Saving Hope

Series premiere. Following a coup that overthrew her unpopular husband, the Empress of Russia Catherine the Great faces challenges on all sides, including from her unfaithful lover Grigory Orlov, who's trying to force her into marriage; her resentful son Prince Paul who looks for greater political power and enemies who call for the restoration of former infant emperor Ivan VI.

Two years later, Potemkin returns to St. Petersburg, following the Russian army's resounding victory against the Ottoman Empire, but is frustrated to learn Catherine has taken up with a young officer, Alexander Vasilchikov. Countess Bruce puts aside her own desires to convince the Empress to give love a chance, leading to what will become Catherine's greatest partnership.

Catherine and Potemkin experience difficulties as Potemkin longs for adventure and Catherine is drawn to her handsome secretary, Peter Zavadovsky. Potemkin's attempts to convince Catherine to expand southwards and take Crimea put him in direct opposition to Panin. In the wake of an unexpected tragedy, Catherine reveals the brutal truth about Natalia to Paul.

Series finale. Following a declaration of war by the Ottomans, Catherine makes a weary Potemkin supreme commander of the armed forces. An embittered Alexei and Paul plot to bring down the Empress by exploiting her new lover, Platon Zubov. As her reign draws to an end, Catherine becomes increasingly paranoid and despotic, setting out to change the line of succession.