A Gentleman in Moscow Episode 3 (The Last Rostov) Recap & Ending Explained: “A Gentleman in Moscow” is a Parmount+ eight-part limited series created by Ben Vanstone. It’s based on Amor Towles’ 2016 novel of the same name. The series chronicles the confined life of the former aristocrat Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov at Moscow’s Metropol Hotel as Russia was transformed into the Soviet Union in the decades after the 1917 October Revolution. In the previous episode of “A Gentleman in Moscow” (An Invitation), we saw Alexander’s sexual liaison with actor Anna Urbanova and his reconnection with his old friend, Mishka. Moreover, Alexander’s only friend inside Metropol, Nina Kulikova, left the hotel to pursue her studies.
“A Gentleman in Moscow” episode 3, “The Last Rostov,” showcases Alexander’s feelings of dejection after hearing a grim news. A few years have passed, and the larger social & cultural changes being implemented on the outside are reflected inside the hotel, too. It pushes Alexander to lament for the life he has lost, although he is constantly reminded of his privileged position even in these dire times. How will Alexander process these changes and survive, which is only the beginning of Stalin’s aggressive rhetoric? What happens to Alexander’s friendship with Nina? Let’s find out what unfolds in “A Gentleman in Moscow” episode 3, “The Last Rostov.” Spoilers Ahead.
A Gentleman in Moscow Episode 3 “The Last Rostov” Recap:
Abram the Handyman and Beekeeper
“A Gentleman in Moscow” episode 3 opens on a night in 1926. A visibly distressed Alexander Rostov (Ewan McGregor) is standing at the edge of the roof, contemplating suicide. Episode 2 ended with Alexander watching from the balcony roof the first sunrise of the new year (1923). So, what led Alexander from that peaceful moment to make this tragic decision? Subsequently, the narrative jumps back nearly a month to the 1638th day of Alexander’s imprisonment at Metropol. On that day, Rostov is seen exercising on the balcony roof. Soon, loud explosions in the distance break Alexander’s focus. Atop the building, Alexander comes across the caretaker Abram (Dermot Crowley).
Abram says the explosions are the result of the authorities clearing the old buildings. He offers Alexander tea and bread with honey. The honey is from his beehive on the roof. They discuss the different tastes of honey as Alexander recalls how honey from his home tasted of apple blossoms. A voiceover informs the power struggle between Trotsky and General Secretary Stalin, although life inside Metropol largely remains the same. After a pleasing chat with Abram, Alexander looks cheerful when meeting Nina. She is now a teenager, and her school year has just finished. The precocious nine-year-old Nina Kulikova, who loved hearing the tales of princesses, now speaks with reverence about the Communist policies and Comrade Stalin.
What distressing news does Mishka bring for Alexander?
Their chess game is briefly interrupted by Anna Urbanova’s (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) arrival at the hotel. She strikes different poses for the photographer as Alexander looks at her longingly. It seems he hasn’t spoken a word with her after the disastrous one-night stand in December 1922. Nevertheless, he has sent champagne bottles to her room. Nina asks Alexander to make a move. Understanding that she isn’t talking about chess, Alexander goes to the bar to send a champagne bottle with a message to Anna’s table. However, Mishka (Fehinti Balogun) comes to visit Alexander and delivers bad news.
Alexander’s grandmother, the Countess, has passed away in England. Mishka knows about it since the party keeps track of the exiled aristocrats. When Alexander hears that his 87-year-old grandma was cremated without a proper service, he thinks of holding a service for her. But Mishka warns him about engaging in ‘ceremonious superstition.’ Nevertheless, Alexander, the last of the Rostovs, can’t stop himself from holding a gathering in remembrance of his grandma. He briefs the head waiter, Andrey, and the head chef, Emile, about the dishes that are to be prepared and wine served for around twenty guests. Alexander mends his suit, thanks to the efforts of Metropol’s maid and seamstress, Marina (Leah Harvey).
Alexander’s tale of the camouflaged moths
Almost everyone in the hotel warns him about the gathering and not to draw the officials’ attention. Later, secret police officer Osip (Johnny Harris) invites Alexander to the restaurant. Osip speaks to him about the polarizing views within the party about Trotsky and Stalin. Trotsky’s disciples are mostly educated and privileged, and to Stalin’s dismay, they are gaining a foothold in the party. Since Trotsky’s people meet at Metropol, Osip seeks Alexander’s help to understand the privileged classes. They will meet from time to time for these lessons. The exchange also reveals some details about Osip. He was a colonel during the wartime, has an eight-year-old daughter, and hails from Georgia. Most importantly, Alexander, for the first time, learns the secret police officer’s name: Osip Glebnikov.
Stalin’s control of art is felt inside the Metropol. The old paintings and sculptures are moved away. Only art whose purpose is determined by the party can be made and showcased in the public space. Alexander helplessly watches these rapid changes from his secret meeting with Nina in the attic. He speaks of white-winged peppered moths that survived thousands of years by camouflaging itself against the bark of silver birch trees. In contrast, moths with black wings are easily spotted by the birds. However, when the Industrial Revolution brought many factories to Manchester, the buildings and the surroundings were covered with soot that exposed white-winged moths, whereas the black moths could now camouflage itself against the soot.
Will Alexander reconnect with Anna Urbanova?
Alexander laments how a way of life can quickly fade due to changes. While Nina still sees Alexander as her friend, she disagrees with the subtext of his moth story. She says it’s all about adapting oneself to the changes. Mishka meets Alexander to once again implore him to rethink about the gathering. Alexander says it’s like any other social event in Moscow. But Mishka warns him that the party will see a gathering of the old elite as an act of defiance. When Mishka leaves, Alexander hears the bartender taking an order for Urbanova’s suite.
Alexander manages to take the champagne bottle to Anna Urbanova’s suite. To his surprise, she welcomes him. After sharing a drink, Alexander apologizes for his allegedly offensive remarks the last time. Anna says she wasn’t really offended but just wished to sleep after having had her enjoyment. She also jokingly mentions there’s an added advantage to having an affair with him since he can’t chase her down the street like most men. Anna more or less emphasizes that they can continue having their trysts as long as she is in the mood for it. Once that’s established, they retire to the bed.
Does Alexander learn anything about Anna’s past?
The pillow talk goes better this time around. Alexander mentions a magazine article where he read that Anna’s father was an industrial worker. But the last time they met, she told him her father was a fisherman. She says neither of the stories is true, but saying her father is an industrial worker might appeal to the readers. Furthermore, Anna goes on to state that her dad was a matador. Pointing to a scar on the shoulder, she narrates how her dad was killed while trying to save her from a raging bull. Seeing that this is the most dramatic of her ‘dad tales,’ Alexander guesses he might never know anything about Anna. He also likens her to the camouflaging moths of the Manchester. But when he proceeds to talk about the Manchester moths, Anna asks him why he looked sad after meeting Mishla.
Alexander talks about his grandma’s passing and his grief. She says it’s a privilege to grieve, knowing that they had someone to love and someone loved them. It suggests Anna never had a family or anyone to grieve. Before he tries to ask more questions, Anna asks Alexander to close the door on his way out. The following morning, Abram shows his bee colony collapsing after the Queen bee’s death. Alexander wonders if it’s due to the hornet attacks. The word ‘hornet’ makes Abram think of the destruction going outside to build the new Russia. He says even the Imperial Gardens, full of flowers and trees, were obliterated. Alexander assures Abram that his bees will be back soon. They might be simply searching somewhere for their pollen.
Who is Visiting the Metropol Hotel?
All this news of loss and rapid transformations feels like a harbinger of doom to Alexander. Alas, even Nina’s company isn’t as fun as it used to be. She is more occupied with Stalin’s ideas and to find the largest prime number. When the waiter, Bishop Leplevsky (John Heffernan), takes their order, Alexander asks for a specific wine bottle. But the waiter replies there’s only white and red wine in the hotel. Earlier, Alexander chastened Bishop for suggesting the wrong wine to a couple. Bishop, who has connections in the party, has subsequently reported the hotel’s extravagant wine collection. Now, the party has deemed wine as a ‘monument to nobility.’ Therefore, all the labels are removed from the wine bottles. So, a guest can now only opt for red or white wine.
For Alexander, ‘Chateauneuf-du-pape’ reminds him of his home and grandmother. Now, Alexander may never order his favorite wine. On the day of the gathering, Alexander sees that the Metropol lobby is teeming with officials (including Osip), and a large portrait of Stalin adorns the space. Alexander sees Nina jubilantly participating in the activities. It seems General Secretary Stalin is visiting the Metropol to attend a reception for Anna Urbanova’s new film. Anna eagerly anticipates Stalin’s arrival. On the other hand, only one guest has arrived for the commemoration. It’s none other than Mishka. A few minutes later, Nina also joins them.
A Gentleman in Moscow Episode 3 “The Last Rostov” Ending Explained:
The world Alexander knows is wholly lost
It’s clear to Mishka that none of the invited guests will choose to come to the hotel. But Alexander stubbornly waits for them. He says the guests he had invited were mostly older people. Alexander wonders what kind of revolution the octagenarians can instigate against the USSR. When Alexander rants about the label removal from the wine, Nina says wine is indeed a ‘monument to privilege.’ This only irks Alexander further as he directs his anger at Nina. Their argument reaches its end when Alexander says, “What have they done to you?” As Nina leaves, down in the hotel lobby, Anna receives the terrible news that Stalin is not coming to Metropol.
Nina might be fully indoctrinated in the Communist Party and Stalin’s ideals. Still, she is right about Alexander’s privileged status, unlike many of his fellow Russians. Osip further emphasizes his privileged position, even in post-revolution Russia. The secret police officer informs how his invited guests are living in miserable conditions, dreaming of the old life. He warns him that though his living conditions are relatively better, he is still a prisoner. Alexander’s anger is also understandable since the death of his grandmother not only makes him grieve for her but also for the way of life he had lost. It’s only replaced by a life where everything and every thought is strictly controlled.
Will Alexander learn from the bees?
Certain that he has been beaten, Alexander writes a letter to Nina and decides to jump from the balcony roof. As he stands on the edge of the roof, dark memories of his sister Helena’s death (who killed herself in a similar manner) plague him. But just as Alexander is about to take the plunge, Abram demands his attention. He says that the bees have come back and requests Alexander to come and look at it. The honey now tastes of apple blossom. Abram suggests the bees must have flown from Alexander’s home in Nizhny Novgorod.
Abram says it’s a sign that the bees want Alexander to stay and take care of them. Life somehow finds a way. Abram requests Alexander not to throw away his life since he still has a lot to give. “A Gentleman in Moscow” episode 3 “The Last Rostov” ends with Alexander meeting Anna at the bar. She is hopeless about her acting career because Stalin’s absence can only mean that he didn’t like the film. But for now, the two outcasts decide to find solace in each other as they take the elevator to the suite.
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