'The Empress' Season 2 Trailer Sees Sisi Face Threats, Both Foreign & Domestic

Netflix's The Empress is one of the best period dramas that most people probably haven't watched yet. A rare historical series that has nothing to do with the Tudor family, the Regency period, or World War II, the German series tells the story of Empress Elisabeth I of Austria, the daughter of a Bavarian duke who married an emperor for love and subsequently became one of the first celebrity royals. Beloved by her people, stalked by the press and haunted by depression, the parallels between her story and that of England's Princess Diana over a century later are almost eerie at times. 

The series' first season was a surprise hit for Netflix, winning an International Emmy for Best Drama series. It followed the early days of the unconventional Elisabeth's fairytale romance with Emperor Franz Joseph and depicted her struggles to conform to the rigid rules of life the Habsburg Court

The new empress frequently clashes with her mother-in-law over expected rules of decorum and her role in public life, even as troops gather on the border of her new homeland and the threat of revolution grows in the streets. But it is ultimately Sisi who offers a way forward for the royal family, seeing her subjects' humanity and acknowledging their struggles in ways the rest of her in-laws never have.

But although the Season 2 trailer confirms that the Emperor and Empress hahave successfully weathered their first real marital storm, it also hints that things aren't smooth sailing for them as yet. Sisi is still struggling to produce a male heir for the throne --- her first two children are girls --- and her failure to secure the future of the empire has put her once again at odds with her in-laws. Franz, for his part, is once again torn between his wife and his mother, particularly when Sisi wants to get more involved in politics just as a powerful new adversary rises in Europe.

Here's the Season 2 synopsis.

The second season begins as the young couple’s first crisis is barely over. They’re hoping to enjoy their newlywed bliss when dark clouds gather over Schönbrunn Palace: Franz unexpectedly faces a powerful adversary in Europe. And Elisabeth comes under great pressure, because an heir to the throne is to secure the future of the empire as quickly as possible. When fate strikes with all its power, the couple’s love threatens to finally break apart. Elisabeth must fight not only for her family, but also for the integrity of her soul.

Alongside Lingnau and Froissant, the series' returning cast includes Melika Foroutan as Archdues Sophie of Austria, Johannes Nussbaum as Archduke Maximilian, Almila Bagriacik as Countess Leontine von Apafi, and Runa Greiner as Countess Charlotte von Stubenberg. New faces arriving at court for Season 2 include Josephine Thiesen as Princess Marie Charlotte of Belgium, and Christophe Favre as Napoleon III.

Katharina Eyssen returns as showrunner for Season 2, splitting creative duties with Robert Eyssen. Barbara Ott and Maximilian Erlenwein are directors. Executive producers include Jochen Laube, Fabian Maubach, Scarlett Lacy, and Lars Gmehling.

All of The Empress Season 2 will premiere on Netflix on Friday, November 22, 2024.