Plot: A year within the palace of a modern European authoritarian regime as it unravels.
The Regime Miniseries was a lot of hit and misses.
Pros: This series had intrigued me each time. It succeeds being an electrical satire with a original storyline. Kate Winslet was tremendous in her role. There’s a lot going on that kept me watching and the twist & turns were surprising.
Cons: The tone didn’t stay assistant. It was difficult to follow with the story as it was moving along. I didn’t like the romance between Elena & Herbert and every episode did drag on.
Genre: Political satire
Created by Will Tracy
Directed by Stephen Frears, Jessica Hobbs.
Starring: Kate Winslet, Andrea Riseborough, Matthias Schoenaerts, Martha Plimpton, Guillaume Gallienne & Hugh Grant.
Executive producers: Stephen Frears, Kate Winslet, Frank Rich, Tracey Seaward, Will Tracy
Production companies: SAF Films West; HBO Entertainment
Channel: HBO, Sky
Cast:
Main:
- Kate Winslet as Elena Vernham, the chancellor of a Central European autocracy who gradually finds her position threatened by domestic turmoil.[8]
- Matthias Schoenaerts as Herbert Zubak, a recently disgraced soldier appointed as Elena’s “personal water diviner” who quickly becomes her most trusted advisor.
- Guillaume Gallienne as Nicholas Vernham, Elena’s French, poetry-loving husband who becomes suspicious of her relationship with Zubak and his influence over her.
- Andrea Riseborough as Agnes, the Palace Manager and Elena’s right-hand woman.
- Danny Webb as Mr. Laskin, the head of the country’s security service.
- Henry Goodman as Mr. Singer, one of Elena’s ministers.
- David Bamber as Victor Schiff, one of Elena’s ministers.
- Rory Keenan as Peter
- Stanley Townsend as Emil Bartos, the country’s leading businessman and director of its cobalt mines.
Guest:
- Martha Plimpton as Judith Holt, a United States senator and the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who seeks to protect American interests in the country’s cobalt resources.
- Hugh Grant as Edward Keplinger, the former chancellor who was ousted seven years earlier and has since been held prisoner in a cell located beneath the palace.
- Pippa Haywood as Susan Goin, the former Minister of Finance who is imprisoned after being falsely accused of conspiring to assassinate Elena.
- Jessica Frances Dukes as Deborah Kaiser, wife of the American CEO seeking to access the country’s cobalt resources.
- Karl Markovics as Tomas.
- Julia Davis as Marina, a dream interpreter.
- Kenneth Collard as Dr. Kershaw, Elena’s former personal physician who is imprisoned after being falsely accused of conspiring to assassinate her.
- Louie Mynett as Oskar, Agnes’ epileptic son whom Elena dotes upon.
I recommend watching this series on Sky Atlantic.
Rating: 6 out of 10 Stars
Ryan Balkwill:
Resident TV reviewer,
Level Best Art Cafe