5 Reasons why one cannot miss watching 'The Serpent Queen'

For the past 400 years, history has painted Catherine de’ Medici as fearsome, ruthless, scheming, desperate, and sinister. Known for introducing tobacco, ladies’ drawers, broccoli and ballet to the French, this Italian commoner was regarded as the offspring of the most despised European family. But in a truly astonishing transformation, this regular girl from France became one of the most powerful yet the most vilified women in the 16th century. Diving deep into the untold story of Catherine de’ Medici, The Serpent Queen brings to light the story of the Queen of France, who has been heavily mislabelled and misunderstood, releasing on 21st October exclusively on Lionsgate Play in India.

Celebrating the life of a survivor, a fighter who was unwilling to be marked by her misfortunes, Here are five reasons why you must The Serpent Queen.

Insights into the life of Queen Catherine de’ Medici

While Catherine's life is awe-inspiring, there are times when one wonders how much of the show is true. While the show indulges in the fictionalization of some events, it sticks close to reality as much as possible, especially in the parts that feel too ludicrous to be true. This anticipating amalgamation of drama and historical facts makes you want to know more about the untold story of the most influential Queen.  

A unique take on the historical tale 

The Serpent Queen is a contemporary spin on unconventional storytelling on the tales of the longest-reigning monarchs in French history.  The show tells the incredible story of the rise of Catherine de Medici from the utter misfortune that followed her since her birth to becoming one of the most powerful women of her time. The fact that she was such a fascinating figure, and yet, her story had never been told before, as opposed to other queens, makes it a must-watch as the creators present their take on her story and show the audience how grey she was.

A cast that brings justice to the entire series

To tell the story of a fascinating queen, the cast of The Serpent Queen has been carefully thought of. The series stars Golden Globe award winner and two-time Academy Award nominee Samantha Morton in the lead role, her representation of the queen is intense, cruel, and arch. Along with her, the show stars Game of Thrones fame, Amrita Acharia, Nicholas Burns and Enzo Cilenti, amongst others, play their parts with grace and finesse.   

An inspiration to women across the world

Being a woman and wielding as much power as Catherine did in the sixteenth century, her story parallels the place of women in the current world. The creation of the myths and legends surrounding her, especially giving her the title of the Serpent Queen, is a testament to how influential female figures were treated by history compared to their male counterparts.

Creator Justin Haythe

The show is created by  British - American screenwriter Justin Haythe, who is best known for authoring Revolutionary Road and Red Sparrow. In his short career, Justin has worked in various genres, and with The Serpent Queen, he also masters the art of period drama and strikes the right balance between drama and historical facts.

The show has begun streaming on Lionsgate Play from 21st October 2022 onwards