The season 2 finale of The Serpent Queen is reminiscent of the ‘Red Wedding’ from season four of the HBO flagship show Game of Thrones. The second season primarily focused on Queen Regent Catherine as she took control of the castle and helped her son King Charles IX to run the kingdom. Throughout the season, Catherine was surrounded by people that were threatening her power. By the end of the season two finale, all of them were killed on her orders by keeping her older son, the King, out of the loop. Here is the list of people the viewers had a last look at in the show from here on.
Spoilers Ahead
Sister Edith
Sister Edith, the priestess that was propagating Protestantism in France, was introduced in the first episode of the second season as someone who was gaining followers by the day for her connection with God. She had become a nuisance for the Catholic Church. This led to them attempting to kill her by burning down the church she was in with her followers. The miracle of her survival spread across the nation, which led to many people joining her faith. Sister Edith soon realized her power to get the attention of people, which also caught the eye of Queen Catherine of France and Queen Elizabeth of England. Soon, Sister Edith had become a major power player, so much so that many of Catherine’s allies had begun to bow down to Edith, including Montmorency and the Bourbon brothers. The situation had gotten worse, which forced Catherine to finally consider her a threat. This made Catherine manipulate the power-hungry Edith with offers she could not refuse. Edith was promised the regency of the French throne once Catherine’s daughter was married off to a Protestant prince. Catherine’s manipulation worked as Sister Edith was killed on the night of the wedding after the consummation ceremony of the newlywed. This way Catherine got rid of her biggest threat.
Lord Montmorency
Lord Montmorency had been Catherine’s ally for a while, and they shared a platonic relationship. The attraction they had for each other was an on and off affair, but neither would ever betray each other until sister Edith made her way into his life and things changed between them. Montmorency began to follow Sister Edith’s ideals, and slowly he fell in love with her. Montmorency was the one who realized Sister Edith was not just a religious leader but was slowly becoming a power player as well.
Catherine realized Montmorency had stopped being her ally and perpetually spoke for Sister Edith, which is why she took the betrayal personally. Catherine was informed Montmorency was one of the traitors she would have to face. Montmorency was a part of the entourage that was given safe passage into the city for Prince Margot’s wedding. Catherine confessed to him about how she felt, but she also hinted at leaving the palace. Montmorency was killed by Angelica, and he was the first victim of the massacre, as he stood there waiting for his love, Catherine. Montmorency had the saddest death, as he died never knowing why Catherine chose to take this step.
Queen Jeanne of Navarre
Queen Jean of Navarre was the wife of Antoine de Bourbon, one of the important men on King Charles’ council in the French court. Since she was the queen of a principality, she had certain power to make or break things for the Kings and Queens of France. The queen was keen on being in power. Jeanne was a key person who would benefit from the marriage proposed by Catherine between Henri and Princess Margot. Henri was a young, intelligent son of hers, and the match was the right kind of political marriage that would cement the Bourbon family as the next one in line for the throne in France
Jeanne made the mistake of sharing her concern regarding a rumor she’d heard about Margot’s chastity. Catherine promised her there was no truth to the rumor, but the regent felt threatened that this information would stop the wedding. Queen Jeanne of Navarre sadly became the first victim of Queen Catherine’s rampage. She was killed by a poison-laced pair of gloves she wore. Queen Jeanne of Navarre had a good run, but she could not outsmart Queen Catherine.
Duke Alessandro of Florence
Duke Alessandro of Florence was introduced in the beginning of the show when Queen Catherine went on an official visit to Italy to gain allies for the construction of the palace by those of the Catholic faith. This was when she learned of him being her half brother, as they had the same father. She was happy to have found kin in Alessandro, who was assigned the job of overseeing the budget and the construction of the said palace. The half siblings were happy to be in each other’s company until Catherine suspected her brother’s allegiance was shifting when she had rejected his proposal to find his travels to the New World and set up businesses. Catherine was not happy to see Alessandro leaning toward Queen Elizabeth. The final nail in the coffin Was Rahima and Alessandro falling in love, which she felt was a betrayal. Catherine liked being in control of people and their lives. As she saw two people she liked drifting away, she saw them as no less than traitors. On the night of the banquet, she did not eliminate Rahima but killed Duke Alessandro out of pure spite and anger.
Antoine And Louis de Bourbon
Antoine de Bourbon & Louis de Bourbon, were one of the key members of the King Charles’ council, was slowly becoming a menace, just like de Guises. As matters escalated due to Sister Edith’s growing power, Antoine de Bourbon and his brother joined hands with Queen Elizabeth to further empower Sister Edith. Antoine Bourbon and his brother Louis’s betrayal was caught; Catherine could not let them go even if she allowed Sister Edith and her followers into her city and the palace. Antoine de Bourbon and Louis de Bourbon were the people she knew were among the six people who would betray her as per the prophecy, and it came true. She and the team of assassins assumed they had killed the brothers, but it turns out they were not dead. Both brothers pretended to be dead to get themselves out of the palace and probably come up with a bigger plan to put Catherine out of power.
