The Regime
The Regime stars Kate Winslet as Elena Vernham, the chancellor of an unnamed European autocracy. Growing increasingly paranoid about her physical health and her political position, Elena gives recently-disgraced soldier Herbert Zubak (Matthias Schoenearts) a second chance as an unlikely assistant and confidant – she moves Herbert with her rhetoric, but he in turn influences her with his no-nonsense attitude, and the two start making plans that threaten to tear the titular regime apart.
The Regime’s strongest quality is the relationship between Elena and Herbert, with their core dynamic constantly shifting and evolving. Winslet and Schoenearts put in fantastic performances, drawing power and vulnerability out of each other in equal measure and taking the audience on an oddly captivating emotional rollercoaster as two deeply broken people bringing out the worst in each other and taking the world with them. It’s messy, it’s ugly, but it’s also very entertaining.
While they don’t get as much space in the story to shine, the series is also backed up by a strong supporting cast. In particular, Andrea Riseborough is great as Elena’s beleaguered right-hand woman Agnes, grounding the drama around her in real emotion and pathos, and Elena’s scheming ministers (played by Danny Webb, Henry Goodman and David Bamber) are also a great source of comic relief as they try- and fail- to plot around Elena’s grand political designs.
However, where The Regime sadly falters is in its satire. The show’s decision to focus on a generic European country (with shades of Russia) means it can go all out with its drama and comedy, but also means it lacks any real satirical bite, which makes the narrative as a whole feel oddly hollow.
The vagueness of the setting, and the almost cartoonish absurdity of Elena as a character, also make her an easy target for the writing to poke fun at while avoiding any tough questions, digging into a strawman rather than sticking it to any real institutions. In particular, The Regime’s depiction of America and the West feels conspicuously absent of any incisive commentary, despite Elena’s actions resembling the US government’s shadier playbooks.
Overall, The Regime has a lot going for it, with a talented cast bolstering a great toxic relationship drama. However, its political examinations feel as though they’re pulling their punches, playing things safe rather than tackling today’s complex socio-political landscape head-on, leaving the show feeling as though it’s missing something critical.
Umar Ali
The Regime is released on Sky on 8th April 2024.
Watch the trailer for The Regime here:
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