Walnut Season
Episode 9 of The Great Season 2 kicked off with a bang as the heir to the throne was born. Little Paul and Catherine were both healthy, to Peter’s relief. ..
Six weeks after the death of Catherine’s mother, Peter and Catherine barely speak to each other. They’re avoiding each other, each for different reasons. Peter feels guilty about being responsible for her mother’s death. And Catherine—she’s wary about her growing feelings toward her husband.
Meanwhile, the court sees several unexpected arrivals. Hugo and Agnes, the former king and queen of Sweden, seek shelter in Russia after their country’s monarchy dissolved in favour of democracy. They petition Catherine for help taking their country back, but she repeatedly refuses to start another war.
Maxim, Marial’s cousin, arrives to take over Marial’s quarters. Since Marial’s father died a month ago, Maxim inherits his title and takes over Marial’s living space. ..
Last but not least, Georgina returns with progressive ideas from France filling her head. She informs the empress that she’s now on her side. George wants to spread ideas of equal rights for women. She reveals to Tatyana, however, that she’s actually back to stop these very ideas from spreading.
She surprises Grigor too, and he’s not entirely happy to see her. He tells her he’s been seeing Marial and doesn’t intend to stop.
Georgina has the worst timing as it turns out. Marial asks Grigor to marry her so she can keep her property. Although she knows he can’t divorce Georgina, she suggests they have her declared dead.
Grigor breaks the news to his wife that she is back. But he still wants to make things work with Marial; he loves her. Marial resists him, claiming that Georgina has always had too strong a hold on him.
Peter vents to Elizabeth about his mother and sister. Unthinkingly, he mentions that he witnessed his mother drown Elizabeth’s son when he was a child. Stricken, she leaves with Paul in her arms, whispering, “You’re okay. You’re okay.” ..
Catherine has a war to run, but she can’t help but think about Peter. She asks him what he thinks about being exiled to the country and being able to visit Paul on weekends. He agrees, just before they both realize Paul is missing. ..
The maid tells them that Elizabeth took the baby to a country house. The two men think they were supposed to be watching her.
They ride together but first, they give Grigor a decoy baby with instructions to pretend as if they are both still in the palace.
They spend the carriage ride by answering hypothetical questions. Peter almost reveals his secret about Catherine’s mother. Instead, he tells Catherine he knows she loves him. In the same breath, he admits their relationship would be impossible.
When they find Elizabeth, she’s caring for Paul and pretending he is her own son, Igor. Peter’s comment broke something in her, but she’s still sane. She assures Catherine she knows the baby is Paul. She simply felt an overwhelming sense of danger and knew she had to get Paul out of the palace.
Peter apologizes to her. He says he never understood her pain until he thought he’d lost his son. They embrace and share a hug.
Archie is back at the palace after being abandoned in the forest. It seems like God has abandoned him. ..
Marial has a plan to marry her eight-year-old cousin. She’ll be able to keep her property, and he won’t have to go alone. So it’s a win-win?
Georgina tells Grigor she was willing to divorce him for his, if only the laws allowed for it. They agree to remain together, though each of them will be married to another. ..
Catherine poses a hypothetical question to Peter. If she loved him, what would he do? They give in to their feelings for each other and have sex.
Hugo and Agnes decide to try to overthrow Catherine in order to get her help, but when they show up at her palace looking like a happy family, they realize that this might not be the best idea. ..
Catherine’s happiness with Peter is short-lived. She insults the way Velementov is handling the war, and she forces Orlo out when she learns of his theft from her treasury. ..
The episode ends with Marial and Grigor lying next to one another. Grigor lets it slip that Joanna fell out of a window after having sex with Peter. He asks Marial not to tell Catherine, but she simply lies there, silent.
The Episode Review
In the season 2 finale, The Great revealed that he has been working on a secret project that will change the course of history. As the series progresses, it seems as though many of Catherine’s alliances have been strained. This may just be the breaking point for some of them.
This episode of “The Good Place” is a strong start to the season. It follows several exciting plot points that should carry over into the next episode and potentially into the next season.
Catherine and Peter have been together for a while now, but their relationship is on the rocks. Just as their story begins to develop, it seems that something is going to happen that will upset them both.
Catherine and Will Joanna’s fate will become known to each other soon. What Catherine will do to Peter if she finds out is still unknown.
