I read a recommendation of this 2022 German historical drama online and one thing the author failed to mention was that the series is in German, not English. I downloaded and when I settled down to binge-watch, I winced. It's in German. I don't do well with watching non-English movies because it means I'll have to rely on subtitles. I almost didn't see it but when I gave it a few minutes, it was captivating and I'm glad I watched it.
The Empress (2022) (also called Die Kaiserin in German) is a Netflix series based on the life of Elisabeth, Empress of Austria. The opening scene reveals a lady in a wedding gown, her face covered with a white lace veil as she walks down the aisle. In a flashback, a teenage girl called Sisi (played by Devrim Lingnau) is seen hiding behind the curtains as her mother, Princess Ludovika, yells her name. A duke had visited and wanted to see his potential bride but Sisi refused.
https://youtu.be/KfySe96FPr8?si=Wb3qeGvxutqT9BzcSource: YouTube
Her mother wishes Sisi could be more like her elder sister, Helene (played by Elisa Schlott) who is set to marry Franz Joseph (played by Philip Froissan), the Emperor of Austria. When Sisi, Helene and their mother travel to celebrate Franz's birthday, the emperor sees Sisi and likes her. Contrary to his mother's pressure, he asks for Sisi's hand in marriage and not Helene's.
This move is a shock to everyone at the court. While wedding preparations are made, Austria is facing threats on all sides to join the war while the lower class people are plotting to start a revolution. Will this young couple survive the pressures of politics, war and still stay in love with each other?
Review
Contrary to my expectations, I enjoyed this TV series. The plot revolves around Elisabeth, Empress of Austria and her life at court. She ruled from 1854-1898. Watching this series was my first introduction to this monarch.
I see two unconventional people who want more out of life than the roles and responsibilities they are being forced to. Franz wants the freer life he had before his uncle died and he was made the emperor while Elisabeth simply wants her life to be filled with love, horse riding, writing her poems and of course, being able to express herself freely without the rules of society standing in the way.
The storytelling and character development is great. Every character stands out and from the first episode, it's easy to understand them. At the heart of this historical drama are romance, politics, rivalry and acrimony. The focus is on an impending revolution and the war with the Russians. Every episode is intriguing and compels me to watch the next episode immediately. So it's best to binge-watch this series to fully enjoy it.
Now to the cast's acting, Devrim Lingnau's performance as Elisabeth is outstanding. She gives life to this character and viewers catch a glimpse of the real person's life in court at that time. However, I'm not too sure about her chemistry with Philip Froissant who plays the emperor. He's stiff and very hard to read. Yet I don't mind Philip's acting because all eyes are on the Empress!
Johannes Nussbaum who plays Maximilian, the bold and crazy brother of Franz is convincing in his role. He's the black sheep of the family with clear intentions of taking the throne from his brother but his charms and beguiling smile make him likeable.
The cinematography, costumes and visuals are impressive. I mean, what's a historical drama with romance at its heart without some gorgeous royal flair?
Overall, I enjoyed watching The Empress and if there's going to be a second season, then I'll be looking forward to it. I'll rate this series 3.2 stars out of 5.
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Other images are screenshots from the series
Posted using CineTV
