Streaming on HBO’s Max, “The Regime” follows Chancellor Elena Vernham’s journey to disentangle the socio-political mess in her central European regime. She ignored her ministry’s warnings about impending chaos and proceeded to implement her egocentric agenda. In the last episode, we saw her manipulate Herbert Zubak into killing her political rival, Keplinger. Once the job was done, she brought Zubak into the palace as her sexual partner and escorted her husband out. Now, “The Regime” episode 5 follows the events around Christmas in Elena’s regime. Despite severe security risks, she decides to stay at the palace, claiming she doesn’t want to abandon her people. While Schiff, Singer, and Huber plan to dethrone her, Agnes gets an offer to escape the palace with a caveat.
Spoilers ahead.
The Regime Episode 5 Recap
Episode 5: All Ye Faithful
The events in “The Regime” episode 5 happen about six months after Zubak (Matthias Schoenaerts) killed Keplinger (Hugh Grant) and was brought back to the palace by Chancellor Elena (Kate Winslet) as her beau and her husband, Nicholas (Guillaume Gallienne) was escorted out. Now, we see Zubak and Elena’s relationship in the next stage of romance. They seek a couple’s counseling session to solve their romantic problems. Zubak continues to see dreams and believes they reflect his real-life situation with Elena. He recalls biting her hand in his dream. The counselor claims this is somehow a sign of showcasing vulnerability.
Although Zubak has sex with Elena, he worries that she will discard him from her team once he becomes insignificant to her. Elena tries to put his worries to rest. Even though Oskar (Louie Mynett) is Agnes’ (Andrea Riseborough) son, Elena keeps using him for her petty needs. For Oskar, the only respite is a fish he has as a pet. He calls it Elena. While Zubak, Elena, and Oskar pose as a family, Agnes is left with her menial duties. Still, she stays loyal to the regime and keeps the staff from speaking ill of Elena’s dictatorship. All this happens when most of the population rebels against Elena’s glaring misuse of power.
What do Elena’s ministers advise her?
Despite the bombing and ruckus outside, Elena stays in her palace. Her ministers warn her of the impending danger of civil war and request that she relocate at the earliest. Still, she is delusional enough to believe that she is staying back out of her concern for the people. Elena says she doesn’t want to abandon her people. She doesn’t even accept that they have rebelled against her. So, Singer (Henry Goodman) urges her to convince these people that she is still their best option. Herbert shuts him up. He thinks it is a way for him to show his love, affection, and loyalty to Elena.
While that happens, Peter (Rory Keenan) offers Agnes a chance to escape Elena’s palace safely with Oskar. The Americans propose to help Agnes in exchange for her insider knowledge as ‘The palace ghost.’ Mr. Laskin (Danny Webb) tries to talk sense into her to fulfill her duty to the people of the regime. But she and Zubak shut him up. Zubak also makes Elena let go of her worries about what her father thinks of her. Still, he worries she will leave him when push comes to shove. Elena and their couple’s counselor gaslight him to change his mind.
What happens inside Elena’s palace on Christmas?
While the rebels keep moving toward the palace, Elena refuses to be concerned about them. She has Christmas dinner with Zubak & Oskar, whereas Nicholas stays away in Switzerland. Suddenly, she gets emotional in Nicholas’ memories. But Zubak brings her back to the present. He gifts her a portrait he created of hers. She offers moderate praise but refuses to put it on the wall. Later, she gifts him a gun, thinking it would please him. He also shares a moderate response. While that happens, Oskar leaves the room with his pet fish. He releases it in a nearby pond, hoping it will be safe there.
The television broadcasts Elena’s dance to a Christmas-themed song. While the other ministers drool at the performance, Singer worries about how delusional Elena has become. He decides to stop the ongoing crisis by making Elena step down from her position as chancellor. The ministers see it as a way to prevent further bloodshed and damage to the private sector. They believe that an economic rebuild is possible in this way. Singer sees it as a mode to bring power to their hands. Together, they plot Elena’s downfall and their future. Suddenly, ‘The Barber of Seville’ starts broadcasting on television. The ministers see it as a sign of the end of Elena’s leadership.
The Regime Episode 5 Ending Explained:
How does Elena plan to stop the chaos in her regime?
The Westgate rebels take over the television broadcast to spread their message. Elena also receives an update on their security threat. Yet again, the ministers advise her to escape. She still decides to stay back while making a surprising decision: she will announce her resignation as Chancellor, and Zubak will be sworn in as her successor. Elena thinks Zubak’s modest past will appease the rebels. She also sees it as a way to stop the ongoing chaos in her regime. While she records a message addressing this change, the rebels break into her palace, and chaos ensues.
The rebels cut the power supply and turn the palace into a ghoulish landscape. Zubak helps Elena find her way from in between the rebels. They eventually reach the helipad. But other ministers refuse to let her in. They take benefit of this opportunity and leave her to figure out her future. Zubak takes her to a safe basement. The rebels damage the property and the palace interior. While Agnes goes looking for Oskar, they kill her. It feels especially tragic since she chose not to escape despite the offers she received.
