HBO’s ‘The Regime’ Episode 4 Review - Body Heat

Just an episode or two ago, it seemed that Elena and Herbert could not live without each other. They shared a seemingly unbreakable bond. Then came those events during the final moments of the third episode that finally created a rift between these two characters. In the opening scenes of Episode 4, we see a tormented Herbert who becomes emotional whenever he hears Elena's voice on the radio. Is he filled with hatred towards her, or does her voice fill him with a terrible longing for her? When she says something along the lines of, "I came into your dreams, you didn't come into mine," Herbert could have taken these words as proof of one-sided affection. Hence, the painful wailing of a broken heart that follows.

How is Elena coping with this separation? Well, she is not crying like Herbert. Her source of discomfort is the hot weather. Although air conditioning units are installed throughout the palace, they don't seem to alleviate Elena's problems. The heat persists even though she tries fanning herself with her hands or a cloth. Why is she feeling so hot? Where is this heat coming from? No explanation is given to us. I suspect the point is to show that if a tyrant experiences irritation, everyone else, too, has to suffer. No one else feels warm. They feel as if they are staying in an Igloo in Antarctica. But nobody has the guts to complain to the chancellor. During an amusing Zoom meeting (I won't spoil how it occurs), everybody raises their hands when Elena asks who else is feeling hot.

Elena is allergic to people who raise objections. Her staff members know this very well. The citizens, too, get a taste of her oppressive powers when she, at a beetroot factory, plants fake evidence. The media, of course, talks about her as if she is a visionary leader. When her nose bleeds during a conference with children (don't ask), the news channels blame the CIA for attacking the chancellor. "Let me do my work and be grateful," she comments, as if reminding everyone she is doing them a big favor. So what if a pregnant woman got kicked by a horse? Don't blame Elena. Don't go to demonstrations if you are up the duff. Victim blaming is one of the signs of a dictator. But Elena, like a spoiled rich girl, is quick to criticize others while failing to acknowledge her own flaws. She is too self-absorbed and lives in a bubble, which, in this case, is the palace.

It seems my fondness for this show is slowly increasing with each episode. Yes, it has not yet been able to get rid of its tonal faults. Herbert's scenes here tilt more towards a serious mood, while that of Elena's come with a fair amount of chuckles. This creates an unstable atmosphere that, at times, throws you off balance. But Kate Winslet exudes both these moods (she is deliciously, darkly funny) with such assurance that she holds the show's shaky parts together. Then, there is that unexpected yet sexy scene towards the end where Elena's heat is finally dissipated. Well, she didn't need all those air conditioners after all.

Final Score - [6.5/10]