DISCLAIMER: This recap of The Great episode “Walnut Season” has spoilers. Proceed at your peril.
Huzzah! The Great‘s penultimate episode opens a new chapter for Catherine and Peter as they become parents. So far, this season does a masterful job of sowing the seeds of our leads’ inevitable sexual entwining. Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult‘s inherent chemistry bolsters already solid writing, and Season Two boasts a treasure trove of parallels between Peter and Catherine.
The moment Catherine decides to throw caution to the wind feels satisfying, despite Peter’s checkered past. Hoult endears Peter to us and makes us root for him to succeed, and that’s the mark of a brilliant actor.
Of course, there’s still the Joanna secret to contend with, and, undoubtedly, Catherine will learn about it in the season finale.
Ready to delve into “Walnut Season”? Let’s get to it.
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We open with Peter (Hoult), waiting outside with Grigor (Gwilym Lee) and Arkady (Bayo Gbadamosi) while Catherine gives birth. It’s custom for the husband not to be in the “delivery room,” as it were.
Peter cannot wait any longer, so he bursts through the doors to support Catherine (Fanning) while giving birth to Paul before an audience. Tatyana (Florence Keith-Roach) even has popcorn.
Doctor Vinodel (Julian Barratt) wants to utilize his forceps to remove Paul, but Aunt Elizabeth (Belinda Bromilow) puts her foot down. After Catherine offers one last push, Elizabeth hands Paul to Peter, who’s instantly smitten. Orlo (Sacha Dhawan) asks Peter to make sure Paul’s a boy — you know, for “the heir to the empire” purposes.
Fast forward six weeks later, and we see Catherine waltzing into Peter’s quarters to find Pugachev (also Hoult). Peter emerges from a hole in the wall with Paul in his arms. He took his son outside for a stroll and employed his lookalike to act in his stead.
Catherine and Peter gaze lovingly at their son, but an unspoken awkwardness lingers between them. Catherine brings up the grave incident, wherein she was about to kiss Peter before her water broke, and Peter claims he doesn’t remember what happened.
Next, King Hugo (Freddie Fox) and Queen Agnes (Grace Molony) arrive from Sweden. Things aren’t going well in Sweden; there’s an insurrection afoot! Judging by their brief conversation, Hugo and Agnes are at the palace to ask Catherine for assistance.
Meanwhile, Grigor wakes to find Georgina (Charity Wakefield) in bed with him. Surprise! She’s back from France!
Marial (Phoebe Fox) wanders into her chambers and spots her young cousin Maxim (Henry Meredith) overtaking her space. Marial’s father passed away the month before, leaving Maxim, the only male heir to his estate. Women can’t own property and blah, blah, blah.
Next, Doctor Vinodel shoves a walnut up Catherine’s hoo-ha to restore the shape of “the royal c**t.” Oh, and he’ll need that walnut returned ASAP. Elizabeth watches over Paul while Catherine pours over the casualty reports from Velementov. So far, Russia’s not doing so hot against the Ottoman Empire in the war.
Peter confides in Elizabeth about his concerns regarding what happened to Catherine’s mother. He’s not great at keeping secrets. Plus, boning your mom, which culminates in her falling out of a window to her death, isn’t exactly a minor secret. Elizabeth reminds him that he didn’t kill Joanna; it was an accident.
That’s when Peter lets slip that his mother drowned Elizabeth’s young son, Igor.
Catherine encounters Voltaire (Dustin Demri-Burns), and the legendary philosopher expresses his disapproval of the empress’s handling of the war. Hey, everyone’s a critic. Put him on Twitter.
After that peculiar interaction, Catherine bumps into Georgina, who claims she’s a changed woman since living in Paris. Georgina hopes to stay at court and help Catherine revitalize Russia. She believes in education for women and upholds many progressive ideals now. Huzzah!
Catherine allows her to resume her post at the palace, and as we see Georgina walk away, a devilish smile forms on her face. She’s got a plan up her sleeve.
Catherine meets with Hugo and Agnes, and she grants them asylum at the palace. I love that Hugo and Georgina both utter lines about getting on their knees to beg Catherine.
Meanwhile, Georgina brings Grigor a gift from Paris. He scolds her for not writing to him for months, and he’s moved on now with Marial, much to Georgina’s dismay.
Grigor runs into Marial after revealing the news of their relationship to Georgina. Then, he tells Marial about Georgina’s return, and Marial assumes Grigor will leave her for his wife since Georgina possesses an inexplicable hold over Grigor.
Marial needs a husband to inherit her father’s estate and kick Maxim to the curb. Unfortunately, Grigor can’t divorce Georgina for her.
After Peter drops the Igor bombshell on his aunt, Elizabeth scoops up Paul and departs in a haze. Marial calls Catherine out regarding her burgeoning love for Peter, reminding her of all of his transgressions. Catherine decides to exile Peter to the countryside instead of killing him.
So, Catherine presents the countryside idea to Peter, which he eagerly accepts. That’s when the new parents notice the unexpected absence of their son.
Peter fails to take responsibility for his actions, claiming Catherine was the last one to hold Paul. Catherine wonders whether Elizabeth fled to her countryside estate with their son, so the pair prepare for a lengthy carriage ride.
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They have Grigor watch over a decoy baby in the interim. Hugo approaches Catherine in Paul’s nursery with a request: he’d like Catherine to send Russian troops to reclaim Sweden so that he and his wife can rule again, but Catherine rejects his proposal.
Later, Catherine and Peter take a carriage ride to Elizabeth’s country home. Catherine orders Peter to remain silent while she works. However, Peter involves her in a game of “I Spy,” and she asks Peter to reveal the worst act he’s ever committed. Naturally, Joanna’s accidental murder comes to mind, but Peter fabricates a lie to conceal that. Catherine sees through the said lie.
Meanwhile, Marial and Archie (Adam Godley) sit before a horde of suitors, potential husbands for Marial, and Marial rejects all of them. Afterward, Archie propositions Raskolvy (Ali Ariaie) for sex and Marial catches him doing so. Archie claims he lost his connection with God, so Marial suggests continuing down the self-flagellation path. Old Archie cannot resurface.
Elizabeth tends to baby Paul, referring to him as her late son, Igor. Peter’s confession sends her spiraling down a traumatic path.
Since appealing to Catherine didn’t pan out, Hugo and Agnes seek to hitch their carriage onto Peter’s horse instead. Perhaps they could help him overthrow Catherine, and then they’ll finally have the forces necessary to retake Sweden.
Peter and Catherine bond amid their sojourn to Elizabeth’s house. Hoult and Fanning’s inherent chemistry pulsates here.
They arrive at Elizabeth’s home, and Catherine urges Peter to allow her to speak with his aunt first. Catherine empathizes with Elizabeth; Catherine knows why she did what she did, and she still grieves the monumental loss of her Igor. Bromilow electrifies in this scene. Elizabeth embraces Catherine and Peter and apologizes for essentially kidnapping their child. Peter even says he’s sorry for traumatizing her with his secret.
Meanwhile, Georgina brings books and encourages the women at court to educate and empower themselves. Tatyana observes with a hint of suspicion. She pulls Georgina aside, and we learn the latter’s change of heart is merely a ruse. Georgina claims Enlightenment will be the downfall of society, so she hopes to stick it to Catherine by facilitating it in the palace.
Archie takes the magical God-communing drugs, a.k.a. mushrooms, and lies on the forest floor, writhing in agony.
Grigor visits Marial in her apartments, wherein we discover her engagement to Maxim, her eight-year-old cousin. However, Grigor doesn’t care about that — he only wants to be with Marial.
Archie meets with one of the palace treasurers and learns something shocking. What could it be?
Then, Catherine waltzes into Peter’s room, confessing her love for him. They finally, finally have sex, and folks, it’s time. This moment is a sweet victory for all.
The following day, Peter and Catherine hold hands for all to see. Velementov updates Catherine regarding the war efforts, but it’s not looking good. Archie brings in the palace treasurers to reveal their findings. That’s when Orlo’s theft bubbles to the surface. Orlo explains why he stole a considerable amount of gold from Catherine. His Uncle Varnya practically demanded it as financial relief for Orlo’s impoverished home region.
However, Catherine refuses to hear excuses, and she orders him to leave. Velementov tries to stand up for his friend but to no avail.
Katya (Jane Mahady) attempts to persuade Orlo to stay; unfortunately, he’s already packing. Orlo believes Catherine won’t forgive him or see reason. He kisses Katya goodbye and departs. No, don’t leave, my sweet baby Orlo!
Next, Marial and Grigor lie entwined in furs post-boning. Grigor lets slip the real cause of Joanna’s passing — Peter forking Catherine’s mom and the latter inadvertently falling out of a window to her death. Unfortunately for him, Marial can’t keep secrets from her best friend.
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Do you think Georgina and her friends will soon stage an uprising against Catherine? What will Catherine do when she discovers Peter’s dark secret involving her mother? Will Hugo and Agnes appeal to Peter’s sensibilities?
Keep watching The Great on Hulu, my Greaties, and stick around for more recapping fun, only on Geek Girl Authority.
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