Episode 03

S1, E3: Eighteen months into their romantic relationship, Catherine and Potemkin experience difficulties as Potemkin longs for adventure and Catherine is drawn to her handsome secretary, Peter Zavadovsky. Potemkin's attempts to convince Catherine to expand southwards and take Crimea put him in direct opposition to Panin, whose cautious foreign policy favors an alliance with Germany. In the wake of an unexpected tragedy, Catherine reveals the brutal truth about Natalia to Paul and takes a special interest in her new grandson, causing Paul to turn decisively against his mother. After coming to an arrangement to preserve their deep political and spiritual connection, Catherine and Potemkin look ahead towards their shared dream of Russia's future.