The Serpent Queen

The entire show is framed as a modern feminist reclamation of Catherine de' Medici. Instead of a villain, she is shown as a survivor fighting a system of male oppression. Competence is given almost exclusively to female characters, while men are shown as weak, foolish, or corrupt. The show also places a strong emphasis on queer identities. This includes an active lesbian romance and a storyline about a gay prince. These confirmed LGBTQ+ elements add a heavy boost of 25 points to the theme score.

The series consistently attacks traditional Western structures. It portrays the monarchy, the Catholic Church, and the institution of marriage as corrupt and hypocritical. Religion is shown as a tool used by powerful people to manipulate others. Traditional family values and gender roles are actively criticized and presented as oppressive traps for women.

The show makes major changes to real history to push modern identity themes. It invents the character of Rahima, a black maid who becomes Catherine's main ally. It also invents Angelica, a lesbian perfumer. Real historical figures like King Henry III (Anjou) are given explicit, modernized queer storylines that go far beyond historical records. Important meetings, like Catherine meeting Queen Elizabeth I, are entirely fabricated for dramatic, feminist standoffs.

Some viewers and fans of historical dramas expressed frustration online. They criticized the show for inserting modern race-conscious casting into 16th-century France. Others complained about the forced inclusion of explicit gay and lesbian storylines. However, because the show was a niche series on Starz and was canceled after two seasons, the backlash remained small and did not get much mainstream news coverage.

The creative team is a mix of backgrounds. Creator Justin Haythe has a low score of 22/100, and producers Francis Lawrence and Erwin Stoff also have low scores. However, director and executive producer Stacie Passon has a high score of 64/100 due to her career focus on LGBTQ+ representation. Her influence is highly visible in the show's prominent queer and feminist directions.