A Gentleman In Moscow – Episode 3 Recap & Review

The Last Rostov

Episode 3 of A Gentleman In Moscow begins in 1926. Rostov stands atop the roof and unlike the end of the previous chapter, is actually far more distressed this time around. He contemplates suicide but before he can take a step further forward, we jump back to day 1638 since Rostov was incarcerated. He does his stretches on the roof and the world is his oyster. Well, as much as it can be while stuck inside a snow globe.

An explosion in the distance shatters this illusion; the pangs of revolution and big cultural changes hang on the air. Apparently these are just the old buildings being demolished, so says a new acquaintance, Abram. He’s the caretaker and he’s certainly heard of Alexander Rostov. As the pair laugh and enjoy each other’s company, a far more sinister wave of change hangs over Mother Russia.

The Death of Lenin has plunged the country into a power struggle between Trotsky and General Secretary Stalin. No surprises over who wins here, especially if you know your history. Anyway, Nina is much older now, and can hold her own intellectually against Rostov.

This position is accentuated by how Nina seems to have the upper-hand while they play chess. It’s a subtle note of how Nina’s influence is gaining while Rostov’s is waning. In fact, he’s distracted by Anna who has returned to the hotel many times and she continues to ignore him every visit. She’s absolutely gameplaying here and knows what she’s doing.

Rostov tries to win her over and throws in an expensive bottle of champagne and a note asking for another chance. Now, it does seem a bit desperate but she’s interested in what happens next (outside the romantic context presumably). She watches as  Mishka approaches Rostov and informs him that the Countess has died. She was in ill health for a number of years and died at age 87.

Rostov is shocked to learn she was cremated, and her ashes are to remain in exile too. There’s no Russian burial for her. He scathingly retorts that he is the last of the Rostov family line, and even God is in exile.

Changes are afoot in the hotel too, as some of the old paintings are, well, painted over. Rostov is shocked but his displeasure continues when he’s brought into the dining room by none other than Osip. He’s been reading the novels and the pair have a… well it’s not really a friendship but more a mutual understanding of sorts, between two people.

Rostov can tell what sort of man Osip is, given his military background, and Osip retorts that he never had books growing up. His 8 year old daughter though loves to read, which does reframe the book given as a present in episode 2. Osip admits he wants to understand the privileged class and in order to do so, they’re going to meet and he’ll help him.

Meanwhile, Rostov continues to do everything he can to woo Anna, even showing up at her door instead of the hired help to show with room service. When he shows, Rostov is submissive to Anna’s whims and apparently she was waiting for him. All those nights, he could have knocked and asked to meet but he never took the initiative. 

Rostov hurriedly ends up having sex with Anna when she suggests they get busy, and after, when he asks if there will be a next time, she simply replies “perhaps”.

Up on the rooftop, the explosions continue. Abram is distracted and points out that the Imperial Gardens have been completely ripped up and his working hives, with the queen bee dead, have been ravaged. This is a nice way of giving symbolic context to the death of the royal family and how the worker drones are struggling to find a solution and a way out.

At dinner, Bishop sneaks up on Rostov and startles him while he’s ordering food. Now, Rostov is quite particular over his wine but all the labels have been ripped off in the wake of this big cultural movement so there really are just two choices – red or white. Rostov is taken aback but there’s not really much he can do in his position.

Hanging heavy over a lot of this is the death of Rostov’s grandmother. He’s convinced that there will be others that show up, alongside him and Mishka in their private dinner suite, but aside from Nina… there aren’t. Even Nina is a bit off-colour given she speaks of doing her part for Mother Russia and seems to have bought into this new way of thinking.

Mishka explains that this sort of loyalty or show of care toward the royal family could be seen as an act of defiance. Rostov is shocked over how Nina is buying into these ideals and questions her. Eventually, it leads to her leaving in a huff.

While this is going on, out in the main lobby, Joseph Stalin decides he’s not going to show up after all, much to the disappointment of Anna. And that embarrassment is shared by Rostov, for very different reasons. While left alone, Rostov receives an unlikely visitor – Osip.

Osip explains the fate of the others who could have shown up and warns that he’s still a prisoner here, despite what it may appear. As he leaves, Rostov’s grandmother’s words resonate in his mind “Know when you are beaten”.

Up on the rooftop, we then get a scene of Nina jumping to her death, and that coinciding with the opening scenes of the episode, as Rostov looks set to do the same thing. However, he’s stopped by Abram, who appears and explains that the bees have come back. He sees this as a sign for Rostov that he needs to stay and look after them. Abram believes Rostov still has so much more to give and warns him not to waste it.

That night, both Anna and Rostov end up toasting their failures at the bar. With a bottle of Bolly, they get into the elevator together and hold hands.

The Episode Review

At the midway point of the show, The Gentleman In Moscow is shaping up to be a rather mediocre historical drama, all things considered. The casting choices and decision to go for predominantly English accents rather than Russian actors/actresses is distracting, given this is supposed to be, well, Russia in the 1920’s.

This episode we do get some good symbolism with the bees and a few nice nods to where Russia is going in the future, but beyond that there’s not too much to really sink your teeth into. Seeing Rostov running around like a lost puppy after Anna is another contemptuous choice, and it doesn’t do his stature or position as royalty any favours. It makes him look incredibly weak, in all honesty.

Hopefully the second half of this drama can improve but so far, this has been a pretty average watch.