The Empress Season 2: What to expect from the plotline

Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers. Proceed with caution if you have not watched the show/movie.

Netflix has officially announced the renewal of the historical drama series, The Empress, for a second season. This comes as no surprise given the show's massive success since its launch on the streaming platform. The show quickly became one of Netflix's most-watched series globally, ranking as the seventh most popular non-English series of 2022 with over 150 million hours streamed in just two weeks. Consequently, the network wasted no time in renewing the show for a second season in November 2022.

The Empress centers around the life of Austrian Empress Elisabeth of Bavaria, also known as Sisi, and is co-written by Bernd Lange, Janna Maria Nandzik, and Lena Stahl. The series is directed by Florian Cossen and Katrin Gebbe. Furthermore, Netflix has made the first season available in multiple languages, including English, with dubbing provided in 14 languages and subtitles in 32 languages.

In The Empress Season 2, the story picks up from where the first season left off. At the end of the first season, Elisabeth finds herself in trouble for breaking royal protocol by showing compassion to a young girl in need during her visit to an iron foundry. Confined to the palace walls, Elisabeth loses all hope for the poor and joins Franz's brother Maximillian in partying, damaging her reputation even further.

Archduchess Sophie, at her wit's end with the rebellious Empress, proposes that Elisabeth should return to Bavaria. Franz, who is angry with his wife and accuses her of consorting with his brother, agrees. However, before Elisabeth leaves, she discovers that she is pregnant. Heartbroken, she refrains from telling Franz. As she tries to leave, a large angry crowd blocks her exit. Elisabeth demands that the gates be opened and embraces the crowd, proclaiming that she is with a child.

The show will explore whether her actions will win the people over, whether she can forgive Franz, and what Sophie plans for her now that she is pregnant. Throughout the series, Sophie will continue to make Elisabeth's life miserable within the palace walls.

The Empress gave birth to her first child, Archduchess Sophie of Austria, ten months after marrying the Duke. However, the elder Archduchess took complete parental responsibility and forbade Elisabeth from caring for or breastfeeding her baby. A year later, Elisabeth gave birth to another daughter, and Sophie condemned her daughter-in-law in a malicious pamphlet for failing to produce a male heir.

Regarding production updates, there is currently no information available on when new episodes will be released. However, if production commences promptly, new episodes may be available in early 2024.

The cast list for the upcoming season includes several confirmed returning actors, including Devrim Lingnau who will reprise her role as Elisabeth von Wittelsbach, also known as Sisi/Sissi. Other confirmed cast members include Philip Froissart as Emperor Franz Joseph, Melika Foroutan as Archduchess Sophie, Johannes Nussbaum as Archduke Maximilian, Jördis Triebel as Princess Ludovika, and Almila Bagriacik as Countess Leontine von Apafi. There is also a possibility of new faces joining the cast.

Keep an eye on Devdiscourse for updates on The Empress Season 2 and more German series.

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