History Series / FallOfEagles

* FromNobodyToNightmare: Its clear from the start no-one really expects much to come from [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_II,_German_Emperor "Willie"]]. Otto von Bismarck attempts to mould him into another PuppetKing for the Imperial bureaucracy he's created. However, he underestimates the young man's ambition and loses all his power and influence as a result. Without Bismarck's Machiavellian yet prudent guidance, the impetuous Kaiser Wilhelm II ultimately plays a central role in plunging Germany and the entire Western world into [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I one of the bloodiest and most catastrophic conflicts ever witnessed by humanity.]]

* FromNobodyToNightmare: Its clear from the start no-one really expects much to come from [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_II,_German_Emperor "Willie"]]. Otto von Bismarck attempts to mould him into another PuppetKing for the Imperial bureaucracy he's created. However, he underestimates the young man's ambition and loses all his power and influence as a result. Without Bismarck's Machiavellian yet prudent guidance, the impetuous Kaiser Wilhelm II plunges Germany and the entire Western world into [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I one of the bloodiest and most catastrophic conflicts ever witnessed by humanity.]]

* JerkAssWoobie: Wilhelm II. Despite growing up to be an arrogant and [[ItsAllAboutMe self-centered]] despot, it's hard not to view him in a somewhat sympathetic light due to the cold and at times even abusive treatment he received from his parents as a child. This is hammered home in "The Honest Broker" when he attempt to humiliate his mother after his father's death only to realize that he will never break free from the long shadow of his parents' disappointment.

* JerkAssWoobie: Wilhelm II. Despite growing up to be an arrogant and [[ItsAllAboutMe self-centered]] despot, it's hard not to view him in a somewhat sympathetic light due to the cold and at times even abusive childhood he received from his mother. This is hammered home in "The Honest Broker" when he attempt to humiliate his mother after his father's death only to realize that he will never break free from the long shadow of his parents' disappointment.

* JerkAssWoobie: Wilhelm II. Despite growing up to be an arrogant and [[ItsAllAboutMe self-centered]] despot, it's hard not to view him in a somewhat sympathetic light due to the cold and at times even abusive childhood he received from his mother. This is hammered home in "The Honest Broker" when his attempt to humiliate his mother after his father's death backfires with his realization that he will never break free from the long shadow of his parents' disappointment.

* JerkAssWoobie: Wilhelm II. Despite growing up to be an arrogant and [[ItsAllAboutMe self-centered]] despot, it's hard not to view him in a somewhat sympathetic light due to the cold and at times even abusive childhood he received from his mother. This is hammered home in "The Honest Broker" when his attempt to thoroughly humiliate his mother after his father's death backfires with his realization that he will never break free from the long shadow of his parents' disappointment.

* JerkAssWoobie: Wilhelm II. Despite growing up to be an arrogant and [[ItsAllAboutMe self-centered]] despot, it's hard not to view him in a somewhat sympathetic light due to the cold and at times even abusive childhood he received from his mother. This is hammered home in "The Honest Broker" when his attempt to humiliate and victimize his mother after his father's death backfires with his realization that he will never break free from the long shadow of his parents' disappointment.

* JerkAssWoobie: Wilhelm II. Despite growing up to be an arrogant and [[ItsAllAboutMe self-centered]] despot, it's hard not to view him in a somewhat sympathetic light due to the cold and at times even abusive childhood he received from his mother.

* FromNobodyToNightmare: Its clear from the start no-one really expects much to come from [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_II,_German_Emperor "Willie"]]. Otto von Bismarck attempts to mould him into another PuppetKing for the Imperial bureaucracy he's created, he ultimately underestimates the young man's ambition and loses all his power and influence as a result. Without Bismarck's Machiavellian yet prudent guidance, the impetuous Kaiser Wilhelm II plunges Germany and the entire Western world into [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I one of the bloodiest and most catastrophic conflicts ever witnessed by humanity.]]

* RoyallyScrewedUp and TooDumbToLive: Examples abound throughout the series but the pompous yet hopelessly incompetent Czar Nicholas II and his delusional wife, Alexandria, are the most striking examples.

* RoyallyScrewedUp and TooDumbToLive: Examples abound throughout the series but the hopelessly incompetent Czar Nicholas II and his delusional wife, Alexandria, are the most striking examples.

* RoyallyScrewedUp and TooDumbToLive: Examples abound throughout the series but the hopelessly incompetent Czar Nicholas II and his delusional wife, Alexandria, are the most notable examples.
* PuppetKing: Wilhelm I is clearly a willing puppet of OttoVonBismarck.
* SmugSnake: Kaiser Wilhelm II serves as the most notable example. While far more strong-willed than his PuppetKing predecessors and gravely underestimated by Bismarck, it becomes all too apparent as the series progresses that he is hardly the "supreme warlord" and visionary statesman he fancies himself to be. Ultimately, his [[{{Pride}} hubris]] brings about the downfall not only of his house but the entire German Empire as well.

* SmugSnake: Kaiser Wilhelm II serves as the most notable example. While far more strong-willed than his PuppetKing predecessors and gravely underestimated by Bismarck, it becomes all too apparent as the series progresses that he is hardly the "supreme warlord" and visionary statesman he fancies himself to be. Ultimately, his [[{{Pride}} bloated ego]] insures the downfall not only of his house but the German Empire as well.

* FromNobodyToNightmare: Its clear from the start no-one really expects much to come from [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_II,_German_Emperor "Willie"]]. Otto von Bismarck attempts to mould him into another PuppetKing for the Imperial bureaucracy he's created, he ultimately underestimates the young man's ambition and loses all his power and influence. Without Bismarck's Machiavellian yet prudent guidance, the impetuous Kaiser Wilhelm II plunges Germany and the entire Western world into [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I one of the bloodiest and most catastrophic conflicts ever witnessed by humanity.]]

* FromNobodyToNightmare: Its clear from the start no-one really expects much to come from [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_II,_German_Emperor "Willie"]]. Otto von Bismarck attempts to mould him into another PuppetKing for the Imperial bureaucracy he's created, he ultimately underestimates the young man's ambition and loses all his power and influence. Without Bismarck's Machiavellian yet prudent guidance, the impetuous Kaiser Wilhelm II plunges Germany and the entire Western world into the bloodiest and most catastrophic war ever witnessed by humanity until World War II.

* FromNobodyToNightmare: Its clear from the start no-one really expects much to come from Prince Wilhelm (II). Bismarck takes him under his wing, but never quite manages to mould him.

* WellDoneSonGuy: All Wilhelm II relly wanted was his Mother and Father's approval.

* SmugSnake: Kaiser Wilhelm II serves as the most notable example. While far more strong-willed than his PuppetKing predecessors and gravely underestimated by Bismarck, it becomes all too apparent as the series progresses that he is hardly the "supreme warlord" and visionary statesman he fancies himself to be. Ultimately, his [[{{Pride}} bloated ego]]

* ManipulativeBastard: several:
** OttoVonBismarck
** Count Taafee

* SmugSnake: Kaiser Wilhelm II serves as the most notable example. While far more strong-willed than his PuppetKing predecessors and gravely underestimated by the brilliant but [[{{Pride}} vain]] Bismarck,

* LargeHam: Curt Jürgens as the great OttoVonBismarck!

** Paul von Hindenburg
* RoyallyScrewedUp and TooDumbToLive:
** Kaiser Wilhelm II.
** Czar Nicholas II is clearly ill-matched for his position.
** The Austrian Archdukes also clearly have their faults.
* PuppetKing: Wilhelm I is clearly the obidient puppet of OttoVonBismarck.

A 1974 {{BBC}} Drama MiniSeries, dealing with the Royal families and other leading figures of the three continental European Empires of {{Prussia}}/ImperialGermany, Austria-Hungary and TsaristRussia. Telling stories of the politics, both internal and international from the late 19th century, until the end of the FirstWorldWar.

* HistoricalHeroUpgrade: VladimirLenin (played by PatrickStewart) of all people!

* WhatAnIdiot: Wilhelm II by firing Bismarck, sealed his destiny in the long term.

A 1974 {{BBC}} Drama MiniSeries, dealing with the Royal families and other leading figures of the three continental European Empires of {{Prussia}}/ImperialGermany, Austro-Hungary and TsaristRussia. Telling stories of the politics, both internal and international from the late 19th century, until the end of the FirstWorldWar.

* LargeHam: Curd Jürgens as the great OttoVonBismarck!
* ManipulativeBastard: several;

** Czar Nicolas II is clearly ill-matched for his position.
** The Austrian Princes also clearly have their faults.

* WellDoneSonGuy: All Wilhelm II relly wanted was his Mother and Fathers approval.

* FromNobodyToNightmare: Its clear from the start no-one really expects much to come from Prince Wilhelm (II). Bismarck takes him under his wing, but never quite manages to mould him.
* KnowWhenToFoldEm: With British and Allied forces decimating the German Army, The Navy Mutinying and Berlin in open revolt. Wilhelm packs up and moves to Holland. In an odd case his actions don't match his words. He keeps talking of ways to keep power, despite his actions clearly showing him making a run for it.
** Field-Marshal Hindenburg throws his lot in with the provisional German Government.
* RoyallyScrewedUp and TooDumbToLive: Kaiser Wilhelm II. But Czar Nicolas II is clearly ill-matched for his position. The Austrian Princes also clearly have their faults.

* WellDoneSonGuy: All Wilhelm II relly wanted was his Mother and Fathers approval.

A 1974 {{BBC}} Drama MiniSeries, dealing with the Royal families and other leading figures of the three continental European Empires of {{Prussia}}/ImperialGermany, Austro-Hungary and TasristRussia. Telling stories of the politics, both internal and international from the late 19th century, until the end of the FirstWorldWar.

* HistoricalHeroUpgrade: Lenin of all people!

A 1974 BBC Drama MiniSeries, dealing with the Royal families of the three Eastern European Empires of ImperialGermany, Austro-Hungary and Russia. Telling stories of the politics, both internal and international from the late 19th century, until the end of the FirstWorldWar.

* FromNobodyToNightmare: Its clear from the start no-one really expects much to come from Wilhelm. Bismarck takes him under his wing, but never quite manages to mould him.

* MagnificentBastard: OttoVonBismarck
* RoyallyScrewedUp: Wilhelm II. But Tzar Nicolas is clearly ill-matched for his position. The Austrian Princes also clearly have their faults.
* WellDoneSonGuy: All Wilhelm wanted was his Mother and Fathers approval.

** Field-Marshal Hindenberg throws his lot in with the provesional German Goverment.