The Serpent Queen, a period drama available free on Channel 4, has left audiences 'totally transfixed' and 'completely hooked', with many fans having binge-watched it in two days. The series holds a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Show details and cast
Developed by Justin Haythe and adapted from Leonie Frieda's 2004 non-fiction work Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France, the biographical period drama features Samantha Morton in the leading role as Catherine de' Medici, the 16th century Queen of France. The actress has impressed critics and audiences with her 'truly spectacular' performance.
The programme examines the life of Catherine de' Medici more closely and offers viewers a front-row seat into the events that unfolded in the life of one of the most influential women in history to ever wear a crown, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Critical and audience praise
The series initially premiered in September 2022 on Starz and broadcast for two seasons, with eight episodes each, before being cancelled in October 2024. It was chiefly filmed in Marseille and the Loire Valley in France, along with 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.
One critic wrote: 'The Serpent Queen promises to be a darkly comedic and enthralling take on a fascinating historical figure.' Another reviewer said: '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 lavished praise upon 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.'
Viewer reactions
Viewers have been equally captivated. One said: 'The wit, humor, and clever writing has made this series an absolute diehard favorite. Samantha Morton never fails to stun with her to-be-expected savagery while displaying the most kick-a** 'checkmate' strategies.' Another fan added: 'Masterpiece of character development and what a set of actors. Love it from start to end.'
One audience 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.' A review posted to IMDB reads: '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. Much thought and imagination went into this show. Words cannot begin to describe how much I enjoyed this show. Bravo!!'
Another viewer praised Morton's performance: '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. I was so captured by the scenes that after the first episode, she became THE Catherine Medici. The mark of a truly spectacular actress. I could not recommend this tv series more. You will surely not be disappointed.'
The Serpent Queen is available to stream for free on Channel 4.
