In the fourth chapter of HBO's lampooning political saga, "The Regime," entitled "Midnight Feast," the narrative dives into the fraying psyche of Chancellor Elena Vernham and her intricate entanglement with Herbert Zubak. As the nation struggles with the ramifications of Elena's harebrained decisions, the episode unveils a harrowing tableau of power, allegiance, and the abyssal depths of human desperation.
The episode unfolds with Herbert Zubak confined within prison walls, his paranoia and neuroses intensified by the incessant broadcast of Elena's voice on the radio—a cruel reminder of his devoted bond and the omnipotent hold she exercises over him. Meanwhile, Elena confronts a novel health crisis in the shape of fiery hot flashes, causing the Royal Palace to be engulfed in icy cold, much to the dismay of her staff and council members.
Elena's trading alliance with China, a strategic maneuver to counterbalance her severed ties with the United States, triggers escalating apprehension among her councilors. The influx of inexpensive Chinese goods decimates local enterprises, resulting in the shuttering of sugar beet factories and heightening tensions within the populace. The situation is further compounded by a societal uprising sparked by an incident where a protest-bound pregnant woman was kicked by a horse, illuminating the regime's precarious hold on power.
In an unexpected turn of events, the incarcerated former Chancellor, Ed, endeavors to persuade Herbert to join his cause, inviting him to exclusive, clandestine dinners within the prison walls and urging him to delve into his written tome. However, Herbert's steadfast devotion to Elena renders Ed's machinations ineffective, as his loyalty remains unshaken. Ed's true intentions come to light as he schemes to reclaim his throne, reveling in Elena's impending demise and deriding her shortcomings during her visit. In a fit of fury, Herbert takes Ed's life, an act that, mysteriously, secures his freedom and reinstatement by Elena's side.
Elena's attempt to quell the escalating unrest by hosting a live, televised Q&A session with the children of Westgate proves catastrophic. She lashes out at the inquisitive participants, her temper fraying, and abruptly exits the broadcast amidst a nosebleed. This public relations fiasco is exacerbated by her subsequent decision to ban all Western products, embracing Chinese goods exclusively—a move that pushes her further away from the hearts of her people.
In a breathtaking twist, upon his return to the palace, Herbert boldly declares his affection for Elena, right before her husband Nicky's eyes. Their subsequent, fiery embrace sparks a chain of events culminating in Nicky's forced exile by the councilors. The episode crescendos into a scandalous climax, depicting Elena and Herbert's intimate encounter, a stark emblem of Herbert's unyielding devotion and Elena's abandon of all pretenses of propriety for her "Butcher."
"Midnight Feast" emerges as a masterclass in depicting the relentless drive of power, pushing individuals to the very precipice of sanity. It unmasks the devastating effects of unbridled devotion and the pervasive corruption wielded by absolute power. As Elena's reign hovers precariously on the brink of collapse, the episode lingers in viewers' minds with a haunting inquiry: To what extremes will Elena and Herbert push to uphold their distorted perception of power, and at what expense to their own humanity?
