'The Serpent Queen's Fourth Episode Ushers in a New Era

We return to The Serpent Queen as Rahima, the personal maid to Catherine de Medici, is testing her power. The cook, who Rahima punished, has been demoted to scrubbing floors, whereas Rahima’s promotion now includes her own room. As Rahima takes Catherine’s breakfast tray to her chamber, she is still harassed by lounging guards –– although not as much. Rahima asks if it’s true that Mary, Catherine’s widowed daughter-in-law, has a right to the throne. This is from a throwaway comment she heard the cook make; however, she doesn’t reveal that part. No, Catherine replies. Mary is merely grief-stricken by the death of her husband.

Catherine (now played by Samantha Morton in both time frames) resumes her story, jumping ahead fifteen years. Catherine finally hit the baby jackpot and has had nine children with her husband, Henri (Lee Ingleby). Their eldest son, Francis (George Jacques), is engaged to Mary, daughter of James V of Scotland, who has lived at the French court since she was very young. Francis, however, is fragile, with a lung condition that seems serious.

Catherine’s subsequent pregnancy has a tragic outcome, with dangerous labor and a stillborn child, and after the birth, sinks into depression and hallucinations. The collection of servants who came with her from Italy is now down to three: Mathilde the fool, perfumer and brewer of potions Angelica, and the decorative Aabis. They are the ones who rouse her from her depression, making her get up and encouraging her to spend time with her children in the sunny garden.