The Empress Season 2 is arriving on Netflix after a long wait of two years. The hit German series follows the tragic life of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, aka Sisi, who goes from being a carefree child to the responsible wife of an Emperor.
Set in the 19th century, the historical drama tells the real story of what transpired with Sisi once she got married to Emperor Franz Joseph. Not only does she face trouble in her marriage, but also gets antagonized by her mother-in-law Archduchess Sophie.
Season 1 ended on a cliffhanger as Sis announced her pregnancy to a mob of protestors outside the palace’s gates. However, Franz was unaware of the pregnancy as Elisabeth kept it hidden from him. The couple’s parentage will be explored in The Empress Season 2.
Franz did not know Elisabeth was pregnant in The Empress
Elisabeth did not reveal the news of her pregnancy to Franz before announcing it to the public in the final episode of The Empress Season 1. Throughout the season, the couple’s marriage went through several ups and downs.
Sisi often clashed with the strict rules of the Viennese Court and Franz’s controlling mother, Archduchess Sophie. Elisabeth’s rebellious nature, compassion for the poor, and refusal to follow court rules made her stand out, which Sophie saw as a problem.
Sophie believed Elisabeth’s behavior hurt Franz’s reputation as Emperor, leading her to push Franz to choose between his wife and his duty. Tensions grew as Sophie gave Elisabeth an ultimatum, either she could stay and follow the court’s strict rules, or go back to Bavaria and end her wedlock.
This caused Franz to question whether he should keep his marriage with Elisabeth. Just as Elisabeth discovered she was pregnant and was excited to tell Franz, she overheard him agreeing with Sophie that she had become a distraction.
Hurt by Franz’s lack of support, Elisabeth chose not to tell him about her pregnancy. Instead, she decided to leave the palace and return home. As she prepared to leave, Elisabeth ran into a huge crowd of protestors at the palace gates.
The guards told her to stay back, but she insisted on opening the gates and facing the crowd. With everyone watching, including Franz and Sophie, Elisabeth stepped forward and spoke to the crowd.
She said, “I see you,” showing that she understood their struggles. Then she surprised everyone by announcing her pregnancy right there in front of the people. By doing this, Elisabeth won their support.
The public announcement was a bold move, as it forced both Franz and the court to acknowledge her pregnancy without a private conversation. The aftermath of the announcement will be explored in The Empress Season 2. As Sisi carries the future of the empire, she will likely stay back in the palace.
However, her relationship with her husband and her mother-in-law is only going to get more strained with time. While the show is based on history, it is not confirmed if Sisi hid her pregnancy from Franz in real life, or it the makers of The Empress took creative liberties and added the plot to make the show more engaging.
In reality, Elisabeth gave birth to her first child, a daughter named Sophie Friederike, in 1855. After she became a mother, Archduchess Sophie felt that Sisi was too free-spirited to raise royal children properly and took over their care.
Sisi struggled with sadness, ignored some of her royal duties, and often stayed away from the court while traveling frequently. While the Austrian nobility criticized her actions, Franz did not stop her.
However, he continued to pressure her to have a boy who could be his heir. In 1857, her two-year-old daughter died from an illness, which further affected her mental state and her relationships. The Empress Season 2 will likely showcase this storyline.
The Empress Season 2 is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on November 22, 2024.
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