The Great season 2 episode 5 recap: Is Catherine falling for Peter?

In this episode of The Great season 2, a crocodile wreaks havoc on the palace, Catherine’s feelings start to change towards Peter, and Marial reconnects with an old acquaintance.

Read on to discover what else happened in The Great season 2 episode 5, “Animal Instincts.”

The Great season 2 episode 5: Have Archie and Catherine found common ground?

The girls’ school is terrorized by what they believe is a big lizard, which everyone assumes is a bad omen. Though Catherine assures everyone the scientists will find the creature and research it, even Father Basil isn’t so sure it’s not a sign from God.

When Elizabeth gets attacked by the creature, she identifies it as a crocodile, but even identifying the animal doesn’t have everyone convinced it’s not an omen. Archie swoops in to address the people, saying he will commune with God to see what it all means.

Catherine sees this as a threat and puts the pieces together — Archie is the one who brought the crocodile to have this leverage. He admits he did and outlines his conditions to have this go Catherine’s way: she must get rid of Basil, reinstate his church as the only Russian church, and meet God.

Catherine doesn’t feel she has much of an option, as killing Archie or Father Basil would make it look like the omen was right, so she agrees to go with Archie to meet God. He gives her drugs so they can both do so, which leads to a breakthrough. While under the influence, Catherine sees love and oneness. Although she doesn’t see the light and old man Archie does, they find common ground anyway. They realize they need each other and should unite for the good of Russia. Archie genuinely loves and has a passion for God, while Catherine just wants what’s best for the country.

They set out mice traps filled with opium in order to lure the crocodile and calm it down. Once they capture the crocodile, they present it to the people, saying they’re facing a metaphorical crocodile: a lack of reason and science. But together, they can overcome this and have a more advanced society. Unfortunately, when the crocodile opens its eyes, the people immediately panic and began brutally stabbing it. It’s clear they have a long way to go.

The Great season 2 episode 5: Is Catherine falling for Peter?

Peter is ecstatic after eating Catherine out, but Arkady and Grigory worry his love for her will distract him from the mission of dethroning her. They make a list of some factions he can win over.

Elizabeth is happy to hear about Peter’s progress with Catherine and encourages him to show her that he’s evolved and is a new man. Her body is saying yes to him — now her mind needs to, too. Peter heeds this advice, reading Galileo at the table, which impresses her.

Though Catherine tries to say this was a one-time thing purely for convenience, she has the urge to do it again — much to Marial’s disapproval. Elizabeth tells her that her heart and body can be separate, encouraging her to continue being intimate with Peter, and she gives in.

Catherine even goes to Peter when they’re searching for the crocodile, and they hold hands in the halls — something Velementov sees and gets suspicious of. Catherine thanks him for his help, and Peter says he’ll always be there for her and the baby, which she genuinely believes. That night, they waltz before Peter goes down on her, and it’s clear she’s beginning to catch true feelings for him.

The Great season 2 episode 5: Is war inevitable?

Sunduk was beheaded by Arkady and Tatyana last week, and the Ottomans are out for blood. Velementov thinks perhaps the Ottomans killed him themselves in order to justify a fight, adamant that they need to go to war immediately. Catherine reiterates she doesn’t want violence, and Velementov finally backs down, telling her that war is often where young men find themselves and their maturity, which is a reason he’s pushing it so hard.

Marial is adjusting to being reinstated as a lady, meeting up with Grigory again. She also sees her old roommate Shakey eating bread she smuggled from her crotch outside her window. She feels bad, letting Shakey be her personal servant despite the fact her hands shake and she’s sassy to Marial.

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