The Empress – Season 2 Episode 3 “A Letter From The Empress” Recap & Review

A Letter From The Empress

The Empress season 2 episode 3 starts with Elisabeth and Franz, about to set off their royal tour across the kingdom. Elisabeth is excited to travel the kingdom and meet the people, but she also has plans for Milan that she is keeping from her husband.

Napoleon read about the trip from the newspaper and admits that he underestimated Elisabeth. It seems she is helping Franz slow the independence movement. He sets a meeting with the Prime Minister of Piedmont. Once they meet, the Prime Minister asks for France’s help to get weapons for the revolution. In return, he offers Napoleon credit for his help once they get independence.

At the same time, Alexander informs Leontine that he wrote to her dad to ask her hand in marriage and invite him to Vienna. She implores him to write another letter and claim he was wrong.

Alexander is confused since he thought her family was the reason she turned his proposal down. If he only knew! She cruelly tells him that she has never said she loves him and leaves to join Elisabeth on her royal trip. Before they leave, Sophia suggests that Elisabeth uses this time to get pregnant.

The royal trip starts well, and the media sings praises for Elisabeth. Franz is proud of his wife and acknowledges her efforts. They also reconnect, but decide they are not ready for another pregnancy yet. On the trip, Leontine and Charlotte seem to agree that the young ladies-in-waiting should not be carried by emotion but duty.

A few days later, the entourage arrives in Milan, and that is when trouble rears its head. The police forcefully get people to welcome the royals at the station. However, the people don’t cheer for the royals; instead, they drop their flags and flowers and look at them with disdain. This scares Elisabeth and angers Franz. They head over to the Viscount for dinner and to meet Maxmillian along with his betrothed.

Back in Vienna, Sophia sets about to get some work done. She and Alexander go through the Cardinal’s proposal. Given his recent heartbreak, Alexander is less patient and brutal in his wording to Sophia. They disagree on most of the Cardinal’s requests, making it hard for them to work together.

Simultaneously, Sophia prepares to spend more time with Frienchen, and Margarete brings some of Sophia’s childhood toys from her home. She also brings an old painting of Sophia and her twin sister, which seems to torment Sophia. It brings up dark memories of her past that Sophia has been trying to forget.

At the Viscount’s house, Maximilian introduces Marie to his brother and his sister-in-law. He needs Franz’s permission to marry Marie, or else her father will withdraw his consent. Maximilian also runs into Buol, who refuses to admit his role in the failed coup d’état when Maximilian brings it up.

Franz is keen to know Marie better but is also aware of Maximilian being around Elisabeth. At dinner, they talk about how the locals welcomed them and whether they are getting encouragement from outsiders.

Maximilian gets drunk and suggests they allow the people in Milan to speak their language and access to education. Elisabeth supports his views, and Franz loses his cool and starts shouting that it is his responsibility to decide. He later threatens Maximilian, saying he might not give his blessing for his union with Marie. Marie also expresses her frustration with Maximilian’s behaviour. She worries that he is trying to impress Elisabeth, but he clarifies he only wants her.

After dinner, Elisabeth confronts Franz for shouting at her and cautions him never to do it again. She tells him that she plans to visit Adolfo’s family and give them their condolences. As expected, Franz orders her not to, but Elisabeth ignores him. The next morning, she gets ready with the help of Leontine. However, Franz decides to join her.

They ride to Adolfo’s village and talk to his family while pretending to be officials sent by the Empress. Adolfo’s dad doesn’t support his son’s actions. As a proud military man, he thinks the young people are being misled. However, Adolfo’s younger brother, Gino, supports him. He has seen firsthand what the military is doing to the young men brave enough to speak their truth.

On the day that the royals came to town, the police roughed him up because he refused to greet them in their language. Elisabeth and Franz listen to their plight and promise to inform the Empress of everything. They offer the family money, but the latter refuses to take it.

After the royals leave, Gino’s girlfriend sees them. She is surprised that the visit changed Gino’s views of the royals. She reminds him that the empress won’t protect them; they need to protect themselves.

The visit gives Franz a new perspective, and he thanks Elisabeth. He returns to the Viscount’s house and talks to his brother. Though painful, he forgives Maximilian and appoints him the new viscount. He also gives his blessing to Maximillian’s union with Marie. The entourage returns home, and Elisabeth rushes to see her children, remembering the advice Adolfo’s mom gave her. Elisabeth also inspires Leontine to choose her happiness and follow her heart. Upon getting back, she rushes to Alexander and accepts his proposal.

The episode ends with Napoleon reading the newspaper and learning that Franz appointed Maximilian as the news Viscount of Lombardy-Venetia. Of course, he is not too pleased.

The Episode Review

At this point, it is looking more likely that a revolution is coming. As Sophia said, sooner or later, more ethnic groups are going to demand their independence. In this episode, Franz appoints his brother as the Viscount of Lombardy- Venetia, but only as a figurehead.

It is unclear whether Maximilian fully realises what this means or is overlooking it because Franz gave his blessings to his upcoming nuptials. Based on what Marie said to Elisabeth before they left Lombardy-Venetia, I fear she might not be the perfect fit for Maximilian. Based on what we know from history, she and Elisabeth never got along and things didn’t end well for Maximilian.

It was a good idea to visit Adolfo’s parents, but this won’t do much to quell the revolution. The people are suffering and Franz has been ignoring their cries for help for too long. Once again, we see how kind and thoughtful Elisabeth was. If it were not for her, Franz would have lost his empire long ago. 

It is interesting to get a glimpse of Sophia. She always comes off so cold and heartless that it is almost jarring to see her as a vulnerable little kid. On the other hand, Leontine has finally accepted Alexander’s proposal but what happens when the truth comes out? Will Alexander love her after discovering her past and the things she did to get to where she is?