#bourbons

I finally finished the final episode of The Serpent Queen on STARZ today. My thoughts: I ending up enjoying it more than I thought I would. The storyline was fun and entertaining. The writers were clearly going for a more comedic depiction of their characters. Almost all of them were over the top, exaggerated and slightly insane.

Minnie Driver as Elizabeth I was hilarious. There were parts of her character I didn't like but for the most part she worked. Her true personality was usually there right beneath the surface. Loved Queen Jeanne d'Albret, Henri of Navarre, and Marguerite de Valois. Most of Catherine's children came across as very sympathetic which is probably why I enjoyed Season 2 more than Season 1. No Diane de Poitiers in Season 2 either another good thing. I can't stand her lol! The Guises and the Bourbons were scheming, foolish and not very likable but entertaining to watch. I really liked Montmorency he was sympathetic right up until his end. Mary Queen of Scots was a fanatical Catholic and overly villainous. Something I haven't seen before.

I had mixed feelings about the Duke of Florence and Rahima. It seemed like they were trying to give characters of color a storyline in a historical drama, which I can appreciate but considering they weren't real people their story seemed to be shoved into the plot in a way that felt clunky. I wish the writers had tried to include black people or people of color who actually lived in France at that time. It would've been more respectful. Rahima felt a lot like Lina in The Spanish Princess. I liked her character but thought her storyline could've been handled better. Same with Sister Edith she reminded me of Anne Aschew particularly the way Anne is portrayed in Firebrand preaching to the people and stirring them up.

Monday, Monday, Monday and Sean Bean is on the warpath.

"When I say winter is coming, I mean that winter is definitely coming. Do not question my frosty forecast!" shouted Sean.

"Well now, we're still watching the cold front and keeping an eye on its progress and we'll keep you posted" said the Met Office man in a very reasonable manner.

"Must I make myself heard a second and third time? Winter is coming!!" screamed Sean whilst brandishing his sword.

"Heard you the first time" responded the Met Office man in measured tones, casually sharpening his pencil "and we're about to put the kettle on. Will you have tea with us whilst we watch the weather's progress?"

Sean looks fit to burst but then spots the plate of biscuits. "Are those bourbons?" He enquires, edging forwards with eyebrows raised.

"Why yes" said the Met Office man smiling and jiggling the plate in Sean's general direction.

Anne:

Was a spanish habsburg born in Valadolid and, as such, princess of the Netherlands. Cause why not. She did the regency for her son Louis XIV until he became of age.

Philippe:

Gay but like not in a comical way. However also like openly gay, which is uncommon for the time but also YOU go tell the king that his brother is a disgrace and should be more discreet.

“Called by the will of the French people to hold the highest office in the Republic, I think it proper, on assuming my functions, to inform Your Majesty of the fact by my own hand. Is there to be no end to the war which, for the past eight years, has dislocated every quarter of the globe? Is there no means by which we can come to an understanding? How is it that the two most enlightened nations in Europe, both stronger and more powerful than their safety and independence require, consent to sacrifice their commercial success, their internal prosperity, and the happiness of their homes, to dreams of imaginary greatness? How is it that they do not envisage peace as their greatest glory as well as their greatest need? Such sentiments cannot be strange to Your Majesty’s heart, for you rule a free nation for the sole end of making it happy. I beg Your Majesty to believe that in broaching this subject, it is my sincere desire to make a practical contribution . . . toward a generous peace . . . The fate of every civilized nation depends upon the ending of a war which is embroiling the whole world.”

According to Will Durant, in The Age of Napoleon:

Louis XVI with an earring!