At the start of Season 2 of The Empress, there was a lot of stress and sadness. Episode 1 showed that the Habsburg Empire was in a lot of trouble because of political unrest and personal tragedies. While she was very pregnant, Elisabeth (Devrim Lingnau) had a very hard labor that caused problems, the birth of her daughter, and her passing out. Franz’s empire was in danger because of the rising unrest in Lombardy-Venezia, and his brother Maximilian, who was living in exile, got a letter that he didn’t expect.
On episode 2, “The Dream,” which picks up a week later, the imperial family is having more problems in their personal lives and in politics.
The Empress Season 2 Episode 2 Recap: A Hope and a Trouble
Elisabeth is still not awake because she has a fever and an infection. A man from Lombardy and Venice named Adolfo begged her for help before he died in Episode 1. He sees him in her dreams. The dream makes her feel uneasy, and her health is getting worse at the same time.
Sophia, being the smart matriarch that she is, asks the doctor if Elisabeth can get pregnant again. The outlook is not good: if Elisabeth gets pregnant again, she and her child could be in danger. Even so, Franz seems more worried about her quick recovery than the long-term risks. This is true even though he doesn’t care about their new baby daughter and won’t name her or visit her.
Political Turmoil in Lombardy-Venetia
The empire’s political problems get worse. Franz is worried about the unrest in Lombardy-Venezia, where a revolution could happen. The cardinal suggests making a papal state to keep things under control. Alexander disagrees, but Franz tells the cardinal to work on the idea anyway, even though he doesn’t want to.
To make things even more tense, Buol tells Franz that there is proof that Napoleon is helping Piedmont. Franz decides to talk to Napoleon even though he has doubts in order to keep the peace. This makes it possible for Maximilian to return to the fold.
Maximilian’s Mission
Maximilian has been called back from exile and told to talk to Napoleon. Franz makes it clear that this is a royal order, not a friendly gesture, but Maximilian agrees. He meets Princess Charlotte Marie of Belgium on his journey. She is a smart and funny woman who makes him feel at ease. But their relationship ends quickly when she tells him she is going to marry the King of Portugal.
Maximilian meets Napoleon in France, and Napoleon’s plans for changing Paris blow Maximilian away. At a fancy party, Napoleon shows that he is open to Franz’s idea of a customs union, but he also hints that he wants to expand his goals beyond Europe. An important title is also on the line for Maximilian if he joins forces with Napoleon. Later, Maximilian calls Marie in secret, hoping to keep their relationship going.
Elisabeth’s Struggles
When Elisabeth wakes up from her sleep, her whole world has been turned upside down. Sophia has taken charge and made sure that only the nurses care for her grandchildren. She has also replaced Elisabeth’s doctor. Sophia also puts pressure on Elisabeth to have a son and fulfill her duty as queen. Elisabeth’s protests are met with cold resistance, and it feels more and more dangerous for her to be in the palace.
Franz has been neglecting their newborn daughter, so Elisabeth confronts him about it and insists that they name the baby Gisella. She also talks about her scary dreams about Adolfo, which she thinks have a deeper meaning. Franz tells her she’s crazy, which makes things worse between them.
In the afternoon, Elisabeth sneaks into the palace gardens with her older daughter Fienchen to play. But Fienchen’s weak health causes a scary event in which she almost drowns. The guards save the child, but when Elisabeth says she saw Adolfo in the garden, it causes a stir. Sophia takes advantage of the chance and calls in a new doctor, who tells Sophia that Elisabeth has acute hysterical neurosis. Sophia wants Elisabeth to be sedated, even though she doesn’t want to be.
The Return of Maximilian and Elisabeth’s Defiance
Marie agrees to give Maximilian a chance when they are in France. Back in Austria, Franz finally gets to see his baby daughter and names her Gisella. This is a small step toward making peace with Elisabeth.
At the same time, Leontine keeps looking into Adolfo’s death and gives Elisabeth his necklace as a gift. Sophia is putting more and more pressure on Elisabeth, but she doesn’t give up. She snubs the new doctor and refuses to take any more medicine, reclaiming her independence.
The Empress Season 2 Episode 2: Ending!
As personal and political problems get worse, the imperial family is at a loss for what to do. Maximilian’s mission to France isn’t clear-cut, and Elisabeth’s dreams and defiance point to a storm that’s about to happen. As Sophia’s power grows, and Franz is torn between duty and compassion, the Habsburg Empire’s future is in danger.
The Empress Season 2 Episode 2 ends with a quiet act of rebellion, which sets the stage for more trouble and intrigue.
For more detailed recaps and TV insights, visit otavo.tv.
The Empress Season 2 Episode 1 Recap
The Empress Season 2 Episode 3 Recap
The Empress Season 2 Episode 4 Recap
The Empress Season 2 Episode 5 Recap
The Empress Season 2 Episode 6 Recap
