S01.E05: All Ye Faithful

[AnimeMania]

As Christmas approaches – and amid escalating violence – Elena remains determined to not abandon her people, despite being advised to leave the palace. Meanwhile, Schiff, Singer, and Huber imagine a scenario where the increasingly unpredictable chancellor could be removed, and Peter proposes a way for Agnes and her son to get out of the palace to safety... but with a price.

Premiere Date: Sunday, March 31, 2024   HBO   9pm     

[aghst]

Some injection of reality, though Elena thinks if the people see her, they will stop and not overthrow her.

Will Tracy cites what Ceausescu was doing up to the last years but he says he reads about several authoritarians so Elena is kind of a mashup.

Not too much dark humor in this one, just getting real as her dismissive but delusional view of her country and her people catches up to her.

[Phebemarie]

Sorry to see the only slightly rootable (adult) character pay the price for her attachment to Elena.  Hopefully someone else will help Oskar.  
 

I wonder what wild bait and switch finale we’ll end with next week. Will the whole thing end as one of Elena’s potato steam-induced fever dreams?  

[Avaleigh]

On 3/31/2024 at 10:37 PM, aghst said:

Not too much dark humor in this one, just getting real as her dismissive but delusional view of her country and her people catches up to her.

There were definitely a few things that made me laugh in this episode. The ministers were particularly funny. I enjoyed the scene where they were mulling over the idea of having Elena declared mentally unfit. Also, the way they were basically holding their breath as they wait for her decide whether or not she'd go through with killing herself. I definitely got satisfaction from them leaving in the helicopter without her. That moment was well earned especially from the guy who suggested that she make some concessions to the rebels. I guess she's wishing she'd followed through with their suggestions now.