The Regime, an HBO series, is a social commentary and political satire that explores the real-life politics of the country. The show's third episode, "The Heroes' Banquet," follows Chancellor Elena Vernham (Kate Winslet) as she continues her isolationist politics and introduces a new land reform, promoted by Herbert Zubak (Matthias Schoenaerts). As her psychosis worsens, she sends Zubak to the front lines when she authorizes a controversial military mission to occupy and invade the Faban corridor. The power dynamic is particularly interesting as Zubak's growing influence on Elena and the country's politics is eventually seen as its downfall as he is banished from Elena's inner circle. The show is not yet halfway through, and many of Zubak's character arcs seem complete. As the series continues, it is possible to explore his personality and the dangerous but alluring power he seemed to exercise upon the Chancellor. The show's portrayal of real-life politics is both tragic and comical, making it an excellent time to explore its social commentary and political satire. In the third episode of The Regime, Elena's country is portrayed as a satire of modern-day Russia, with the protagonist addressing citizens and their reactions to the military expedition. However, the show remains too closed off to the outside world, leaving little insight into the world politics surrounding Elena's country. The show's strength has been in its dubious figure, which could stand for multiple far-right authoritarian leaders in one character. Episode 3 feels like it is being spoon-fed to the audience rather than organically discovered during the show. This hurts the characters in the series, who end up looking more like walking stereotypes than actual characters we can root for or relate to. While exaggeration and satire may be the main point of The Regime, its building blocks - the characters and their interaction - need to be more than just a means to an end with little motivation behind their actions. In conclusion, The Regime lacks stakes, with no actual antagonistic figure to oppose Elena and her entourage. The United States and the political opponent mentioned in the episode feel like distant threats that the audience never really gets to see. Future episodes should focus on bringing actual conflict into the plot while focusing on what it does best: a political satire that blurs the line between what is fictional and what is our everyday life.
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