The Great season 2 episode 2 recap: Is Catherine in over her head?

This episode of The Great season 2 showed us what we’ve all been waiting for: Catherine finally stepping into power! Unfortunately, not all is smooth sailing during the first few days of her reign. She is being pulled in a million different directions and is still being challenged by Peter, Archie, and many of the nobles.

Read of to learn what happened in The Great season 2 episode 2, “Dickhead.”

The Great season 2 episode 2 recap: Is Catherine in over her head?

Now that Catherine is in power, she is determined to change Russia, doing everything from freeing the serfs to outlawing violence and bringing more art and science to the country. Unfortunately, before she can do any of that, she has to meet the nobles — many of whom do not respect her. Though Orlo and Velementov make a list of people they believe will never see their way and should be killed on the spot, Catherine refuses to govern like that. But when one man gets particularly out of line, even peeing on the floor, Catherine starts to change her mind, ordering the guards to shoot. Archie, however, steps in, making him repent at the last second.

Catherine is frustrated that everyone wants something from her rather than offering something they can give Russia. Even her plan to open a school for the court’s girls backfires, as their mothers don’t want them turning out like Catherine. An educated woman is one who is difficult to marry well.

The Great season 2 episode 2 recap: How is Peter adjusting to life without the throne?

Despite his bitter defeat, Peter is adjusting to life without the throne quite nicely, deciding to use his new freedom to try out new and activities and find himself. It doesn’t hurt that the guards are extremely lax with him, essentially allowing him to wander the palace at will.

Elizabeth encourages him to not only find himself but also work on self-improvement. After all, without Catherine continuing the bloodline with his baby, their family has nothing. Catherine needs to genuinely love Peter so she will continue having his children.

Peter takes this advice, asking Catherine what he could improve on. When she tells him it’s his violent tendencies, he promises to work on it — a promise he quickly breaks after killing the noble Tarzinsky because he called Peter a dickhead. Oops!

Though Catherine doesn’t want Peter at the coronation, Elizabeth finally convinces her that not having him there would be even more of a distraction, and she gives in. Peter is supportive, giving her a beautiful crown and writing a surprisingly heartfelt speech, but deep down, he still believes she will fail and he will come back into power again. His arrogance and true emotions only come out when he looks at the large statue of his father and worries he wouldn’t be proud of him in his current position.

The rest of Peter’s court is having a rough go of it, too. They’re stuck in the worst section for the coronation dinner, and all of their privileges have been given to Marial, who is out for blood due to the way they treated her when she was a servant.

Despite being a lady again, Marial continues to act as Catherine’s advisor — though Catherine still has a hard time taking her counsel. Though Marial begs Catherine not to wear the extremely traditional, over-the-top outfit she plans to for her coronation, Catherine goes for it anyway. The court does indeed laugh at her, but Marial defends her against all their snide comments. Plus, the only thing that does matter is that a more important group is mesmerized by her outfit. Some of the young girls are in awe of her fashion and start attending her school in secret because they saw the future of Russia in Catherine.

The Great season 2 episode 2 recap: Will Catherine kill Archie?

Peter and the court aren’t the only ones on the outs. Archie is still in hot water as well, with Catherine vowing to kill him as soon as she finds a suitable replacement. Orlo is growing particularly impatient, and both Catherine and Elizabeth threateningly remind Archie that the only reason he is spared for the time being is that killing him could poison the people against Catherine.

Though Archie is adamant that the people love and fear the church as it is, at her coronation, Catherine announces that Russia will no longer be a one-God country. Instead, she believes that God and worship are different for everyone — a fact that makes Archie livid.

While Archie is clearly not for this plan, Catherine may have an ally in Father Basil, Leo’s cousin who’s come from the west. He even gives Catherine letters Leo wrote about her, and she weeps from gratefulness and mourning. She devises a plan to keep Father Basil around to gain the respect of the bishops so she may replace Archie with him eventually.

What did you think of the episode? Comment below!