henry with the stake in his eye. My stomach can’t handle that.
- Francis needs to learn to stand on his own two feet.
- I legitimately am weirded out that I feel bad for Diane.
- Henry and Catherine’s scene made me feel uncomfortable. I feel like that was forced.
The Serpent Queen airs on Starz.