Summary
Unsurprisingly, Herbert’s actions attract enemies from within the Palace who plot to remove him from power.
Episode 2 of The Regime has some hilarious moments thrown in, but it’s also fascinating to watch how successful Herbert is at manipulating Elena. For most of the premiere, Herbert served as the audience stand-in, so it’s fun as Season 1 progresses seeing him blossom into the sociopathic madman he was always meant to be.
“The Founding” is a disturbing show of how far Herbert’s unruly influence on Elena can go. Aside from embracing country remedies like potato steam baths, mustard poultices, and black radish mush to treat any affliction, Elena also allows her favorite Butcher to handle her diplomacy in a less than diplomatic fashion.
It’s been three weeks since Elena got rid of Susan and gave a brave anti-American live speech. Herbert is not in charge of the Palace’s healthy atmosphere and convinces Elena of the healing effects of steamed potatoes. Meanwhile, the U.S. is sending one of their Senators to see the Chancellor and try to dissuade her from her newfound anti-Western rhetoric.
What remedies is Herbert giving Elena?
Herbert arrives while Elena and her husband are enjoying breakfast. The Chancellor and Herbert reminisce about the fun they had the previous night (the two seemingly dream about each other). Herbert then offers Elena some black radishes and mustard poultice to make her feel better. According to him, the country remedies he learned from his mother are the only medicine that works.
We learn that Herbert has also been treating Agnes’s young son, Oskar, with the magical black radish for epilepsy. Thankfully, Agnes has been secretly giving the boy real medicine too.
At the palace’s sugarbeet festival, Elena’s adviser and friend, Emil Bartosh, is trying to talk her into not completely blowing up her country’s relationship with the U.S. or the Cobalt deal. She immediately accuses him of wanting to keep the Americans sweet for the sake of his bank account.
Herbert is also training Elena to the point of vomiting from sheer exertion. He claims this is the only way to remove the “poison” from her body.
When her husband expresses worry over Herbert pushing her too hard, Elena claims this is the best she’s felt in years. She then pretends to fall asleep when the poor man tries suggesting they get intimate.
Does Herbert have a violent past?
Nicky secretly meets with a few ministers to discuss the Herbert problem. We find out he has a particularly violent past. He beat up his mother within an inch of her life when he was only 14 and, more recently, was the first to shoot when the miners started protesting at Site 5.
While damning, the husband is worried any mention of Herbert’s violent background could push Elena closer to him. The ministers are worried about seeing her go from a complete germaphobe to fully embracing alternate country remedies. They’re also worried she might turn away from the Cobalt deal with the Americans, which would be bad for all their wallets.
In the morning, Agnes is shocked to see several self-harm injuries on Herbert’s body. She tends to his wounds and tries advising him to stop hurting himself.
While Elena’s waiting for the American senator’s visit, Herbert mentions how their dreams are turning “spicier.” She seems uncomfortable at the thought.
What happens when the U.S. senator visits?
The meeting with Senator Holt starts well enough. Firstly, Elena has her sit at an enormous long table, reminiscent of a real-life political leader’s long table. But the senator has an interesting offer for Elena’s country that includes full NATO membership and even help with joining the European Union. All Elena has to do is return to the Cobalt project.
As the Senator is trying to charm Elena, Herbert approaches and stares her down menacingly. Elena then offers to give the Senator a tour of the palace. During the tour, they isolate the Senator from her security detail and proceed to lock her alone in the music room with an intimidating Herbert.
After her scare, the Senator leaves the palace and all but runs straight to the airport.
Meanwhile, Agnes sneaks into Herbert’s room and bugs it.
What happens to Emil when he arrives at the Palace?
Emil arrives at the Palace for what he thinks is a meeting with Elena. Instead, he walks into his own televised trial. She berates him for becoming rich by working with the Americans and implies his business practices were less than ethical. When Emil tries to leave, Elena informs him he’s the new Palace cleaner.
How does The Regime Season 1 Episode 2 end? Who is The Founding?
Nicolas goes to the secret club meeting where the ministers are watching live footage of Herbert self-flagellating. He encourages the ministers to refrain from trying to expose him to Elena. Instead, he wants them to help him further rise the ranks, speeding up the inevitable fall once Elena tires of her new black radish-loving pet.
The three ministers approach Elena and show her fake evidence that Herbert is, in fact, a descendant of the nation’s founding. Based on the legend of Lech, Czech, and Rus’, Elena’s country believes there were four brothers, not three, with the fourth being the Founding of this unnamed central European land.
Naturally, the episode ends with her giving a speech telling her people the great news; one of the Founding’s descendants is walking around her very palace. She also has a giant portrait of the Founding in Herbert’s likeness installed in the middle of the Palace’s great hall.
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