Unraveling the Epic Conclusion of Season 2

The ending of The Great season 2 initially appears to offer a peaceful resolution, but the final moments introduce a surprising twist that requires further explanation. This twist is not entirely unexpected, as it follows a similar pattern to the conclusion of season 1. Season 2 picks up four months after the events of the first season, focusing on Catherine's successful coup against Peter to claim the Russian throne. As Catherine strives to maintain her hold on power, Peter tries to win her affections. However, their complicated dynamic takes a dark turn when Peter sleeps with and unintentionally kills Catherine's mother, Joanna. In the concluding moments of season 2, Catherine seemingly forgives Peter, but there is little dialogue as Velementov moves to arrest the nobles loyal to Peter, possibly under Catherine's orders. The season ends with Catherine's attempt to stab Peter, but she mistakenly attacks his double, Pugachev. This unexpected turn raises numerous unresolved questions that The Great will need to address.

What Peter And Catherine’s Visions Mean Explained

In The Great season 2, episode 10 "The Wedding," Catherine's plans to confront Peter are delayed due to a meeting with the Ottomans and his custody of Paul. This separation allows both characters to have visions of each other, creating some confusion in the season 2 ending. These visions, though somewhat abstract, shed light on the motivations behind their respective decisions. While the majority of the show is from Catherine's perspective, Peter's vision offers an alternative interpretation.

By delving into the imaginary scenario of Peter devouring a whale, Catherine's vision in the season 2 ending of The Great elucidates several crucial aspects of her complex final choice through parallels. Although she acknowledges Peter's negative inclinations as part of his nature, she reprimands him for succumbing to them and emphasizes the need for accountability. The imagined version of Peter highlights that Catherine herself acts upon dangerous impulses, albeit of a different nature, suggesting that she is not entirely justified in passing judgment.

And ultimately, Catherine's vision reveals her longing for an alternative to killing Peter. As he kisses her, she realizes that his affection alone is insufficient, but she also recognizes her own power to choose not to take his life. Above all, Catherine accepts that Peter is the only person who truly understands her. In his vision, she appears both strikingly beautiful and ruthlessly violent. It is this very ruthlessness that attracts Peter to her and allows him to ultimately forgive her for the harm she inflicted upon him.

Why Marial Was Arrested At The End Of The Great Season 2 (And George Wasn’t)

In the thrilling finale of The Great season 2, Velementov takes charge and leads his troops to apprehend several Russian nobles who had conspired to assassinate Catherine and reinstate Peter. Among those captured are Grigor (Gwilym Lee), Arkady (Bayo Gbadamosi), and Tatyana (Florence Keith-Roach). The situation takes an unexpected turn when Marial, one of Catherine's earliest confidantes in Russia, is arrested alongside the others. Contrarily, George, Grigor's husband and a staunch supporter of Peter, is informed that she will not face arrest. This surprising development adds further intrigue to the unfolding events.

In The Great season 2 ending, Catherine made the decisions on who to arrest after developing a plan following Archie's revelation that Peter was aware of her knowledge about her mother's death. Despite being a longtime friend, Marial had betrayed Catherine in the season 1 finale by informing Peter about her planned coup. While Marial insists it was a ploy to save Catherine's life, there is uncertainty surrounding her loyalty. Therefore, it made sense for Catherine to have her arrested as a precautionary measure.

However, Georgina's fate took a different turn in The Great season 2 ending. As revealed, Georgina chose to be exiled to France and returned with false claims of understanding Catherine's intentions in Russia and wanting to help. Catherine, seemingly convinced by this, decided not to have her arrested. This decision ensures that Peter's followers will have an ally outside of prison in The Great season 3.

Why Catherine Still Tries To Kill Peter In The Great Season 2 Finale

Following a public altercation, impassioned speeches, and a gentle reconciliation with Peter at Marial's wedding in the finale of The Great season 2, Catherine enters his quarters with the intention of fatally stabbing him, mistakenly attacking Pugachev instead. With minimal dialogue during this scene, the suddenness of the attack may seem unexpected. However, it becomes evident that Catherine strategically orchestrated a false reconciliation with Peter to defuse tensions within the court and catch them off guard.

She informs Peter that she will join him in his apartment once Paul is asleep. The conclusion of The Great season 2 reveals that all of this was a carefully calculated move, demonstrating Catherine's ruthlessness and newfound tactical prowess. By staging the emotional reconciliation, she secures an opportunity to eliminate Peter without endangering her child or facing the risk of being killed by his supporters. Nevertheless, Catherine's plan ultimately backfires as Pugachev becomes the unintended recipient of the knife, miraculously managing to survive.

Why Catherine Hugs Peter After Trying To Kill Him

After seemingly fatally stabbing Pugachev, mistaking him for Peter in the season 2 finale of The Great, Catherine is surprised to see Peter himself enter the room. Over the course of season 2, Catherine has developed romantic feelings for Peter. When she attacks Pugachev, she deliberately does it from behind so that she doesn't have to face the man she loves while killing him. However, after committing the act, Catherine begins to cry because she never wanted to resort to murder but felt she had no other choice.

In the season 2 finale of The Great, when Peter enters the room and realizes what has transpired, Catherine experiences a sense of relief and embraces him. This creates complications for Russia in the upcoming season 3. Both Catherine and Peter display expressions that reflect the complexity and awkwardness of the situation, confirming Peter's belief that Catherine is capable of ruthlessness while still fundamentally loving him.

How Pugachev Survived Catherine’s Attack At The End Of The Great Season 2 Explained

One possible explanation for Pugachev's survival after Catherine's attack is that he anticipated her potential betrayal and took precautions. Given the previous deaths of his doubles in The Great season 2, it is plausible that Pugachev wore protective padding to increase his chances of survival.

This would enable him to still sustain wounds and bleed in The Great season 2 finale, but indicate that the injuries were not severe enough to result in his actual demise. It is also plausible that this is a deliberate setup to introduce a version of the Pugachev Rebellion in The Great season 3. Alternatively, it could have been primarily intended as a humorous element to alleviate the tension at the end of the season, capitalizing on the notion that Pugachev serves as Peter's best doppelgänger and has managed to survive multiple instances where others perished.

How The Great Season 2 Ending Set Up Season 3

The conclusion of The Great season 2 set the stage perfectly for season 3, hinting at a significant character's impending demise that will forever alter the series. The third installment picks up immediately after the shocking events of the season 2 finale, with Catherine overwhelmed by guilt for her failed attempt to assassinate her husband. Pugachev's stabbing serves as a clever catalyst for his transformation into the primary antagonist of The Great season 3, as he begins to expand his impersonation skills beyond the confines of the nobility. Meanwhile, Catherine severs her friendship with Marial after her betrayal, prompting Marial to make earnest efforts to regain her trust and companionship.

In season 3 of The Great, there are significant power shifts that occur as a result of the events from season 2. Marial and Catherine's friendship comes to an end, while Georgina, who was once Catherine's staunch opponent, now supports her. The middle of season 3 brings about a major character death, which was hinted at in the conclusion of season 2. Surprisingly, this character's demise proves to be a turning point for the show. Prior to this, Peter and Catherine make an effort to repair their marriage following her attempted murder, but their attempts are far from successful. The season concludes with the failure of Pugachev's Rebellion, a real historical event.