MARIA THERESIA SEASON 3
THE PINNACLE OF POWER
Legendary Sisi was not the only of the Austrian empresses to find her way into the holiday programmes this year as the final installment on the historical series on MARIA THERESIA aired on national televisions in
Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary around Christmas and will air tonight on Austrian broadcaster ORF and should air also on French Arte. After the first two short seasons (you can view the whole series as five TV films), Oscar
nominated director Robert Dornhelm stages the last 20 years of the legendary Empress at the zenith of her power. Let us hope the last, two hour series is better than the first two which did not really know whether they want
to be a period set costume drama or comedy, but I have a feeling the hilariously bad wigs and rather atrocious acting and casting were not actually intentional. MARIA THERESIA: THE PINNACLE OF POWER stars
Ursula Strauss, Vojtěch Kotek, Aaron Friesz,Tatiana Pauhofová, David Švehlík and comes from Beta Film, Austrian ORF, Slovakian, Czech,
Hungarian broadcasters and Arte in France. The shooting of this lavishly produced historical melodrama took place in April and May 2021 in the Czech Republic.
Maria Theresa aired during Christmas holidays in Central Europe |
The final season is a two hour film or a two part mini series |
Ursula Strauss takes the role of old Maria Theresa |
The series was shot last year in Czech Republic |
The series airs tonight in Austria |
THE FINAL CHAPTER
Around the year 1760, Francis Stephen (Vojtech Kotek) is Roman-German Emperor and co-ruler to Maria Theresa (Ursula Strauss). But she runs the affairs of state largely alone, and with a strong hand. Political marriages are meant to secure the Habsburg Empire. Love plays no role in this: Her many children have to submit to her will. Disappointed, Francis Stephen increasingly retreats to Hof Palace. While
he turns to profitable business, Maria Theresa has her heir to the throne, Archduke Joseph (Aaron Friesz), educated to the highest level. He grows up
to be his mother’s liberal rival and a bitter opponent of his often-absent father. His marriage to Isabella of Parma (Jana Kvantikova) will be both, his great
happiness and his deepest misfortune. When Francis Stephen unexpectedly dies, Joseph becomes co-regent to his mother. But Maria Theresa has no intentions of sharing power with him!
Hundreds of costumes were prepared for the series |
The series will also air on Arte over in France |
This is the finale of the series that started in 2017 |