Ivan, a widowed tsar, seeks companionship after his wife's poisoning and the betrayal of his chief warrior, Kurbsky, who defected to the Poles. He appoints Kolychev, now a monk named Philip, as the metropolitan bishop of Moscow, hoping for friendship. However, Philip secretly works with the boyars to manipulate Ivan and bend him to the church's will.
Ivan the Terrible, Part Two
Ivan the Terrible seeks to solidify his authority by creating a loyal militia, but his enemies, the powerful Russian nobles, secretly conspire to eliminate him.
