A Gentleman In Moscow Episode 2 Recap: 10 Biggest Reveals

Warning: Spoilers ahead for A Gentleman in Moscow episode 2, “An Invitation.”

A Gentleman in Moscow episode 2, “An Invitation,” furthers Alexander Rostov’s story through the holiday season in 1922 Russia, with the show revealing much more about the count’s past. “An Invitation” builds on the reveals from A Gentleman in Moscow episode 1 as well as introducing new characters. The episode also establishes new aspects of Moscow’s Metropol Hotel that weren’t mentioned in the opening installment of the Showtime adaptation of Amor Towles’ 2016 novel. Alexander’s relationships with various members of the A Gentleman In Moscow cast come under the spotlight, with some connections being heartwarming and others evoking melancholia.

Ewan McGregor’s Alexander Rostov is a complex character, and it appears as though A Gentleman in Moscow intends to peel back his layers on an episode-by-episode basis. While the show has already revealed why Alexander finds himself imprisoned within the Metropol Hotel, there are certain details that the first episode left out. Although A Gentleman in Moscow episode 2 fills in certain gaps, it still relies on the audience to read between the lines. However, certain other revelations are much more direct, and open up possibilities for the plot’s future while also answering questions about Alexander’s younger years.

10

Alexander’s World Becomes Much Bigger In A Gentleman In Moscow Episode 2

Count Rostov’s living arrangements took an unexpected turn

Alexander’s downgrade in lodgings in A Gentleman in Moscow episode 1, “A Master of Circumstance,” looked like it was going to be one of the biggest changes when compared with the previous four years he’d spent at the Metropol Hotel. While suite 317 was more than roomy enough for Alexander’s needs, his new quarters are notably smaller and less luxuriant. At least, they were before Alexander discovered the secret room beyond his wardrobe. The Narnia-esque reference results in Alexander suddenly having much more space in which to spend his private time.

With Nina’s assistance, Alexander transforms the new space into a room that approaches the status of fit for a count. While the upgrade would likely land Alexander in hot water if discovered by his jailers, it’s a huge morale boost for McGregor’s character. If a larger living space wasn’t enough, Nina’s gift of the hotel’s skeleton key also means Alexander can reach the roof and get some much-needed fresh air whenever he so desires. That being said, he needs to be careful not to get caught. Sitting on the roof comes dangerously close to breaking the terms of his sentence.

9

Helena Is Dead (Likely Due To The Bolshevik Uprising)

Alexander’s sister doesn’t seem to have been spared by the violence of the Russian Revolution

“A Master of Circumstance” was intentionally ambiguous regarding whether Alexander’s sister was still alive. However, A Gentleman in Moscow‘s opening episode strongly implied that Helena had died, and “An Invitation” confirmed this. While the show still hasn’t revealed how Helena met her end, an exchange between Alexander and Mishka suggests that she perished at the hands of the Bolsheviks.

A Gentleman in Moscow is set during the Russian Revolution, which began in 1917 and ended in 1923. During this period, members of Russia’s ruling class were sought out and killed by members of the Bolshevik Party as they took control of the country. As such, it would make sense that Helena Rostov would have been targeted during this period of political unrest in Russia. It’s already been confirmed that Alexander returned to Russia in 1918 to help his grandmother escape to safety, but A Gentleman in Moscow hasn’t revealed whether Helena had been killed by that point.

8

A Gentleman In Moscow Episode 2 Reveals Mishka Wrote The Poem That Saved Alexander’s Life

Alexander didn’t write “Where is Our Purpose Now?”

Given the situation in Russia during the Revolution, Alexander Rostov is arguably very lucky to be alive. As a member of the Russian aristocracy, he would have been a target of those who started the uprising of the Russian working class in 1917. The reason he’s alive is that he has been wrongly credited as being the writer of a 1913 in-universe poem called, “Where is Our Purpose Now?” When Alexander is asked whether he was the poet in question in “A Master of Circumstance,” he cryptically confirms he was, while also implying he was not.

“An Invitation” confirms that Mishka wrote the poem and credited Alexander instead. The poem is credited as a “Call to revolutionary action,” which aligns with Mishka’s standing in the Bolshevik Party. Mishka credited his friend as the poem’s author so that should Mishka’s desired Revolution take place, Alexander would be more likely to be spared death due to his perceived part in helping the uprising along. While Alexander isn’t viewed as a revolutionary, the Leninists allow him to live because they buy into Mishka’s ruse. Instead, they confine the count to the Metropol Hotel for the rest of his life.

7

Mishka Went To University With Alexander (& Mishka Lived With The Rostovs)

Their shared history makes Mishka’s political allegiances difficult for Alexander to accept

Alexander’s friendship with Mishka dates back over a decade, with the pair being fellow students at university. Although not part of the same social class, Mishka also went on to live with Alexander and his family. This period is shown throughout “An Invitation “via flashbacks from Alexander’s point of view. The fact that the Rostovs welcomed Mishka into their home is a point of contention for Alexander, with the count being visibly disgruntled when he sees his friend leading a Bolshevik rally.

Despite his negative feelings toward Russia’s upper class, Mishka doesn’t appear to harbor the same resentment toward Alexander. Instead, the pair are shown throughout A Gentleman in Moscow episode 2 speaking as equals and waxing lyrical about their days as university students. What’s unclear is whether their bond is strong enough for Alexander to put himself at risk by refusing Osip Glebnikov’s order to spy on Mishka.

6

Alexander Rostov Is A Very Capable Fighter

The count steps in to help Mishka

To watch how Alexander interacts with the other characters in A Gentleman in Moscow, it’s difficult to imagine the prim and proper count resorting to violence. Even if it were easy to visualize, it’s even harder to picture him being good with his fists. However, “An Invitation” establishes Alexander’s skills in hand-to-hand combat. In addition, it doesn’t look like Alexander is improvising. Instead, it appears as though he is drawing upon some form of training.

The scene in question also perfectly demonstrated the honor of Ewan McGregor’s character. Alexander and Mishka are freshly removed from an argument when the count happens across his friend being outnumbered, but Alexander immediately rushes to Mishka’s side to fight alongside him (after making sure to stow his jacket with a trustworthy-looking passerby). A lesser man may have let Mishka fend for himself, but the fact that he didn’t speaks volumes of Alexander’s character.

5

A Gentleman In Moscow Is Adhering To Vladimir Lenin’s Believed Cause Of Death

Lenin died in 1924

A quick exchange between two characters in A Gentleman in Moscow confirms that the show is doubling down on its historical accuracy. Although Vladimir Lenin’s cause of death is still a source of debate among historians, certain parties believe that the political leader eventually died after a series of strokes. According to the National Library of Medicine, Lenin suffered his first stroke in 1922, which is when the main story of A Gentleman in Moscow is set.

Because of when and where A Gentleman in Moscow takes place, the show has a certain responsibility to display a certain amount of historical accuracy. Alexander Rostov and his fellow guests may be fictional, but the Metropol Hotel is real, as was the Russian Revolution. As such, making sure the story acknowledges certain historical milestones isn’t just respectful, but it also helps with the show’s immersion factor.

4

Mishka Was In Love With Alexander’s Sister (& Alexander Made Him Call It Off)

Alexander was unhappy with the arrangment

In A Gentleman in Moscow episode 1, the show established that all the flashback sequences are from Alexander’s point of view, and this technique carries over into “An Invitation.” The difference between the two episodes is that the flashbacks in A Gentleman in Moscow episode 2 are far less cryptic than the previous installment. While dialogue is still at a premium during these scenes, it’s easy to track Mishka developing feelings for Helena Rostov. The hints start subtle, with shots including Mishka stealing glances at Helena, but their affection for one another eventually becomes clear.

The flashback sequences make it obvious that Alexander was keeping a watchful eye on his sister. Despite Mishka being Alexander’s friend, the count couldn’t seem to reconcile his sister marrying below her class and bringing Mishka up to the same level of society as the Rostovs. What’s darkly ironic is that if Alexander had allowed the pair to marry, then Mishka would have become noble by marriage, never joined the Bolsheviks, and likely have been killed during the uprising. So, in a way, Alexander’s action accidentally saved Mishka’s life – even if their political allegiances sent them down different paths.

3

Alexander’s Love Interest In A Gentleman In Moscow Is An Actress

Anna is played by Ewan McGregor’s wife

The end of Russia’s ruling class resulted in figures from all walks of life frequenting the Metropol Hotel. However, most of the hotel’s guests still seem to be wealthy individuals. Among these people is Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s Anna Urbanova – a movie actress. Anna’s entrance to the show is somewhat chaotic, with her dogs running riot in the hotel’s restaurant before being expertly coraled by Alexander.

Anna and the count have immediate chemistry despite coming from different backgrounds, leading to an intimate encounter at Anna’s request later in the episode. Mary Elizabeth Winstead being cast as Anna is a clever move by the show. Not only does she have brilliant timing with Ewan McGregor, but she’s married to A Gentleman in Moscow‘s leading man in real life. As such, their relationship from the real world bleeds onto the screen to make the pairing even more believable.

2

Alexander & Anna Are More Similar Than They Care To Admit

A Gentleman in Moscow’s new pair share many of the same traits

The sexual tension is palpable between Alexander and Anna, and although this tension quickly dissipates once they sleep together, their coy approach to seduction isn’t the only trait they both share. Both characters are incredibly guarded, revealing only specific details about their lives to the other. In addition, they’re both very perceptive. The fact they’re both so intelligent makes it very easy for them to spot when the other is lying or holding back.

The similarities between Alexander and Anna are reinforced by the fact that Anna is staying in suite 317. Before McGregor’s character was banished to the servants’ quarters, this was the suite he called home for four years while he awaited trial. Alexander clearly has great affection for this suite, as evidenced by the fact that he makes sure to wind the clock while Anna is out of sight. As such, his feelings toward the room could foreshadow how his emotions for Anna will solidify into something beyond physical attraction.

1

Nina Is Gone But Alexander Is Not Alone

The friends shared a heartfelt farewell in A Gentleman in Moscow episode 2

Throughout the first two episodes of A Gentleman in Moscow, Nina has been one of the most important figures in Alexander’s new life. The pair have kept each other company to avoid the crushing loneliness brought about by Alexander’s imprisonment and Nina’s busy father. Their farewell in “An Invitation” is one of the most emotional moments in the episode, with their embrace lasting much longer than a formal goodbye would typically do. However, while the loss of Alexander’s dining companion will be a huge hit to his morale, the episode also introduces other figures for him to turn to.

Mishka and Alexander make great strides in mending their friendship in the episode, and Alexander fits in surprisingly well at the hotel staff’s New Year’s Eve party. The count even makes some slight headway with the hard-faced Glebnikov, with Alexander’s guard reluctantly accepting a Christmas present from his prisoner. In short, while some of the hotel staff are making it more and more clear that they are unhappy with Alexander’s presence, A Gentleman in Moscow hasn’t left Ewan McGregor’s character as isolated as it seems.

Source: National Library of Medicine