HBO’s ‘The Regime’ Episode 6 Review - Long Live the Chancellor

The Regime has turned out to be such a frustrating disappointment. This is a thought that immediately comes to your mind when you see Elena and Herbert lying on a bed before the latter's death. This could have been a twisted romance. You have two maniacs who are made for each other. Elena and Herbert lock their eyes and declare they won't betray each other. It's one of the many moments in the sixth episode where the devotion of these characters comes sharply into focus. The Regime could have been prickly, sensational, and intense if it didn't have such underwritten characters. Its passions are half-baked; its tone flat. It fails to be a good comedy, satire, or romance.

That's a pity because the actors are incredibly committed to their parts. Without their skills, this whole show would have collapsed. The Regime, though, wastes actors like Andrea Riseborough by giving them forgettable parts. As Agnes, Riseborough is used as a signboard saying, "Don't be loyal to terrible rulers. You will end up signing your own death certificate." Riseborough brought such a nice comic streak to the table. Her character deserved a better end. At least she manages to put a dent, no matter how small. The other actors, in comparison, slip away from your head as soon as the show ends.

Kate Winslet and Matthias Schoenaerts are obviously the exceptions. They are always front and center and hold your attention even when the scenes appear feeble. After the events of the fifth episode, Elena and Herbert are seen escaping from the palace here. Outside her safety zone, the chancellor behaves increasingly like a distressed little kid while he takes charge of the situation. Herbert tells Elena she is now in his area. He holds her hand and drags her through the forest, and she points towards the palace like a child pointing towards a chocolate. Hence, I was not surprised to see Herbert in that glass casket.

"I can't hide in shadows," says Elena at one point. Even with a curfew in place and vehicles on the streets announcing that anyone who provides shelter to Elena would be considered a traitor, the chancellor constantly tells Herbert that she needs a phone to ask her people, her husband, for help. She thinks people out there still adore her, and Tomas could be one of those worshipers. He eagerly takes Elena and Herbert to his house to give them shelter. Herbert doesn't fully trust this man because he is drunk. His suspicions turn out to be correct, though it should be noted alcohol has nothing to do with Tomas's betrayal. He just hates the chancellor.

Consider the scene where Tomas locks Elena and Herbert in a room, prompting the latter to scream like an animal. He tries to break the door but fails. This moment should have been wildly chaotic, but the chaos is on a leash here. The anger doesn't explode on the screen. It looks neatly curated. The Regime needed someone confident and capable enough to make its emotions palpable. Instead, what we have here is a series so overcontrolled, so calculated, that it keeps us at a distance. It should have disturbed our nerves, not left them unperturbed.

Final Score - [5/10]