The Serpent Queen, a historical period drama streaming free on Channel 4, has been hailed a 'masterpiece' by fans, with viewers saying they 'loved it from start to end'. The series has a flawless 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and audiences are 'totally transfixed', with numerous viewers having 'binge-watched it in two days'.
Plot and cast
Created by Justin Haythe and adapted from Leonie Frieda's 2004 non-fiction work Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France, the dramatised biographical period drama features Samantha Morton in the title role as Catherine de' Medici, the 16th-century Queen of France. The actress has earned widespread acclaim for her 'truly spectacular' portrayal. The programme offers an intimate examination of Catherine de' Medici's life, providing viewers with privileged access to the events surrounding one of history's most powerful crowned women.
The series made its debut in September 2022 on Starz and ran for two seasons of eight episodes each, before its cancellation in October 2024. Principal filming took place in Marseille and the Loire Valley in France, alongside locations at the Papal Palace in Italy. The cast includes Minnie Driver, Amrita Acharia, Barry Atsma, Ruby Bentall, Enzo Cilenti, Sennia Nanua, Kiruna Stamell, and Nicholas Burns, alongside a broader ensemble cast.
Critical and audience praise
The programme has achieved a flawless rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, with one critic saying: 'The Serpent Queen promises to be a darkly comedic and enthralling take on a fascinating historical figure.' Another reviewer shared: 'The Serpent Queen proves to be more than worth getting wrapped up in, with the story only luring us in - much like the snake in its title.'
One critic praised Morton: 'In a series of this nature, it would be easy to overact, to feed into the innate drama of it all. However, Morton is a pro, and she maintains a seamless groundedness, holding us captive in Catherine's unwavering resolve.'
Viewers have been similarly captivated, with one writing: 'The wit, humour, and clever writing has made this series an absolute diehard favourite. Samantha Morton never fails to stun with her to-be-expected savagery while displaying the most kick-a** 'checkmate' strategies.' Another fan said: 'Masterpiece of character development and what a set of actors. Love it from start to end.'
One viewer's review on Rotten Tomatoes says: 'Absolutely incredible writing and intrigue. The characters are astounding. This show is a magnum opus. I can't believe how brilliant it is.' An IMDB review added: 'Best historical drama this year. Came across Serpent Queen and I was totally transfixed and binged it in 2 days. Samantha Morton was excellent and her co-star held her own. The entire production was top notch from the acting, writing, costumes.'
Audiences have also heaped praise upon Morton's portrayal: 'I was hooked from the first episode and binged watched it in 2 days. Excellent tv series. Catherine Medici was such a complex and powerful figure in history. This series gave us a glimpse into how women yielded their soft powers during the era. The actress Samantha Morton was simply divine. Her soft spoken delivery of dialogue was chilling and on point throughout the whole season.'
The Serpent Queen is available to stream free on Channel 4.
