Summary
It’s hard to watch this series without becoming fully enveloped in the insanity it portrays.
HBO’s political satire The Regime, starring Kate Winslet, takes a look at a crumbling autocracy from behind the walls of its paranoid ruler’s palace. The six-episode miniseries, streaming on Max, was created by Will Tracy, whose pungent writing you might recognize from The Menu or the hit series Succession, another show criticizing the elite’s neverending hypocrisy.
It’s a well-written and too-relevant piece of television meant to make you smile through the tears of despair as it sucks you deeper into the world of its fictional dictator.
The Regime Season 1 review and plot summary
The Regime invites us into the world of the central European autocratic country ruled by Chancellor Elena Vernham (Winslet). A former medical doctor, Elena is a self-serving hypochondriac dictator who forced her way into power by usurping and imprisoning the former left-leaning Chancellor, Ed (played excellently by Hugh Grant, who appears in only one yet glorious episode).
Elena’s pushover husband is French expatriate Nicky (Guillaume Gallienne). And while she doesn’t have any kids of her own, the Chancellor forcibly “co-parents” 10-year-old Oscar with his reluctant mother, Agnes, who just so happens to serve as Palace Manager.
Like all self-respecting dictators, Elena has some unusual quirks everyone around her is forced to indulge. Since her father’s passing from lung disease, she’s obsessed with keeping her palace humidity and mold-free. Speaking of her father, he’s still with Elena, not just in spirit. Elena keeps Daddy’s well-preserved corpse inside a glass coffin so she can visit and engage in meaningful heart-to-hearts with him.
When the series opens, we’re introduced to Elena’s insane world through the eyes of Corporal Herbert Zubak, a soldier who got a wee bit too trigger-happy during a protest at a cobalt mine. The incident led to the death of 12 miners and earned Herbert the title of “Butcher.” Intrigued, Elena decided to hire him as her personal humidity measurer.
It doesn’t take long for Herbert to reveal himself as more than just a violent thug. He’s also a fierce populist and a bit of a sociopath with an intense hatred of his government’s friendly/subservient relationship with the American corporations exploiting the country’s cobalt mines. As his influence over the Chancellor grows, so does her penchant for increasingly erratic political decisions.
Under Herbert’s influence, Elena starts enjoying mustard poultices, black radish remedies, and delicious bowls of dirt, complete with live worms for protein. You shouldn’t feel sorry for Elena. She’s a horrible dictator and a lying, conniving politician who’s more than happy to fill up her purse while her people starve.
But Herbert’s influence on her is textbook a-la-Rasputin; abusive and fascinating to watch. When they first meet, he “love-bombs” her and earns her trust. He then slowly takes over all aspects of her life while isolating her from everyone else. Theirs is a bizarre and codependent relationship with dire consequences for the poor citizens of the unnamed central European country.
Why you shouldn’t miss The Regime
Kate Winslet is undeniably outstanding in her approach to the ruthless and highly insecure Elena. While the Oscar winner is mostly known for her dramatic roles, in The Regime she demonstrates great comedic timing while adding a layer of vulnerability to The Chancellor’s character.
Despite having a smaller part, Andrea Riseborough stands out as the Palace Manager forced to live at the beck and call of her Chancellor. Riseborough plays Agnes with quiet desperation at the insanely unfair position she’s forced to endure.
The Regime is an exquisite piece of television satire. It’s hilarious yet tragic and highly relevant in its portrayal of a narcissistic dictator reminiscent of several historically recent and not-so-recent known autocrats. Everything from the meticulously designed costumes to the look of Elena’s palace to the engaging story to the well-written dialogue will keep you glued to your screens every Sunday for its entire six-week run.
What did you think of The Regime Season 1? Comment below.
RELATED:
