This article contains spoilers for The Empress season 2.The Empressseason 2 had a dramatic ending that saw Emperor Franz Joseph I going off to war. The second season, which isbased on Empress Elisabeth of Austria’s life, is set a few years after the events of season 1. WhileThe Empressseason 1 was about Elisabeth and Franz’s marriage and her trials at the Viennese Court, the sophomore season focused on her motherhood journey and the rising tension between Austria and the Italian-language speaking territories.
After only giving birth to girls, Elisabeth was under a lot of pressure to produce an heir. But when she nearly died in childbirth, she decided she didn’t want to become pregnant again.Despite how she felt, Austria needed an heir to succeed Franz, more so because the empire was facing another revolution. Thesecond season ofThe Empressalso sees Franz’s struggle with losing his daughter and his inability to resolve the conflict in the Lombardy-Venetia territory, which ultimately led to war.
Why Franz Joined His Army On The Battlefield
Franz Felt That It Was His Duty To Help His Soldiers Fight
After months of rebelling against Austrian rule, Franz was left with no choice but to declare war on the Kingdom of Piedmont in order to stop the violence and slaughtering of his people. WhileThe Empressseason 2 had been building up to that outcome since its first episode,Franz deciding to join his soldiers on the battlefield was a surprise. When he declared war on the Kingdom of Piedmont, he had no idea that Napoleon III was the reason they were confident enough to challenge him.
Franz, who had always preferred peace and did his best to avoid war, was despondent over the number of people who had lost their lives.
The Austrian army lost thousands of its soldiers and had many with serious injuries. Franz, who had always preferred peace and did his best to avoid war, was despondent over the number of people who had lost their lives. This led him to the decision to join the army and lead his soldiers on the battlefield instead of waiting patiently while more people died. Although Franz sometimes felt overwhelmed by his responsibilities and would have preferred a much simpler life where he was just a husband and father,it is his empathy that ultimately drove him to the war front.
Why Napoleon Wanted To Wage War On Austria, Explained
Napoleon III Was On The Front lines In The Second Italian War Of Independence
Napoleon III played a huge role in the Second Italian War of Independence. Early in the series, Maximilian had gone to France to ask for Napoleon’s help in quieting down the dissent that was growing in the Italian-language speaking territories. Napoleon, who had plans of his own, couldn’t agree to help the Austrians, but instead said he would think about supporting them. At the time, Austria was the biggest kingdom in the region andNapoleon wanted to defeat the Austrians so they could lose some of their territories in order for France to take the top spot.
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However, he couldn’t outright declare war on Austria, which meant that he had to find a way of getting involved without raising suspicion. In order for the Kingdom of Piedmont to be victorious against the Austrians, they needed help from the French. Napoleon, who knew this, agreed he would help Cavour on one condition. If the Austrians attacked the Kingdom of Piedmont first, then he would send French troops to the border. The French, who had a bigger army and more weapons, won the war,thereby cementing Napoleon’s position in Europe.
What Happened To Maximilian At The End Of The Empress Season 2?
Maximilian Was Unhappy With How Franz Handled The Austrian And Kingdom Of Piedmont Conflict
InThe Empressseason 1, Maximilian tried to stage a coup that would make him emperor, but he failed. Instead of sentencing him to death, Franz exiled his brother, which is where the second season of the series finds him. While in exile, Maximilian grew restless and depressed, until Franz summoned him to the Viennese Court so he could be sent as an envoy to Napoleon. During his trip to France,Maximilian met the Princess of Belgium, Marie, and fell in love with her. However, he needed Franz’s permission for them to get married.
Franz gave Maximilian his blessing and made him the Austrian Viceroy of Lombardy-Venetia, with the hope that he would help make the relationship between Austria and Lombardy better. Maximilian excelled in his new position, but everything that he had done to win the people of Lombardy over was jeopardized when Franz granted General Gyulai complete power.
While Max wanted to make up with Franz, he realized that his brother would never trust him with a position in his government again, so he and Marie left the palace.
After seeing the effects that losing his funding had, Max decided to travel to Austria to talk to his brother, but he was too late as they were already on the brink of war. In order for Franz to show the Lombardians that the Austrian royalty knew they had failed them,he stripped Max of his position as the Viceroy of Lombardy-Venetia. While Max wanted to make up with Franz, he realized that his brother would never trust him with a position in his government again, so he and Marie left the palace.
What Happened To Countess Apafi In The Empress Season 2
Countess Apafi Was No Longer In Elisabeth’s Court
Countess Leontine Apafi, one of the most intriguingcharacters inThe Empress, managed to hide the fact that she was an impostor from Elisabeth in the show’s first season. In season 2, Leontine fell in love with Alexander von Bach, who wanted to marry her, but she refused his proposal because she didn’t want him to discover that she wasn’t who she said she was. On top of lying to Alexander,Leontine’s life got even more complicated when she got pregnant with his child. Knowing that she couldn’t keep the child, she decided to leave her child with the nuns.
Alexander didn’t understand why Leontine couldn’t marry him, especially because he knew she loved him. So he took it upon himself to invite the real Countess Apafi’s father in order to ask for his blessing. Alexander was in for a rude awakening when the countess’s father showed him a picture of his daughter, and thus revealed that Leontine was an impostor. When he found out who she really was, Alexander sent Leontine away, and she left the castle in the dead of night without telling anyone where she was going.
How The Empress Season 2’s Ending Sets Up Season 3
The Empress Season 2 Ended On A Cliffhanger
Several storylines in the finale were left unresolved, which ultimately sets upThe Empressseason 3. In the final scenes of the second season,Alexander von Back quit his position as the foreign ministerand decided to follow Leontine, which hints at a possible romance between them if and when the series returns.The Empressseason 2 introduced a new storyline involving Archduchess Sophie’s youngest son, Ludwig. Ludwig was interested in a young baron, but his mother caught him before he could act on his feelings.
According to historical reports, Franz Joseph I survived and returned to Austria.
It will be interesting to see if Ludwig will defy his mother inThe Empressseason 3 or if he will obey her wishes as he always had. With Franz off to fight at the front lines,Elisabeth and Archduchess Sophie were left to rule in his stead. Franz’s absence and the worry of whether he will survive is capable of triggering Elisabeth’s volatile emotions, which might have an effect on how well she can govern her subjects. Whether Elisabeth and Archduchess Sophie succeed or fail in uniting Austria is something that could be explored inThe Empressseason 3 if it were to happen.
The Real Meaning Of The Empress Season 2 Ending
The Emotional Impact Of War And Duty Were Key Themes
The title of the final episode ofThe Empressseason 2 is “All We Can Do”, which is incredibly fitting given that the core themes of the finale are duty, war, and the emotional toll both have on the characters. More or less every character is affected by the ongoing war in Europe, the duties of their position (such as Mimi’s potential marriage to the Prince of Sicily), or both. While the set-pieces forThe Empressmay include many grand palaces and picturesque gardens,the season 2 ending hammers home that, in many ways, the nobility of Austria are just as trapped by their rung on the social ladder as those they rule over.
There are also some wider historical themes toThe Empressseason 2 ending too, ones that are focused less on specific characters and more on the setting.The conflict between Napoleonand Austria is escalating significantly by the time season 2 ofThe Empressconcludes. The show doesn’t hold back from revealing how violent the war is becoming, either, with mentions of events like Napoleon sanctioning the massacre of thousands of Austrian soldiers. “All We Can Do” ends with Elisabeth explaining to Sophie that all they can do is hope for a brighter future - andthis parting message is howThe Empressseason 2 ending cements the idea that the characters exist in dark times, and they know it.
How The Empress Season 2’s Ending Was Received
A Significant Improvement On Season 1
Overall,The Empressseason 2 was received incredibly well by viewers and critics alike. The ending was a key factor in the praised received too, though not always directly. Netflix released all six episodes ofThe Empressseason 2 in November 2024 in a single batch, meaning there aren’t many reviews that specifically focus on “All We Can Do”. Instead, most reviews delve intoThe Empressseason 2 as a whole.This doesn’t mean the ending is ignored though, and one of the most often mentioned strengths of season 2 is incredibly apparent in the final episode - the maturity of the narrative.
The Empressseason 2 focused much more on the politics and historical events unfolding within and around the Hapsburg Empire, paying much more attention to the historical context than season 1. This was, of course, especially prevalent in the ending, which focused on the decision of characters like Franz going to war, and Mimi having to wrestle with a potential political marriage to the Prince of Sicily. While season 1 was by no means bad, the follow-up was much better, and by the end ofThe Empressseason 2, it was clear that the show had become a much maturer and more sophisticated viewing experience.
The Empress
Cast
Elisabeth “Sisi” of Bavaria’s life changes dramatically when she weds Emperor Franz Joseph and becomes Empress of Austria. Navigating the treacherous waters of the Viennese court, Sisi encounters both grand romance and fierce political maneuvering. As she adapts to her new position, she must assert her individuality and strength to protect her family and her empire.
