Sisi - Episode Guide

Sisi, the daughter of the Bavarian Duke Max, grows up carefree and close to nature with her siblings at Lake Starnberg. When the young Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph is to marry her older sister Helene, Sisi reluctantly goes along to Bad Ischl for the engagement. But a fateful encounter between Sisi and Franz suddenly changes the course of events.

Sisi has fallen in love with Franz. Without hesitation, she follows him to Vienna as his future wife. But the strict court ceremonial quickly gets to the freedom-loving Bavarian princess. Out of love for Franz, she is nevertheless prepared to put up with all the hardships and duties. She knows that she must first earn the respect of the court. Sisi finds a friend and confidante in Fanny, whom she smuggles into the palace as a maid under a false name.

The young couple's wedding night does not go as planned and Sisi needs Fanny's advice more than ever. But Countess Esterhazy exposes Fanny as an impostor and banishes her from court. It is only during their honeymoon in Laxenburg that Sisi and Franz slowly find their way to each other. At her first, official reception as empress, Sisi surprises everyone with her excellent knowledge of the Hungarian language and the kindness with which she treats the Hungarian nobility.

Sisi is pregnant. The young imperial couple do not have much time to enjoy their happiness together. The conflicts in Hungary come to a head, and the rest of Europe is also seething. Countess Esterhazy hopes that Sisi can persuade the Emperor to negotiate with the Hungarian nobility. She arranges a secret meeting between Sisi and Count Andrassy. But before she can speak to Franz, an assassination attempt is made on him during the christening of their daughter Sophie.

Franz barely survived the assassination attempt in the church. But when there are uprisings against the Habsburgs in Italy, he goes to war. To help the soldiers as well, Sisi helps out in a military hospital in Laxenburg and cares for the wounded. The mood in Hungary is still heated. Sisi succeeds in persuading Franz to meet Count Andrassy during a reception in Budapest and negotiate a peace treaty. At the height of the festivities, another dangerous incident occurs.

The new assassination attempt on Franz was prevented, but the young imperial couple is struck by a terrible blow of fate in Budapest. The little princess Sophie dies. Sisi falls into deep, immeasurable grief and Franz distances himself from her more and more. In Europe the signs continue to point to war, Napoleon III claims parts of the Habsburg lands in Italy for himself. Sisi refuses to give up and fights - for herself, her people and her love for Franz!

The proclamation of the republic and the fall of Napoleon III also lead to unrest in Vienna. Franz therefore decides to start his son Rudolf's military training earlier. At the same time, he orders Grünne to mingle incognito with the protesting workers in order to find out who their leader is. Sisi is unable to protect her sensitive son from the army and decides to free him on her own.

Sisi packs her things and leaves Franz an ultimatum. She will only return to court with Rudolf if Franz leaves the upbringing to her. Despite Franz's guards, who are hot on the heels of Sisi and Rudolf, they manage to escape. They are helped by the photographer Alma, who takes mother and son with her to the south of France. However, their arrival on a small, idyllic island does not go unnoticed.

Mother and son finally regain their zest for life on the island, while Sisi develops a trusting relationship with Alma. Franz fights against an alliance between the German Empire and Russia, which he can only prevent with the help of his mother. But then he finds out from a spy where Sisi and Rudolf are staying.

Franz visits Sisi and Rudolf in France. The family is finally reunited. Emperor and Empress spend a passionate night together, but the very next day Franz secretly takes Rudolf back to Vienna with him. Sisi and Franz try to forget each other in the arms of strangers. Franz's harsh treatment of the rebellious workers makes Grünne doubt his loyalty to the crown.

When Sisi learns that Franz has taken Rudolf out of the army, she returns to court. Despite their relationship problems, Sisi and Franz receive the Russian Tsar together for the alliance negotiations. Meanwhile, one of the unhappy workers makes his way to the Hofburg to carry out an assassination attempt on the imperial family.

Sisi learns that her son has been kidnapped by a laborer who demands the emperor's life in return for the crown prince's release. Closely followed by Franz, Sisi rides off to rescue Rudolf. While Archduchess Sophie and Countess Esterhazy take care of the German Chancellor Bismarck, Sisi and Franz find themselves in a seemingly hopeless situation.