The Serpent Queen EPs On Dramatizing Catherine De Medici & Queen Elizabeth's Dynamic In Season 2 (2024)

The highly-anticipated second season of The Serpent Queen drops on the STARZ app on Friday, July 12, picking up years after Charles IX is crowned king of France. With her son in power and a prophet sparking tensions across the country, Catherine de Medici finds herself struggling to find a balance between her political and family life. The introduction of Queen Elizabeth I of England further complicates matters, as both women are determined to exert control over the other.

Creatives Justin Haythe and Erwin Stoff emphasize that, in a world with an arbitrary power system, meritocracy doesn't exist. Manipulation remains the most successful path to leadership in the historical drama, which raises questions about the morality of those raised under a monarchy. The executive producers share that family is a main theme of the new episodes, and the upbringing of Catherine's children will continue to be explored.

Screen Rant chats with Haythe and Stoff about the power struggles in The Serpent Queen Season 2 and the introduction of Minnie Driver's Queen Elizabeth I.

"Everything's Fair Game" In The Serpent Queen Season 2

Screen Rant: We left off in season 1 with the reminder to trust no one. How important would you say that sentiment is for the characters and the fans during season 2?

Justin Haythe: I think that it remains survival advice. The central theme, if there is one, is that in a world where there's an arbitrary power system, meaning that whoever's in charge is in charge because they were born to it, basically, they're in charge because of an elaborate scam that convinced everybody they're king, in that world, everything's fair game. There's no meritocracy. There's no winning by studying hard or being a good person. The only way you win is by out-manipulating everybody else. So that remains the rules of the game.

Erwin Stoff: What we come to experience in the second season is, "What kind of children does that ultimately spawn?"

Justin Haythe: Exactly. It's a great point. The central plot of this season concerns the kids, and if you've lied and cheated and stolen to survive as Catherine has, what kind of children do you produce? Those are the open questions.

Speaking of children, I'm curious to see what Catherine's relationship will look like with them in season 2, especially now that Charles IX has taken the throne.

Justin Haythe: Let's say it's complicated at best. This is classic helicopter parenting to a whole other level. Catherine is such a powerhouse. As I said, she's done unspeakable things to get her children to a place where they're safe, but they have never experienced the challenges she has. So on some level, there is built in conflict with them, because they are to the manner born in a way that she never was. And yet, she needs them, because they are, in a way, her purpose for doing everything that she's done.

The Serpent Queen Season 2 Plays Off Catherine De Medici And Queen Elizabeth's Historical Ties

The relationship between Catherine and Rahima is very tumultuous. Given how season 1 ended, what is that dynamic going to look like going forward?

Justin Haythe: There's a time period right where the kids have grown, and Rahima is Catherine's most trusted. She is her number one confidant. That's where we start the season. This story of Catherine is charted through her relationship with Rahima, and in that way, Rahima is Catherine's conscience.

Erwin Stoff: We can also say that Rahima learned at Catherine's feet much better than Catherine could have anticipated.

Justin Haythe: The student is slowly challenging the teacher. But the question is, what happens when Rahima wants more independence from Catherine? What happens now that Rahima is a woman with a romantic life? When do they come in to challenge each other? That's what this season is about—the most trusted slowly falling from grace.

The series is great at blending fact and fiction, and Queen Elizabeth I is another important historical figure. What were some aspects of her that were important to stay true to history, and where did you want to take creative liberty?

Justin Haythe: Catherine and Queen Elizabeth were the two most powerful women in Europe at a time when women had no legal rights. Women were not supposed to have any autonomy. They somehow, for decades, maintained their position of power, both with a keen sense of public relations and both of them playing a part to keep the male gaze at bay. Catherine was playing this all dressed in black, widow, witch-like figure, and Queen Elizabeth was playing the virgin, and they were intertwined throughout their lives.

Two of Catherine's sons were betrothed to Elizabeth. They wrote great, compassionate, friendly letters, but they never actually met as far as we know. Nobody can prove there was not a secret trip to Europe in which they met, which is what we're dramatizing. It was just too good to resist putting these two women and these two actors in the same room.

Erwin Stoff: Our basic attitude was—anything you cannot prove happened, we're at liberty to make it happen.

About The Serpent Queen Season 2

Catherine de Medici is Queen Regent of France now that her son, Charles IX has come of age. Distracted by the personal conflicts of the Valois children, a new mysterious prophet named Edith gains a loyal following who vow to challenge the current religious establishment, sparking tension across the country. Feeling threatened by the rising strain, the divided court turn to their own schemes for selfish benefit.

The Guises commit unholy acts while the Bourbons turn to a familiar foreign sovereign, Queen Elizabeth I of England in hopes of personal gain. As France falls into political and religious turmoil, Catherine struggles to maintain her power, but The Serpent Queen will do whatever she needs to regain control.

Check back soon for our other interviews with The Serpent Queen Season 2 cast:

• Minnie Driver
• Samantha Morton

Source: Screen Rant Plus

The Serpent Queen

TV-MA

Drama

History

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

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Based on the life of Queen Catherine de' Medici of France, The Serpent Queen is a historical period drama created by Justin Haythe. The series follows Catherine's rise into the monarchy, from her introduction into the French court as a young teenager to her eventual spot as the ruling Queen of France in the 16th century.

Cast

Samantha Morton , Amrita Acharia , Barry Atsma , Enzo Cilenti , Sennia Nanua , Kiruna Stamell

Release Date

September 11, 2022

Seasons

1

Network

Starz

Writers

Justin Haythe

Showrunner

Justin Haythe

Creator(s)

Justin Haythe