Rasputin and the Empress

A charismatic healer who manipulates the royal family and ascends to a de facto power behind the throne. Through hypnotic influence, blackmail, and strategic alliances, he reshapes court loyalties and undermines official channels. His presence provokes fear, fascination, and a dangerous concentration of influence at the imperial center.

Alexandra's lady-in-waiting and Paul’s fiancée, she believes in Rasputin’s beneficence for the heir and the empire. Natasha warns Paul of Rasputin's growing power, illustrating the divisions within the royal circle. She reacts with fury when Rasputin's advances threaten her own family’s standing and sequence of loyalties.

A reform-minded noble uneasy with Rasputin’s interference, he becomes a central antagonist to Rasputin’s influence. He schemes to remove Rasputin, culminating in an assassination attempt that triggers a dangerous power struggle. His actions force critical political choices that contribute to the monarchy’s unraveling.

The autocratic ruler torn between reformist pressures and Rasputin's growing hold over the court. He is portrayed as being pulled by rival factions and unable to fully control the palace intrigue, which accelerates the empire’s decline. His decisions, and the pressures around him, set the stage for the looming catastrophe.

The Empress who trusts Natasha and Rasputin, remaining loyal to her confidants despite mounting evidence of manipulation. Her faith in Natasha’s account of Rasputin's influence reinforces the palace’s internal divide. She navigates the crisis with a mix of devotion and political peril, ultimately becoming a conduit for Rasputin’s continued reach.

Alexandra's daughter who becomes a focal point in Rasputin’s calculated advances. Rasputin’s attention toward Maria signals the deeper entanglement of personal desires with political power at the court. Natasha’s reaction to these developments underscores the tension between personal loyalty and political allegiance.