Netflix's period drama The Empress, based on the life of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, has returned for its third and final season, drawing praise from fans who call it a "masterpiece" and a must-watch for devotees of The Crown, The Spanish Princess, and Downton Abbey.
The series, which follows Elisabeth, a Bavarian Duchess who falls in love with her older sister's intended fiancé, Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, became Netflix's second-most-watched series worldwide when it first premiered in September 2022. It has since amassed more than 150 million hours streamed.
Fans praise the series as breathtaking and stunning
Viewers have taken to IMDb to share their reactions, with one writing: "Wow! Breathtaking, heart-wrenching, and stunning. Incredible filmography, beautiful sets and costumes, and captivating storyline. I've never really enjoyed a dubbed TV show, but The Empress was so perfect in every other area, I barely noticed it was dubbed at all. The final scene is so well done it left me with only one word... WOW!"
Another fan described it as "a masterpiece of emotion and visual beauty," adding: "I'm absolutely in love with this series. After waiting two whole years for the next six episodes, I couldn't help but binge them all in one go. And wow, it was worth the wait! The actors are phenomenal-so much emotion in their performances that they pulled me into every moment. I cried, laughed, and felt everything in between."
Netflix teases third season plot
Netflix has teased that the imperial marriage is on thin ice in the upcoming season, as Franz returns from the war against Napoleon a scarred man. His choices risk not only their marriage, but also Elisabeth's life is at stake. Meanwhile, on her first major journey far away, Elisabeth suddenly meets someone who will forever change her life, and also the fate of Habsburg.
A third fan added: "What an absolutely stunning series. Everything about The Empress was top-notch. From the sets, to the costuming and the acting. It was perfection. If you love a historical series then this is for you. I could have quite easily started from the beginning again and gone straight into a second viewing."
The Empress is Netflix's most successful German original
The series is the most successful German original production on Netflix since the 2020 war drama Barbarians. One viewer hailed it "exquisite," saying: "This series is one of the most beautiful series ever created. The acting, the characters, the story, the decor, everything was perfect and beautifully put together. It is easy to see it was a huge effort put into it and I hope it gets the international recognition it deserves. What show! Fantastic!"
The Empress season 3 is now streaming on Netflix.
