The Serpent QueenSeason 1 Episode 7, “An Attack on the King,” raises the stakes considerably as the court is thrown into chaos and Mary exercises her power. It’s an episode that permanently alters the course of Catherine’s life.
“An Attack on the King” engages a different narrative approach by having Mary Queen of Scots tell her side of the story to Rahima. Antonia Clarke takes the Mary Sue trope and turns it on its head, depicting Mary’s overabundance of piety as a flawed marker of a kingdom’s downfall rather than a blemish-free trait.
CATHERINE: The darker parts of my nature will always ensure my survival … and yours.
This outing shines a light on religious persecution and extremism. Mary takes on a Hitler-esque quality as she endeavors to eradicate Protestants from France, both lowborn and highborn. It’s bone-chilling watching her shrug off Francis’s privy council’s pleas to refrain from “making an example” with more Protestant murders.
Clarke portrays Mary as a devout “good girl” who perpetually appears as if she’s teetering on the line between passivity and full-on snapping. She captivates whenever she’s onscreen, holding us in her thrall as we wait for her next move.
“An Attack on the King” is about the women, as is all of The Serpent Queen. These women pull the strings of their men from positions with ostensibly less power, yet this episode showcases how much they genuinely influence governmental proceedings and the whole of France. Additionally, the lengths they travel to ensure their success proves their mettle and unrestrained ambition.
CHARLES V: A child with a sense of religious destiny is like a four-year-old running around a barn with a lit torch. I will wind her up and watch that silly girl burn this country to the ground.
Samantha Morton dishes out her fair share of venomous, layered, textured drama, with her sparring partner Ludivine Sagnier departing court following Henri’s death. Sagnier doles out a frenetic performance, injecting every bit of herself into Diane and her pain when Henri dies in her arms.
Rupert Everett also proves to be a worthy sparring partner for Morton. He portrays Charles V as a sleazy, power-hungry monarch who desires to watch France burn. All in all, the performances in this episode are the season’s best — everyone delivers the goods and keeps us invested in these characters.
“An Attack on the King” isn’t short on political and religious intrigue, as the two often go hand-in-hand. The tireless, perpetually-churning machine of the government whirs on as the court scrambles to keep everything intact after Henri’s gruesome death. There’s a lack of empathy in it, depicting that time’s harsh realities and cutthroat atmosphere.
MATHILDE: Are you sure about that? I suggest you do not underestimate me.
It’s everyone for themselves, and we see that come into play on more than one occasion in this episode. Even Mathilde starts spying on Catherine for Mary to save herself from the Queen of Scots’ relentless, militant crusade to wipe out an entire faith. Catherine joins forces with the Bourbons to kidnap her son so that Mary might see reason, while Antoinette leaves her lover Antoine in the dust to save her skin.
“An Attack on the King” deftly propels the narrative forward in an exciting direction for the series finale while maintaining its finger on the pulse of its characters, never shorting them on intriguing development or a chance to utter a scathing, quote-worthy line while glaring balefully into the distance.
It’s a reminder that shows don’t have to sacrifice their characters for a juicy plot. Instead, both can be entwined for a deliciously wicked, entertaining hour of television. So much of this episode (and series) asks us to read between the lines. It allows us to engage and immerse ourselves in this exciting world.
So, as we head into the finale, what do we think Catherine and Ruggieri have in store for Rahima? Is Rahima playing both Mary and Catherine (my money’s on “yes”)? Who will win this two-person war? Only time — and next Sunday — will tell.
Stray Observations:
- They said it! They said the thing — Catherine’s known as “The Serpent Queen.” Gotta love it when the title of the show is mentioned in said show.
- That physical altercation between the Guises and Bourbons is hilarious, especially since it’s over Antoine’s affair with François and Charles’s mother. Something about it gives off distinct “I boned your mom” vibes. Charles de Bourbon screaming how he and his sons aren’t “pig f*ckers” is another funny bit. There’s an inherently modern sensibility and humor to this series, which works well even with the period piece aesthetics.
- Charles V is such a creeper that he gets his rocks off on women grieving at funerals. The urge to slap him would’ve been great, so hats off to Catherine for exercising restraint.
- 16th century aside, why would you force someone to attend a dinner party after removing a hunk of wood from their eye socket? That sounds like torture.
What did you think of this episode of The Serpent Queen? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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The Serpent Queen streams every Sunday on Starz.
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Melody McCune
Hello! My name is Melody and I love TV! Maybe too much. I'm the Managing Editor for a small entertainment site called Geek Girl Authority and an Independent Contractor for Sideshow Collectibles. Additionally, I have bylines in Culturess, Widget, and inkMend on Medium. I love cheese. I love lamp.
