A Gentleman in Moscow Episode 5 (‘An Arrival’) Recap and 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. In the last episode, “Good Times,” we saw Alexander (Ewan McGregor) working as a head waiter at Metropol. Though Soviet Russia was subjected to wide-ranging repression under Stalin’s regime, Alexander had a relatively peaceful everyday life. Nevertheless, he painfully observes the downfall of his friend, Mishka (Fehinti Balogun), who is determined to speak truth to power.
More than a decade has passed since Alexander thought of killing himself. One cold night in 1938, a new phase in his confined life begins. A visibly distressed Nina (Leah Balmforth) visits Alexander, asking him to take care of her little girl, Sofia (Billie Gadson). Nina has decided to go after her husband, who is exiled to a Siberian labor camp. Sofia, Nina, and Alexander believe it’s a temporary arrangement, but the reality proves to be different. In “A Gentleman in Moscow” episode 5, “An Arrival,” Alexander gradually rises to the challenge of caring for a kid. He gets his support from the women in Metropol – Marina, Olga, and Anna. Unlike the previous episodes that made some time jumps, “An Arrival” unfolds just over a month and chronicles the beginning of the bond between Alexander and Sofia.
Now, let’s take a detailed look at “A Gentleman in Moscow” episode 5, “An Arrival,” which is so far the most heartwarming episode in the series. Spoilers Ahead.
A Gentleman in Moscow Episode 5 ‘An Arrival’ Recap:
The Arrival of Sofia
“A Gentleman in Moscow” episode 5 opens right after Nina leaves Sofia with Alexander in the hotel lobby. After recovering from the mild shock, Alexander guides little Sofia to his room. Just as they enter the elevator, Bishop Leplevksy (John Heffernan) sees the two. Thanks to his party connections, Bishop is now Metropol’s deputy manager. After climbing the steep steps to the attic room, Sofia gestures to Alexander to carry her to his room. The moment he puts Sofia to bed, the tired girl goes to sleep.
The following morning, Sofia wakes up to see Alexander sleeping in the chair. She sees an envelope being pushed under the door. Sofia securely places it in Alexander’s suit pocket. Over breakfast in the secret room, Alexander inquires about the name of Sofia’s doll. The girl says the doll doesn’t have a name. Alexander goes on to explain the need for a doll to have a name. Subsequently, Sofia simply names her doll Dolly. Separated from her parents, Sofia is slowly learning to trust and communicate with this strange uncle.
The new responsibility for Alexander
Then, Sofia asks Alexander to brush her hair. Apparently, he does a worse job, which is noticed by Anna Urbanova (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and her assistant/mother figure, Olga (Anastasia Hille), as they pass each other in the corridor. Alexander leaves Sofia under the care of seamstress Marina (Leah Harvey) since it’s time for his shift. He promises Marina that it’s only a temporary arrangement. Bishop asks Alexander to meet the hotel manager, Halecki (Rob Jarvis). The Metropol’s deputy manager has always harbored a grudge against the former aristocrat Alexander. While Bishop, now a staunch Party man, resents Alexander, in the early years, Alexander’s patronizing remarks towards Bishop only helped that resentment flourish.
Now, Bishop is in a position to order around Alexander. Hence, he asks that the child be handed over to the authorities. The manager, however, is sympathetic to the child and Alexander’s predicament. Alexander promises Nina will undoubtedly return within a month. Later, after discussing the seating arrangements at Boyarsky (the hotel restaurant) with head waiter Andrey and head chef Emily, Alexander notices the envelope in his pocket. It’s from Anna, and she asks Alexander to let himself into her suite at 1 p.m.
Can Alexander engage little Sofia?
Seeing that he is late for his intimate session, Alexander rushes to Anna’s suite. He strips off and enters the bathroom to find Olga in the bathtub. An embarrassed Alexander rapidly retreats, and he is caught by Anna, who has just entered the suite. Sharing the bathtub with Olga is Metropol’s concierge, Vasily. Anna says she has been meeting with a director to secure a lead role in an upcoming movie. She asks about the girl staying with Alexander. Alexander briefs Anna about the situation. Before leaving, Alexander borrows a couple of briefcases from Anna. Using the suitcase, Alexander procures mattresses for Sofia. But the girl prefers to sleep in his bed, and Alexander is left to sleep on the mattress on the floor.
The following morning, Alexander sits down to read a book in order to prepare himself for his routine meeting with secret police officer Osip Glebnikov (Johnny Harris). But he can’t make Sofia simply sit still. The quiet girl now becomes more talkative like her precocious mother, Nina, at a similar age. She questions Alexander about the twice-tolling clock, and when Alexander raises his voice a little, little Sofia starts sniffling. He tries to read her a story. But Anna Karenina can’t be a suitable story for kids. So, to engage the kid and continue his book reading, Alexander comes up with a plan.
How does Sofia outsmart Alexander in the game?
Alexander shows his precious thimble and says he will hide it somewhere in the room when Sofia leaves for the secret room and counts to 200. As Sofia counts to 100 twice (since she can only count to 100), Alexander calmly sits down to read the book. He didn’t make much effort to hide the thimble. Therefore, after counting 200, Sofia easily finds the object. When he tries to repeat the routine, Sofia objects saying it’s not a game if only she does the looking. Realizing that reading isn’t possible now, Alexander agrees to immerse himself in the game. He enters the secret room to count 200 as Sofia hides the thimble. While counting the numbers, Alexander hears the chair scraping in the other room.
When he enters the room, he sees the chair near a cabinet. Alexander examines the cabinet but can’t find the object. Surprised by Sofia’s misdirection, he looks at the nook and corner of the room, but still, there’s nothing. Eventually, Sofia takes the thimble out of Alexander’s jacket pocket, telling him she hid the object when Alexander was in the room. Sofia’s cleverness takes Alexander aback, and he shares the story with Andrey, who says Alexander sounds like a doting father. In the kitchen, Yasha (Marina’s son) and Ilya (Andrey’s son) talk about the possibility of a war with the Nazis. The boys have grown up with tales of war’s glory. Andrey admonishes the boys for not understanding what war really means.
Sofia swiftly adapts herself to the new environment
Later, Alexander keeps up his appointment with Osip. While he hasn’t read the book, Osip has finished the entire volume. When Osip asks Alexander’s opinion about the story’s developments, Alexander tries to evade the question. Subsequently, he confesses that he hasn’t read the book fully. Osip is already aware of Sofia’s presence. Perhaps, for the first time in their long acquaintance, Osip expresses some compassion towards Alexander as he asks him to go and be with Sofia.
It’s nearly midnight as Alexander returns to the attic room. He thanks Marina for looking after the girl. Recalling the tale of his family’s twice-tolling clock, Alexander puts Sofia to bed. The girl has become more comfortable living with Alexander, whom he now calls uncle. Alexander tucks her in, and Sofia gifts him a kiss on the cheek. The following morning, Sofia mimics Alexander’s routine activities. She even applies the shaving cream to do mock shaving. Over the next few weeks, Alexander and Sofia develop a sense of familiarity and bond. He often reminisces his fond memories of nine-year-old Nina and regales the kid with the tales of princesses. Whenever Sofia misses her mother, Alexander assures the kid she will be back soon.
Why is Anna Urbanova displeased?
One day, Alexander witnesses an argument between Olga and Bishop over the reallocation of Anna’s suite. It seems a new starlet, Mila Federova (Ines Pires Tavares), has captured the attention of General Secretary Stalin. Hence, the aging Anna has obviously lost her position. Comrade Anna accepts the reallocation, and she congratulates Mila, who sits alone in the bar. Mila is excited to meet her icon. At the same time, she feels guilty for allegedly usurping Anna’s position. Mila informs Anna that the leading role previously promised to Anna has now gone to Mila.
Unsure how to appease Anna’s feelings of disappointment, Mila suggests Anna take the mother role in the film. Naturally, it only enrages Anna. But she controls her anger and silently leaves the bar. As Alexander and Sofia leave for their room in the elevator, they come across Olga. Sofia’s innocence and pleasant disposition easily win over the gruff Olga, who takes Sofia to the suite and washes the girl’s hair. Alexander wonders if Anna can learn about Nina through her friends at the Party. More than a month has passed since Nina left Sofia with him. Alexander says he is not the right person to look after Sofia. But when he says the girl needs a mother, the word ‘mother’ irks Anna.
Will the authorities take away Sofia?
Anna talks about her current predicament. But she encourages Alexander to continue caring for Sofia since he is the only person available in the girl’s life who can show her love. Later, Alexander watches parents tearfully saying goodbye to their sons who are going to the battlefields. Yasha and Illya, dressed in their uniforms, will participate in the war they dreamed so much about. But Marina and Andrey are profoundly sad to see their respective sons leave the comfort of the hotel. During dinner, Bishop asks Alexander to meet the Metropol manager. Alexander firmly states that he wants to keep Sofia with him until Nina returns. But Bishop has already contacted the orphanage authorities to take away Sofia.
Halecki can’t openly oppose Bishop’s decision since the sly deputy manager brings Stalin’s name into the discussion. In the attic room, Alexander subtly tries to break the news to Sofia. He tries to list the reasons why he is not the best person to care for her and why an orphanage is a better place for her until her mom returns. But when the teary-eyed little girl asks, “Don’t you love me?” it’s hard for Alexander (or the viewers) to remain calm and composed.
A Gentleman in Moscow Episode 5 ‘An Arrival’ Ending Explained:
Anna’s precious advice to the starlet
Alexander desperately seeks Anna Urbanova’s help. Manager Halecki waits in the lobby for the authorities’ arrival as Anna passes him to meet Mila in the bar. She orders a dry martini for herself and Mila to the bartender Audrius (Dee Ahluwalia). Mila remorsefully says she rejected the leading role. Anna advises Mila to keep her feelings at bay and cheers her up. When the dry martini arrives, Mila takes a sip and comments that it’s just water. Now, Anna introduces Mila to Audrius and says she will need people like Audrius in every hotel bar she visits with the men.
Anna emphasizes the need to ‘walk a tightrope’ with these influential men. Hence, she needs to be in control of herself while maintaining the facade that she is drinking with them and laughing at their jokes. Mila assures Anna that she, too, can walk the tightrope. The Minister of Culture, Alexei Nachevko (Jason Forbes), overhears their conversation. He appreciates Anna for gracefully accepting the bitter reality. Anna says she has had her fame and money. Now, she will probably venture into theater and have fun doing Chekhov plays rather than being a pawn for the Ministry for Propaganda. Nachevko heartily thanks Anna for being kind to him over the years and for preserving his secret (the truth about his sexual orientation).
Uncle Alexander saves Sofia from orphanhood
Glad to see that Nachevko feels this way, Anna asks the Minister for a favor. Alexander and Sofia come down to the lobby just as Bishop arrives with the authority from the orphanage. Alexander stands his ground and objects to Sofia being taken away. He says Sofia is his niece. The manager, Halecki, backed by the Minister of Culture, decides that Sofia can stay with Alexander since she is his family. Bishop is shocked that his vindictive behavior against Alexander is met with resistance. The deputy manager didn’t expect the manager Halecki to stand on his decision firmly.
“A Gentleman in Moscow” episode 5, “An Arrival,” ends with a relieved Alexander tucking Sofia in her bed. When Sofia questions if her mama will ever return, Alexander says he doesn’t know. But he assures the kid that he will take care of her as long as it takes. As little Sofia goes to sleep, we hear adult Sofia’s voice revealing that they never knew what happened to Nina. In the novel, Nina’s eventual fate is purposefully undisclosed. The sadness of not knowing what exactly happened to Nina will follow us long after reading the story. But the series goes for a bit of overkill as adult Sofia’s pensive voiceover is accompanied by a visual of Nina’s corpse being buried in a mass grave in a frozen landscape.
