HBO’s “The Regime” followed a year in the life of Chancellor Elena Vernahm of a central European regime. After appointing working-class Herbert Zubak as her Corporal, she made some shocking decisions that proved disastrous for the people. So, they rebelled against her administration and brought them down to their knees. Her ministers left her high and dry because she did not accept any of their advice. So, she was left behind with Zubak amidst chaos and unrest. Now, the finale of “The Regime” shows Elena on the run with Zubak. They start seeking help from the locals to not get captured by the rebels. While feeling the brunt of her reckless actions, she finds a diplomatic resort to end her suffering.
Spoilers Ahead
The Regime (Finale) Episode 6 “Don’t Yet Rejoice” Recap:
The penultimate episode of “The Regime” showed the walls of Chancellor Elena Vernham’s (Kate Winslet) breached by the Westgate rebels. Agnes (Andrea Riseborough), who stayed loyal to her through thick and thin, presumably got killed in the rebels’ attack. Meanwhile, her ministers renounced their loyalty to the regime and left Elena behind to fend for herself with Corporal Herbert Zubak (Matthias Schoenaerts). So, amidst chaos and unrest, he seeks a safe place for her. Elena still believes that her people will listen to her and be loyal. Zubak tries to overturn her delusions and make her accept reality.
While looking for shelter, Elena thinks she still holds power over others. She isn’t ready to accept that she has no future as the regime’s authority. Zubak keeps looking for a way to keep her safe and evade getting caught by the rebels. Finally, at night, he stops a car and forces the driver to offer a ride. The driver refuses and drives away. Then, another car drives past them. Its driver recognizes Elena and offers her shelter. Zubak notices that the man is drunk and considers him unreliable. Still, Elena forces Zubak to get in the car. Together, they end up at a tower block. The man gets them another pair of clothes in disguise and brings them inside.
What happens to Elena’s authority?
In the tower block, Elena and Zubak walk past starving & struggling locals. Once they enter the helper’s flat, Elena looks for a telephone. The helper closes the door on Elena & Zubak and locks them inside. Elena finds it shocking that this man worked against her. Eventually, Mr Laskin (Danny Webb) arrives there with armed soldiers. They force Elena to accept the defeat and hand over the authority. Initially, she rejects their proposal. Then, she spends the night watching and listening to the horror outside. Later on, Laskin makes his men torture Elena into submission. As a result, Elena accepts the proposal and heads out with them.
When they are about to leave the lift, a group of soldiers shoot down everyone except Elena. They drag her outside and lock her in the back of their van. Elena looks around, horrified and unsure of what is happening and who they are. Eventually, she gets brought out in front of another tower, and Zubak is brought out. They both get taken to different rooms where Elena receives a surprising twist. Billionaire Emil Bartos (Stanley Townsend), whom she publicly humiliated to deflect the blame of Westgate, greets her in his spacious house. This time, he has a reason for seeking a partnership with Elena.
Why does Emil Bartos bring Elena to his lavish house?
Emil Bartos offers Elena an opportunity to regain her power and return to her commandeering position. But predictably, he has an ulterior motive behind it. In the past, Elena made Emil the target for the Westgate workers through a television broadcast. She also humiliated him by making him clear out the room. Besides, his business was at risk because of Elena’s botched deal with the US for cobalt mining. Now, he has an upper hand in the matters. So, he tells her to pivot from her previous stance about the US in exchange for reclaiming her position.
Emil also brings US’s Judith Holt (Martha Plimpton) on a call to confirm their deal. However, there’s a condition for the deal to happen: Elena must get rid of Zubak. So, Elena falls into a conundrum. She still harbors strong feelings for the Corporal. However, she also doesn’t want to lose a golden opportunity. So, she meets Zubak and explains her challenging situation. Elena understands Zubak’s undying loyalty toward her. So, she uses it to her advantage. She claims that she will accept the deal and shake hands with the US. But later, she and Zubak can reunite.
The Regime (Finale) Episode 6 “Don’t Yet Rejoice” Ending Explained:
What happens to Herbert Zubak in the end?
After Emil and Judith’s deal to reclaim her position, Elena contemplates her stance. She wants the power but doesn’t want to break Zubak’s heart. So, she lies to Zubak that they will reunite a while after she accepts Emil’s deal. Then, together, they can return whatever is owed to the working class. Zubak blindly trusts her. The next day, he is shot dead. By doing this, Elena effectively uses her diplomacy skills to stay in power. Nevertheless, we see a billionaire using a politician to his advantage while she is powerless.
What happens to Elena’s regime?
At the end of “The Regime,” we see Elena reclaim her position in her European regime’s authority and her palace. She and Nicholas (Guillaume Gallienne) get back together. They decide not to talk about the recent chapter of unrest and Zubak. Soon after, Elena addresses a crowd, villainizes the left-wing parties, and portrays herself as their Messiah. The crows cheer for her in unison. After her celebratory speech, she returns to spend a silent moment with the dead body of Zubak – kept in a casket like her father’s body was.
