“Regime” takes us to an unnamed country somewhere in Central Europe. In which almost absolute power is exercised by Chancellor Elena Vernham (Kate Winslet). The series begins with the arrival at Elena’s “court” of Herbert Zubak (Matthias Schoenaerts) – a disgraced soldier who, after playing a key role in the death of several protesters, was nicknamed “the butcher”.
Initially, Zubak’s role is to walk in front of the chancellor and check the humidity level. Over time, he becomes her main advisor. Under his influence, the chancellor, who wants a government of souls, makes decisions with disastrous consequences. He does not notice that he is dooming not only himself, but also the entire country. In the background, of course, there are conspiring members of parliament and the palace administrator, Agnes (played by Andrea Riseborough), who moves in the shadow.
Will Tracy, who previously worked on, is responsible for the production and script of “Regime”. “Succession” and “Menu”. In turn, the directors were responsible for, among others: Stephen Frears (“The Queen”) and Jessica Hobbs (“The Crown”). Let’s add Kate Winslet, who has already proven that cooperation with HBO is good for her (she could be admired in “Mare of Easttown” and “Mildred Pierce”, and is currently working on “Trust”). What could go wrong? It turns out quite a lot. I expected a slightly darker “Figure Girl”, but what I got was an average one in a very nice package.
The creators draw heavily from the real world. It’s hard to shake the impression that Elena’s homeland is the TV series’ version of Russia, and she herself is made up of characters we know very well. There’s a bit of Vladimir Putin (treatment of political prisoners, invasion of a neighboring country), Donald Trump (they share a love of emotional speeches and luxury), Marine Le Pen (fulfilling their father’s political aspirations) and a musical version of Eva Peron.
Vernham is also a self-righteous populist who heavily overuses the word “love” in public speeches. Instead of a uniform, he wears perfectly tailored clothes, a perfect hairstyle and a warm smile when he addresses his citizens with the words “my beloved ones”.
However, as is the case in totalitarian countries, everything is a facade. Also Elena herself. It doesn’t take much for the image of a powerful ruler to be ruined. It is enough, for example, to turn off the camera or mention something about black mold. Even though she is the head of the state, she is still a little girl who seeks her father’s recognition. The problem is that this one has been dead for a long time. The Chancellor becomes more and more paranoid from episode to episode, while at the same time becoming convinced of the righteousness of his actions.
The acting of “Regime” is at a high level. Kate Winslet especially stands out, she has fun with her role, but she also knows where to set the boundaries so as not to overdo it. Matthias Schoenaerts perfectly fit the role of a brutal maniac. It is also worth appreciating Andrea Riseborough. Apart from the acting, the scenography is also very impressive – it is often impossible to take your eyes off it, and you can spot many tidbits in the background. The whole thing is complemented by music that perfectly reflects the atmosphere of the series. However, it is only a beautifully wrapped gift that is not so impressive after opening.
The creator of “Regime” had the resources to create a satirical gem. And although he is not afraid to show the darker side of power, he always seems to skim the surface and does not look deeper. Apart from a nice setting and acting performances, “Regime” doesn’t have much new to say. After the series ends, we are left with the thought that we already know so well – all power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.