But I do think Queen Mother Catherine helping the young ones--Francis & Mary--was one of the major intentional themes of Season 2.

She gave advice and they largely ignored it. With Francis it was how to handle Mary--remember scene near end of "Three Queens"--where she tries to tell Francis to include Mary, but for his own reasons ignores the advice.

With Mary it seemed like the advice was always discounted because Mary always thought she was so much better a person than Catherine and that she was not going to make the same mistakes so she didn't have to listen. The only exception being the one time when Catherine was the only one there at the moment of crisis--the aforementioned rape.

But even after Catherine knows she is being ignored she is looking out for Mary. Remember in 2.17 "Tempting Fate" when Narcisse learns of Mary's plotting to go to Scotland with Conde and he wants to trap Mary, but Catherine stops him from doing that. He asks why. She says," Mary is not the same foolish girl who was forced into our care. And I have come to care for her. She has faced many trials at court as queen. She's grown. She's stronger, braver...clearly. And sometimes bravery leads to foolish choices. And this is one from which there is no turning back. I have no desire to destroy Mary or her reputation."

But they just couldn't accept the help and by the last episode Catherine was so frustrated she went back to her old ways of trying to force the decision, which backfired. So yes, I think at least how S2 ended and there are not immediate twists, Queen Catherine, the adversary, is in our future.

I agree! You really have a way with using the stills from the show and creating something new.

Thanks for posting the promo here, Amanda! So excited for more Mary vs. Catherine.

Yep, the verbal smackdowns are the best. I just can't imagine that they would keep Catherine away from France for very long.