If you’ve been around Netflix this week, chances are you’ve come across a new era romance, The company. The German-language series, set within the Austrian royal family, follows the story of an unlikely relationship between the rebellious Elisabeth and Emperor Franz.
Fans have invested heavily, sending the series straight into Netflix’s Top 10, and we’re already looking toward a second season. Before we get ahead of ourselves though, it’s time to turn our attention back to the first season and how it all ends between Elisabeth and Franz. Do they stay together and what’s next for Elisabeth?
Here is a review of The company‘ ending in full.
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The Empress’ Ending, Explained
The company could only have six episodes, but a batch It happened in the first season. As well as focusing on Elisabeth and Franz’s relationship, we saw the new Empress navigate tension with members of her husband’s family, while there is also political unrest brewing from abroad.
Throughout the series, Elisabeth’s rebellious nature causes rifts with the strict members of the Viennese court, with Elisabeth showing sympathy for the mistreated workers and damaging her reputation by partying with Franz’s brother Maximillian.
In the end, Franz’s mother, Archduchess Sophie, suggests that Elisabeth should leave Vienna to return to Bavaria and have her marriage to Franz annulled. Either that, or stay in the palace and settle.
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Elisabeth then finds out that she is pregnant. However, just as she is about to tell Franz, she discovers that he agrees with her mother and wants her to come home. Heartbroken, Ella Elisabeth refrains from telling Franz the news of her pregnancy, and she decides to leave instead.
Leaving the palace, Elisabeth’s exit is blocked by a large crowd protesting against the Emperor. The guards ask that the doors remain closed, but Elisabeth goes against her advice and demands that the doors be opened. She then addresses the crowd, telling them “I see you”, before publicly announcing her pregnancy.
Following the drama at the gates, the series opens up a ton of questions about what could happen next. Can Elisabeth go ahead with her return to Bavaria now that she has announced her pregnancy to the world? Will she and Franz reconcile? And what will happen to the empire now that the protests have come to a head?
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We hope we find out in a possible second season.
The Empress is streaming now on Netflix.