Georgina is frustrated with her friends for not being more focused on planning how to destabilize Catherine. Peter is concerned about missing the first day of truffle hunting season.
The empress is angry about the murder and kicks everyone out of her room. This concerns Elizabeth, who knows that her mother used to lock her in for days. Grigor, too, remembers. He tries to cheer Peter from outside his window, like he did when they were boys.
Georgina is more concerned about her own safety than she is about Peter. She asks if Catherine would “exile” her and her husband to France for their disloyalty. The empress agrees, but Grigor struggles with the idea of leaving his best friend.
Catherine is worried about the potential for a war with the Ottomans. Velementov says they may be preparing to invade. They were allies of Peter’s and won’t like a woman on the throne.
Catherine clashes with Velementov further when she wants to repeal laws that allow for murder. Velementov doesn’t understand the need for change and believes it would be too difficult. As it turns out, there are many situations that make it legal to kill.
Peter’s spiral continues when he accuses his mother of mistreating him, getting so worked up that he accidentally breaks her skull. Catherine tortures Peter further by putting her mother’s corpse in the room with him. To add to offence, Grigor and Georgina leave for their exile. Peter starts to spiral and accuses his mother of mistreating him, getting so worked up that he accidentally breaks her skull.
Orlo is struggling with the challenges of his own life, which are hidden from everyone else. Now that he has some recognition at court, his family and region want him to do things for them.
Catherine continues to stew in her anger for Peter and refuses to mourn Leo. Noticing this, Marial tries to convince her to cry.
She snorts a mysterious substance from the doctor to keep her from sleeping and to help her get more done. She appoints Father Basil archbishop at court and goes over laws to repeal with Orlo and Velementov—all in the middle of the night. Again, Marial urges her to slow down and mourn Leo.
Catherine decides to let Peter out. But when he reads her an unintentionally offensive apology about Leo, she locks him in again.
The empress storms into the woods around the same time that Peter escapes to go truffle hunting.
Catherine senses Leo’s presence in the woods and is finally able to grieve. Peter, on the other hand, unexpectedly bonds with Velementov—after the general tried to shoot him for escaping. ..
In the closing scenes of the film, Grigor returns to Peter, having chosen his friend over his wife. And Catherine, letting go of Leo, regains hope for the future.
The Episode Review
This episode explores a couple of prominent themes. Both Catherine’s mourning Leo and Peter’s reckoning with his mother have been a long time coming. A lot of tension leads up to both of those extremely emotional breaking points.
There are several touching moments and a lot of character development in this episode. I’m looking forward to seeing Orlo’s story develop too. ..
This episode of The Great is much more serious than the first, but it still has a great sense of humour.
