In the fourth episode of "The Serpent Queen," an enticing leap in time propelled the narrative forward a decade and a half, gracefully introducing Samantha Morton as Catherine de Medici, both in the contemporary scenes and in flashbacks. This choice, unsurprisingly, turned out to be a stroke of genius for the show. Continuing this momentum, Season 1, Episode 5, titled "The First Regency," unfolded with significant advancements across the board.
The narrative commences in the present, where Catherine remains consumed with the intrigue she uncovered between Mary and Elizabeth I. Her manipulation of Rahima is subtle, yet profound, only becoming apparent at the episode's conclusion. Catherine's cunning trap, disguised as a mere errand, involves sending her maid to snoop through Mary's quarters in search of incriminating evidence. We'll delve deeper into this later.
Flashing back to the past, we witness Catherine grappling with the same challenges—her relentless pursuit of legitimacy, even as Queen, hampered by the royal seal that, when flipped, transforms the C for Catherine into a D for Diane, a testament to Henri's undying affection for his mistress. This becomes a pivotal theme throughout the episode.
The disrespect intensifies when Henri departs for war against the Holy Roman Emperor, leaving Catherine as Queen Regent, yet her status is steadfastly denied by his privy council. This is particularly galling as Catherine desperately seeks funds for the war effort, yet the Cardinal demands a castle, the Bourbons wish to be rid of the Cardinal, and no one is willing to compromise.
However, Catherine once again proves her cunning. She addresses the French Parliament directly, wielding promises that rally Protestant support without the Bourbons' assistance—rendering them "useless" in their own words and "superfluous" to everyone else.
Meanwhile, Henri's fortunes are not so favorable. He inexplicably takes Diane as his strategic advisor into battle—ha!—and is swayed by her counsel to avoid the frontlines. This does nothing to bolster his reputation, especially when news of his absence from the fray reaches the royal court before his return. Embarrassed and enraged, Henri withdraws into a sullen rage, banishing even Diane from his chambers, while his mistress succumbs further to Angelica's alluring elixir.
The desperation surrounding Henri is palpable, evident in his half-hearted suggestion of a genuine relationship with Catherine. However, such a fleeting illusion is destined to fade, barely surviving a few fleeting scenes. Catherine, ever cunning, coaxes Henri into arranging an audience for Pierre, a tailor burdened with humble aspirations and frustration. But when Diane, her increasingly frayed nerves and hysteria taking over, meddles, the entire scenario unravels.
Pierre, unable to contain his anger, voices what every soul feels about the King and his mistress. In a fit of rage, Diane slashes his throat, her knees buckling beneath her as she sobs, claiming it was for Henri's sake. He, in a moment of weakness, absently forgives her, leaving Catherine horrified by the frequency of his betrayals as an innocent man bleeds at her feet.
Meanwhile, a different narrative thread emerges, as Montmorency, a drunken man down on his luck, strikes an unlikely alliance with a young girl, the daughter of a stranger. Their bond is forged by a simple agreement: he will take her wherever he goes, sparing her father's life. The direction of this subplot remains shrouded in mystery, but its unfolding is sure to reveal intriguing layers.
"The First Regency" draws to a close, returning to the present moment. Rahima embarks on a search of Mary's quarters, while Catherine deftly diverts her attention. In the midst of their conversation, Catherine dispatches one of the other Marys to retrieve a shawl, knowing full well that it will interrupt Rahima's investigation. Her motives for this manipulation remain unclear, but the mystery surrounding Catherine's schemes deepens.
