Episode 5 directed by Bill Hays brings viewers' minds to the Imperial Russia ruled firmly by tsar Alexander III, the titled "Last Tsar." Although he was not the last ruler because his son Nicholas succeeded him, he is metaphorically referred to as the 'last tsar' because he was the last autocrat in the very sense of this word and could maintain one key idea: keep his loyal subjects 'loyal' by firm hand.
As it is the case with all the episodes, it is also evident here that the study of the characters goes in pairs with the insight into a particularly difficult historical moment. It seems that the autocratic power which has always been an integral part of Russia's reality so much cherished by tsar Alexander (mind you that he became a tsar after his father's assassination - his father Alexander II was slightly more open to changes) does not carry any prospect to the future. The challenges that stand before the young tsar Nicholas in 1894 are very difficult.
The episode seems to focus on various aspects of that story: first it is the powerful Alexander III (Tony Jay) who rejects any advice by Witte (Freddie Jones) and strongly believes that Russia is not and will never be a European country. That, of course, goes with the way it is ruled and we might agree with that or not but that is the fact. There is no room for democracy in the sense we understand it. Alexander may play European music but he will never think as a European. His son Nicholas is quite different, has, as his father thinks of him, the 'judgments of an infant,' which also presupposes the picture of the Russia in his reign. We know that it is him who will be the last tsar but, in a very memorable moment when his father is dying, he answers the advisor Witte quite firmly: "I will never share the authority bestowed upon me by God." We see the way old tsars used to think and we see that no 'subversive doctrines' could ever be taken into account. Among these subversive doctrines that rise in secret of the society is Lenin played by Patrick Stewart but that is the character yet to be discussed in the coming episodes since here, we see him merely rise from the depths of the people.
The marriage that Nicholas wants for himself and, meanwhile, the mistress, a ballet dancer that he meets, also mark his personality and his judgments of reality. His personal desires seem to overtake the duties of a ruler of so vast a land. He proposes to a German princess Alix (played by Gayle Hunnicut) and she seems willing to adapt to the Russian reality along with its Orthodox Church. A couple quite different and quite misunderstood by people. Nicky travels to Europe and some writes letters to his mother, his impressions, his thoughts. Here, we can get some parallel to another tsar so open to Europe but of totally different times, tsar Peter the Great (1600s and 1700s). Open to the world and totally misunderstood by his subjects. Two memorable scenes that show that: Witte trying to give advice to young Nicholas at the dawn of his reign and Ella trying to make Alix realize the way things are in Russia at the dawn of her marriage.
Apart from the Russian context that predominates in this episode, we have some scenes and some characters from Europe: it is first and foremost Queen Victoria. She seems to have her unique and quite specific vision of the dynasties in Europe... We have young Wilhelm (Barry Foster) whom we had in the previous episodes but here, we get the anticipation of the friendship of Willy and Nicky. We get a glimpse of the clear contrast between Europe and Russia and the drama of the main characters is clearly influenced by it.
The strength of this episode are performances, of course. The weakness are some scenes that are slightly too long and may bore a viewer used to action. Nevertheless, it is highly worth seeing, especially for anyone interested in history and fond of some background to interesting historical events.
As it is the case with all the episodes, it is also evident here that the study of the characters goes in pairs with the insight into a particularly difficult historical moment. It seems that the autocratic power which has always been an integral part of Russia's reality so much cherished by tsar Alexander (mind you that he became a tsar after his father's assassination - his father Alexander II was slightly more open to changes) does not carry any prospect to the future. The challenges that stand before the young tsar Nicholas in 1894 are very difficult.
The episode seems to focus on various aspects of that story: first it is the powerful Alexander III (Tony Jay) who rejects any advice by Witte (Freddie Jones) and strongly believes that Russia is not and will never be a European country. That, of course, goes with the way it is ruled and we might agree with that or not but that is the fact. There is no room for democracy in the sense we understand it. Alexander may play European music but he will never think as a European. His son Nicholas is quite different, has, as his father thinks of him, the 'judgments of an infant,' which also presupposes the picture of the Russia in his reign. We know that it is him who will be the last tsar but, in a very memorable moment when his father is dying, he answers the advisor Witte quite firmly: "I will never share the authority bestowed upon me by God." We see the way old tsars used to think and we see that no 'subversive doctrines' could ever be taken into account. Among these subversive doctrines that rise in secret of the society is Lenin played by Patrick Stewart but that is the character yet to be discussed in the coming episodes since here, we see him merely rise from the depths of the people.
The marriage that Nicholas wants for himself and, meanwhile, the mistress, a ballet dancer that he meets, also mark his personality and his judgments of reality. His personal desires seem to overtake the duties of a ruler of so vast a land. He proposes to a German princess Alix (played by Gayle Hunnicut) and she seems willing to adapt to the Russian reality along with its Orthodox Church. A couple quite different and quite misunderstood by people. Nicky travels to Europe and some writes letters to his mother, his impressions, his thoughts. Here, we can get some parallel to another tsar so open to Europe but of totally different times, tsar Peter the Great (1600s and 1700s). Open to the world and totally misunderstood by his subjects. Two memorable scenes that show that: Witte trying to give advice to young Nicholas at the dawn of his reign and Ella trying to make Alix realize the way things are in Russia at the dawn of her marriage.
Apart from the Russian context that predominates in this episode, we have some scenes and some characters from Europe: it is first and foremost Queen Victoria. She seems to have her unique and quite specific vision of the dynasties in Europe... We have young Wilhelm (Barry Foster) whom we had in the previous episodes but here, we get the anticipation of the friendship of Willy and Nicky. We get a glimpse of the clear contrast between Europe and Russia and the drama of the main characters is clearly influenced by it.
The strength of this episode are performances, of course. The weakness are some scenes that are slightly too long and may bore a viewer used to action. Nevertheless, it is highly worth seeing, especially for anyone interested in history and fond of some background to interesting historical events.
