the great season 2 (2021) - catherine kills the sultan scene

[brxsncz]

"he looked at my ears" i cracked. elle fanning was such a badass this season but i'd like to say that belinda bromilow as aunt elizabeth was catherine's MVP supporting character this time around. hell yeah!

[sabrinahaertig]

She saw he was wearing chains on his chest of his victims ears so the second he looked at her own she understood the threat. Brilliant

[Magicwillnz]

"He looked at my ears"... what a great line. Funny, but it shows she read exactly the kind of person he was, got a peek at the monster beneath, when it was nearly too late.

[RivkahSong]

This scene is genius for the entirely silent interactions happening underneath their negotiations. At 1:49 Catherine notices his necklace of human ears (proving he lied, killing and betrayal for him aren't a "necessary evil", they're a precious memory he wants a trophy from so he can relive it over and over just like he admitted he did that very morning and then did again during their meeting. He wasn't overcome with grief when reliving the look on his brothers face as he killed him, he was getting high off of it). From that moment on she never takes her eyes off of his for more than an instant to keep track of where his hands are. Catherine is watching **specifically** for him to look at her ears because if he does it means he's already decided to kill her and take another trophy.

As the conversation continues you watch him get fidgety and impatient because he's a serial killer that **needs** another fix and it's so close. At 2:41 you see the moment come as his eyes flicker to her right ear for the briefest of seconds and from then on he never again looks her in the eyes, his attention is entirely on either her left or right ear and he can't stand still or hide his tension ramping up, ready to snap.

[temper]

The funny thing is that Peter has such a natural talent for killing and murder, he may have been a good general if things were different. Peter has all these odd little talents that round out his natural sillyness.

[kara]

i NEED an aunt elizabeth best moments compilation! she deserves one

[eurosalamander]

When Elizabeth asked her "Are you alright?" I honestly expected Katherin to go "There's a hole in my hand."

[mett]

Everyone needs an Aunt Elizabeth. I love how she's always there for both of them. She guides them toward one another and to do the "right thing"

[jaylaanpough]

Aunt Elizabeth has been doing God's work this season with her outfits, her sage advice, her literally saving Catherine & Peter's lives!! then we find out she has her own tragedies and such but she still has so much love... AGH! i love her.
also I was literally so confused watching this scene for the first time UNTIL Catherine said "he looked at my ears"... then I had to go back to be like "did heeee thooo???"

[barbiquearea]

I think the Sultan in this is Mustafa III. He was the ruler of the Ottoman Empire during Catherine's reign. He presided over the Russo-Turkish War, which ended up in disaster for the Ottomans and lost them a lot of territory, key among them Crimea.

[michelleherrera]

I'd like to think that Peter would've been proud of her lol

[kanamenoname]

The saddest thing about the Turkish empire was that the brothers often grew up together, there was at times love, but it was do or be killed.

[johncunner]

" Mufasta III was not killed by Catherine the great, he died of a heart attack. "


That's what Catherine wants you to think ;)

[CainEverest]

I do love the barebones language they use in this series. "I mean... fuck." Like that line hits harder because it's not diplomatic or artsy at all. We can relate to that line because we all have been in situations that have led us to uttering that in hindsight. Brilliant writing

[worries]

Honestly her idea was so great for the zone's to combine and develope investing each other resources and see the progress

[bobsmith-phgu]

Fun fact this was not a remotely accurate depiction of Catherine the Great, in regards to her "progressiveness" she actually was more repressive to the surfs of Russia, ending with her brutally putting down numerous revolts. Basically even though she was a female monarch, she was just as repressive as the men.

[sorcellerie]

Alternate title for season 2: Aunt Elisabeth being the most precious, important, badass little bean in whole entire Russia

[Swissswoosher]

“He looked at my ears”
Has never sounded so scary.

[harbscantina]

Elle Fanning is such a good actor. This for me is her best work yet.

[januaryli]

I rewatched this part several times when I was watching this episode. Especially the part Elizabeth shot the guard, she is fcking cool