In 1761, Catherine travels to Russia and becomes the Empress by marrying the Emperor of Russia, Peter. With hopes of marrying a great love, Catherine soon realizes Peter is a selfish brat who stands against everything she values. Catherine is feeling hopeless and verging on suicide when her servant, Marial, presents her with an alternative path – to overthrow Peter.
Catherine takes her first steps toward a coup. Taking advice from Marial, she attempts to seduce and recruit palace intellectual Count Orlo. It’s a disaster. However, after seeing Peter’s brutal treatment of local nobles and unwillingness to listen, he decides to join Catherine’s coup.
Catherine, Orlo and Marial continue their coup planning. They try to recruit an unhappy military general, Velementov, for their cause during palace celebrations honoring Peter’s late father, Peter the Great. Peter, noting Catherine’s unhappiness at court, gifts Catherine a sterile lover, Leo. She’s hesitant at first, but Leo manages to charm her.
Catherine tries to manage her reputation at court and her relationship with Leo, both of which distract her from the coup. Meanwhile, the influential Patriarch of the church dies, and a new one must be chosen. Orlo sees an opportunity to try and influence Peter in the decision, and Archie makes moves.
As the war with Sweden continues to rage, Catherine and Aunt Elizabeth visit the military at the Russian front. Seeing the soldiers reminds Catherine of her goal to rule Russia differently. Grigor struggles with Peter and Georgina's relationship and poisons Peter to end it. When Peter falls ill, Velementov, Orlo, and Marial all try to influence Catherine's steps toward takeover as Peter's life hangs in the balance.
After his near-death experience, Peter is now open to Catherine’s progressive ideas and wants to focus on an heir. Orlo tries to figure out who poisoned Peter and faces demons of his own.
Catherine is feeling optimistic, until a smallpox breakout causes Peter to revert back to his old ways. Meanwhile, Leo and Catherine’s relationship suffers and Georgina misses Peter.
Catherine’s political abilities are tested when she’s given an opportunity to travel abroad. Leo wants to leave court. Marial tries to keep him there by telling him about the coup.
A body is discovered. Peter decides to torture everyone at the palace to find the murderous traitors. Marial confides in Archie about Catherine’s plans. Catherine has a life changing revelation.
Catherine moves forward with the coup. Marial betrays her by revealing a secret. Catherine realizes that the only chance for a greater Russia is to fight, no matter the sacrifices.
Four months after she launched a coup against her husband, a pregnant Catherine is gaining the upper hand in her war against Peter. The fact that he is deeply in love with Catherine and their unborn child does little to dissuade her from taking his throne.
Catherine, Orlo and Velementov begin their rule of Russia and unexpected obstacles appear. Peter is on a journey of self-improvement under house arrest but convinces Catherine to let him attend her coronation and hand over his crown.
Catherine’s grief over the loss of Leo during the coup finally catches up with her. Peter’s part in Leo’s death, and the discovery that he just murdered a noble, causes Catherine to lock Peter in his apartments with only his mummified mother for company.
The Ottoman Ambassador pays Catherine a visit as tensions between the regions run high. But Peter fights to win his allegiance and prove to the court he is more fun than Catherine, in an attempt to destabilize her by throwing a baby shower.
A crocodile roams the court, and Archie sends everyone into uproar by suggesting it might be an omen against Catherine’s leadership.
Catherine is frustrated by the lack of meaningful change in her rule of Russia so far. Seeking to shake the court out of its complacency, she plays a joke on them involving a serf to prove a point, but it gets wildly out of hand with tragic consequences.
Catherine’s team is falling apart and she begins doubting her reign when her mother comes to visit. She works hard to hide the realities of the court from her mother and puts on a science fair for which Russia must come up with the best invention.
Elizabeth pronounces that Catherine’s baby will be born in 7 days and the court begins preparations involving rituals for Peter and Catherine. Conflict with the Ottomans heightens, and Catherine tries to run the country while on forced bed rest.
Catherine and Peter are co-parenting their newborn son, Paul, with the help of Elizabeth and trying to avoid their feelings for each other. When Paul goes missing, Peter and Catherine are driven together in their quest to find him.
Catherine makes a devastating discovery about Peter before traveling to the war front for a meeting with the Sultan. Peter considers his options now Catherine knows his secret and all parties come together for a final showdown at Marial’s wedding.
