Season 1 of the German drama series The Empress brought viewers into the lives of Empress Elisabeth “Sisi” of Austria (Devrim Lingnau) and her husband, Emperor Franz Joseph (Philip Froissant), as the historical couple fall in love and navigate the expectations of the empire in the 1850s. The unconventional royal story delighted audiences around the world, leading to an International Emmy for Best Drama Series and a second season. “It was unimaginable for us to have such success,” says showrunner and screenwriter Katharina Eyssen. “It left me totally surprised and humbled.”

After the cliffhanger ending of Season 1, with Elisabeth announcing her pregnancy amidst a mob of protestors, the second season arrives with unanswered questions, including how the couple will react to the pregnancy. “I’m looking forward to showing the viewers how Elisabeth and Franz work together in their new roles as parents,” says Lingnau. Alongside their growing domestic responsibility, Elisabeth and Franz find themselves embroiled in the political tribulations shaping their kingdom. “The great challenge in writing is to link the moral insight from this political situation with the fates of the main characters,” explains Eyssen, “and thereby, hopefully, with the viewers of today.”