Elisabeth assumes the position of Austria’s Empress after the Emperor chose her over her sister. In contrast to her spouse, she rapidly gains popularity among the general public following the wedding. With rising poverty and the possibility of war, widespread dissatisfaction against the Emperor intensifies. His brother takes advantage of the situation to plot against him. Additionally, a gang of individuals intends to sabotage the king and break into the palace.
Elisabeth is urged by the Archduchess to abide by the regulations she created because she fears losing authority. Despite the royal family’s objections, Elisabeth seeks to engage her populace.
Performances
The complete cast’s performance transports the audience to Vienna in the nineteenth century and gives ordinary historical figures a personal face. With her careful portrayal of the Archduchess, notorious for controlling her whole family, Melika Foroutan steals the stage. Elisabeth is brought to life in front of the audience through Devrim Lingnau’s performance. Emperor Franz Joseph is portrayed by Philip Froissant as experiencing a range of emotions as he struggles to balance his loyalty to his wife with his responsibilities as the Emperor. The part of the avaricious brother of the Emperor is played by Johannes Nussbaum. The audience’s perception of him as a person who has spent his entire life in his brother’s shadow is continuously diminished by the skill with which he captures the character’s anguish and jealousy.
Pros
The show’s stunning graphics immediately capture viewers’ attention in the first sequence. Every episode’s shots pay close attention to the little things and use their aesthetics to heighten the mood of the situation. The torn Empress’s emotions are frequently depicted in the camera angles. The conflicts between each character raise the plot’s emotional stakes. The screenplay and the performers do a good job at executing the interactions, whether it be a rivalry or a growing romance. Instead of concentrating entirely on their passion, unlike numerous movies about the Empress, this television series explores the difficulties she had in her relationship with the Emperor.
The fact that the show’s author is a woman undoubtedly aids in giving the Empress and her life a genuine picture. She is a victim of various patriarchal norms that see women as less valuable than males. The sequence when Elisabeth’s chastity is confirmed by two men is a realistic depiction of the Empress’ marriage in the nineteenth century. Elisabeth makes an effort to challenge the norms but is unsuccessful.
Cons
The program struggles to keep its attention on the first season’s narrative while trying to establish its characters and plots. The first season’s satisfaction is diminished by the knowledge that several significant plotlines are being developed for the following seasons. While concentrating on the Vienna rebellion, the program walks a fine line between glorifying the monarchy and offering a reasonably accurate portrayal of historical events. It follows a narrative framework that is reminiscent of other historical fiction that came before it.