Why Elena’s Father Did THAT In The Regime Episode 3 (& What The Nightmare Really Means)

Warning: Major spoilers for The Regime episode 3 “The Heroes’ Banquet” below!

The most shocking scene of The Regime episode 3 involves the chancellor’s late father, which pushes her to make a bold decision about the nation’s future. The Regime cast Kate Winslet, Matthias Schoenaerts and Andrea Riseborough in a dark satire about a crumbling authoritarian regime. Winslet plays the egotistical ruler of The Regime’s unnamed country, who, lacking any real vision for the future, turns to Schoenaerts’ troubled soldier Herbert Zubak. Together, the unlikely duo shape a plan for the country that seems more likely to ruin it.

The Regime episode 1 introduced viewers (and Zubak) to the palace’s bizarre inner workings, where Winslet’s chancellor Elena Vernham was so obsessed with toxic air she had become a recluse. By the time The Regime episode 3 begins, Elena has entrusted Zubak with shaping the country’s next steps, including rejecting foreign money and seizing land from “the elite” to give it back to the people. The chancellor likes how this sounds on paper – though in practice it undermines her authority and her personal wealth.

Elena’s Zombie Nightmare About Her Father In The Regime Episode 3 Explained

The Regime takes a brief detour into horror

Throughout “The Heroes’ Banquet,” Elena finds herself being pushed to the side by Zubak. In The Regime episode 2, the chancellor’s cabinet concocted a fake story about Herbert being descended from the nation’s founder, and that destiny had brought him and Elena together. This newfound power emboldens Zubak to aggressively push his beliefs and reforms through – often without consulting the chancellor on his plans.

Joseph dubs the chancellor “vapid” and “feckless,” and accuses her of having no vision for how to lead the country out of trouble. Despite his spiteful words, he still wants her to be bold and become a real leader. Elena then wakes from the dream and is inspired to take action, quickly seizing back control. The chancellor later announces that she wants to invade the neighboring Faban Corridor – or in her words, reunify – and Herbert will lead her forces as the “Faban Freedom Captain.“

Why Elena Imagines Her Dead Father Verbally Abusing Her

In the first episode, Elena visited her father’s grave during “Victory Day,” and grew concerned about the new “spots” he had acquired. Of course, this is due to Joseph having died the year before, and his body is finally breaking down. It is clear from this scene that Elena has love and respect for “Daddy,” but she also gloats about being more successful than he ever was. The Regime episode 3’s nightmare is about Elena projecting her insecurities onto her father, and imagining what he would think about her current course of action.

This nightmare sequence gives welcome insight into Elena’s mindset too, who has been something of a caricature in previous episodes. The Regime has a tongue-in-cheek tone and paints its characters with broad strokes. The nightmare offers some explanation for how she became who she is – though the dream only inspires her to do something terrible.

Elena’s Twist After Her Nightmare Explains Why She Keeps Her Dead Father In A Box

The chancellor refuses to let “Daddy” go

The first episode of The Regime gave no clear answer to why Elena was displaying her father’s body in a glass box, though it was clear she hadn’t fully processed his death. “Heroe’s Banquet” shows she is using Joseph as a motivator for her political career and needs to look at him while gloating about her successes, claiming she’s reaching heights he failed to in life. Elena must prove to him she is a success and beloved by the people.

Of course, this is not the healthiest mindset to run a country with, and reveals why her grasp on power is steadily slipping. With the Faban Corridor invasion, she acted out of ego and the need to prove herself strong, regardless of the consequences. Joseph would surely have disapproved of the move, even if he pressed her to be bold during the nightmare. If Joseph reappears in The Regime again, he will likely give an unvarnished option on how she continues to mess things up.