'The Regime': Chilling reason behind Elena Vernham storing her father's body

Elena Vernham, the Chancellor of a fictional European nation, often converses with her deceased father's body, which is kept in a glass box
PUBLISHED MAR 25, 2024
A still from 'The Regime' (@HBO)
A still from 'The Regime' (@HBO)

LAS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The political realms of HBO's 'The Regime' are appalled that Elena Vernham (Kate Winslet) has preserved her father's corpse in a mausoleum.

The show, which is the creative brainchild of Will Tracy, follows the journey of Elena who is the Chancellor of a fictional European nation.

Despite Elena initially projecting an image of strength, she is struggling to maintain her position of power.

Her fear of inheriting a lung condition from her father, Joseph Vernham, only strengthens her weakening authoritarian grip on her fictional nation.

What happened to Elena's father, Joseph Vernham?

A still from 'The Regime' (@HBO)
A still from 'The Regime' (@HBO)

Joseph Vernham, Elena's father, died to a lung condition, a fact revealed in the first episode.

Elena keeps her father in a glass box in a mausoleum, visiting him frequently while discussing her own views.

His death served as a stark reminder to Elena that she, too, may succumb to the diseases that her deceased father left her vulnerable to inherit.

Additionally, after a year in the box, the corpse started to show signs of decomposition, with spots appearing on his body.

Nevertheless, Elena remains steadfast in her refusal to let go and instead directs her team to conceal the spots with makeup.

Why is Elena Vernham talking to Joseph Vernham's corpse?

A still from 'The Regime' (@HBO)
Kate Winslet as Chancellor Elena Vernham in a still from 'The Regime' (@HBO)

Elena's father, a politician, had a strained relationship with her. In episode 3, 'The Heroes' Banquet,' Elena was shown organising a feast for her father to commemorate his 83rd birthday, which was attended by her council.

Later, she engages in a conversation with her father, attempting to rationalize her own anxieties, almost as if seeking to justify her behavior to him, showcasing the tumultuous nature of their relationship.

Moreover, Elena's choice to preserve Joseph's corpse may stem from her longing for validation from her late father, essentially striving to portray herself as the great leader he had envisioned her to be.

'The Regime' episode 3 is now streaming on Max.

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