THE SERPENT QUEEN
IT FEELS GOOD TO BE BAD
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| Serpent Queen bows September 11th |
book Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France by Leonie Frieda. After it finishes, Dangerous Liaisons will take up the Sunday evening prime time premiere historical drama slot at Starz. IF YOU DON'T TEACH YOUR ENEMIES THEIR LESSON, THEY WILL NEVER LEARN
Scheming and cunning, Catherine de Medici was one of the most
powerful women in the world. After becoming an orphaned teenager from
the famous ruling family of Medici and then marrying into the 16th
century 
French court she is expected to bring a hefty dowry and produce
many heirs, but Catherine discovers her husband is already in love with
another woman and then, her dowry remains unpaid and she learns she is
unable to conceive. 
But with intelligence and determination, she keeps
her marriage alive, mastering the bloodsport of the monarchy and ruling
France for 50 years. In THE SERPENT QUEEN, Catherine tells her story
through flashbacks, 
defending her actions and imparting lessons she's
learned to her new servant, Rahima (Sennia Nanua). When her uncle Pope
Clement (Charles Dance) brokers her marriage and a geopolitical alliance
with France, but she learns on
her wedding night that her husband is in
love with Diane de Poitiers (Ludivine Sagnier), a stunningly beautiful
lady-in-waiting who is twice the king-to-be's age. Catherine is thrust
into a world where she must learn quickly 
who she can trust and seek to
outmaneuver anyone who underestimates her. The rest of the cast includes
Liv Hill as the younger version of Catherine, Antonia Clarke as
Catherine's daughter in law Mary Queen of Scots, whom 
Catherine sent
back to Scotland after her son Francis (George Jacques) died and she officially became
regent in her own right on behalf of her 10-year-old son Charles IX. She
then ruled France for three years by herself until Charles 
reached his
maturity. After Charles died in 1574, Catherine also played a key role
in the reign of her third son, Henry III. He outlived her by just seven months. She
was generally despised in history seen as enemy by both 
Catholics and
Hugenots and scary to common folks who were afraid of her love for all
things occult - her pet astrologer was famous Nostradamus.
French court she is expected to bring a hefty dowry and produce
many heirs, but Catherine discovers her husband is already in love with
another woman and then, her dowry remains unpaid and she learns she is
unable to conceive. 
But with intelligence and determination, she keeps
her marriage alive, mastering the bloodsport of the monarchy and ruling
France for 50 years. In THE SERPENT QUEEN, Catherine tells her story
through flashbacks, 
defending her actions and imparting lessons she's
learned to her new servant, Rahima (Sennia Nanua). When her uncle Pope
Clement (Charles Dance) brokers her marriage and a geopolitical alliance
with France, but she learns on
her wedding night that her husband is in
love with Diane de Poitiers (Ludivine Sagnier), a stunningly beautiful
lady-in-waiting who is twice the king-to-be's age. Catherine is thrust
into a world where she must learn quickly 
who she can trust and seek to
outmaneuver anyone who underestimates her. The rest of the cast includes
Liv Hill as the younger version of Catherine, Antonia Clarke as
Catherine's daughter in law Mary Queen of Scots, whom 
Catherine sent
back to Scotland after her son Francis (George Jacques) died and she officially became
regent in her own right on behalf of her 10-year-old son Charles IX. She
then ruled France for three years by herself until Charles 
reached his
maturity. After Charles died in 1574, Catherine also played a key role
in the reign of her third son, Henry III. He outlived her by just seven months. She
was generally despised in history seen as enemy by both 
Catholics and
Hugenots and scary to common folks who were afraid of her love for all
things occult - her pet astrologer was famous Nostradamus. WHO ARE THE COURTIERS?
Raza Jaffrey will appear as Duke Francois Guise,the leader of Catholics. Colm Meaney is Catherine's husband king of France. Enzo Cilenti will play Ruggieri, the magician and soothsayer! Barry Atsma will be famous 
Montmorency, who cares about the greater good of the society he serves as its foremost military leader. Nicholas Burns portrays Antoine de Bourbon, the rival of Catherine's Valois family. Danny Kirrane is Louis de Bourbon, his
stronger willed and more intelligent brother! Memet Ali Alabora will appear as Sultan Suleiman! Adam Garcia will also have a reoccurring role and I think it was him getting quartered in the trailer below. Lee Ingleby is the middle aged Henry and I've heard Rupert Everett will guest star.
Montmorency, who cares about the greater good of the society he serves as its foremost military leader. Nicholas Burns portrays Antoine de Bourbon, the rival of Catherine's Valois family. Danny Kirrane is Louis de Bourbon, his
stronger willed and more intelligent brother! Memet Ali Alabora will appear as Sultan Suleiman! Adam Garcia will also have a reoccurring role and I think it was him getting quartered in the trailer below. Lee Ingleby is the middle aged Henry and I've heard Rupert Everett will guest star.
I think (because of the quartering execution), that Adam plays Sebastiano di Montecuccoli who was convicted of killing the French Dauphine. Because then her husband became the heir to the throne, suspicion fell on Catherine. Rumor had it that she was behind the murder (that may not have been murder at all) and Montecuccoli was her instrument.
ReplyDeleteMystery solved!
DeleteThey did a great job of dressing her like a villain. Her outfit, facial expressions, and background makes her look like the evil witch.
ReplyDeleteHope the show is well written unlike Becoming Elizabeth which was atrocious.
DeleteI think I would have went the evil queen route myself. Like Jax said, I love the way they dressed her. I would have worn all black and kept my resting bitch face on at all times. I'd be like Regina in Once Upon A Time.
ReplyDeleteShe did wear just black at some point and only old style gowns which the rest of the court ridiculed.
DeleteDezzz, does Theresa have a resting bitch face? Say it ain't so.
DeleteShe thinks she does, let us not spoil her illusions LOL
Delete