Catherine the Great episode 2 live stream: Watch online

HBO’s lavish period drama Catherine the Great continues as the Russian Empress continues her consolidation and expansion of power. Here’s how you can watch online.

HBO’s Catherine the Great follows the story of one of the greatest female rulers of all time – a woman who rewrote the rules of female power, and who established much of what we understand as Russia today.

How we haven’t had a lavish period drama about this particular figure in history before now, I don’t know. But, because it’s happening now, we get Helen Mirren in the lead role. So, win some lose some, I guess.

The first episode of this four-part series featured a lot of set-up, establishing who the major players in the story are and establishing where we are in Catherine’s reign. (We’re about seven years on from the coup that brought her to power.)

Judging by the events of the premiere, we’re likely to see (a lot) more of Catherine’s growing relationship with dishy military leader Grigory Potemkin. But we can expect a lot more than romance.

The synopsis for episode 2 tells us that two years have passed since the premiere, and drama is brewing.

"Two years later, Potemkin returns to St. Petersburg, following the Russian army’s resounding victory against the Ottoman Empire, but is frustrated to learn Catherine has taken up with a young officer, Alexander Vasilchikov. As Catherine and Potemkin flit around their feelings for another, Catherine’s trusted confidante Countess Bruce puts aside her own desires to convince the Empress to give love a chance, leading to the beginning of what will become Catherine’s greatest partnership. As a Cossack named Pugachev stirs discontent in the countryside, Catherine looks to Potemkin for advice and decisive action. Meanwhile, a newly-married Paul sees a future commanding the military, worrying his mother, who seeks to keep him in his place."

Watch for yourselves below.

Mirren is such a commanding presence, it’s honestly difficult to take your eyes off her. (But who would want to? She’s goals, in pretty much every way.)

Here’s how you can watch the second episode of HBO’s Catherine the Great online.

"Date: Monday, October 28Start Time: 10 p.m. ESTEpisode: “Episode Two”TV Channel: HBOLive Stream: Watch live on Fubo TV. Sign up now for a free seven-day trial. You can also watch on HBO or HBO Go."

Catherine the Great continues Monday night at 10pm ET on HBO. Come back to Culturess for a full review after it airs!