The Great

Watch The Great

  • TV-MA
  • 2020
  • 2 Seasons
  • 8.2  (45,105)

The Great is a bold and audacious historical drama that premiered on Hulu in 2020. The show is set in 18th century Russia and follows the life of Catherine the Great, one of the most powerful female rulers in history. The series is a tongue-in-cheek retelling of the story of Catherine the Great, with a modern sensibility that adds a fun twist to the historical narrative. Elle Fanning stars as Catherine the Great, a young and idealistic girl who is betrothed to Peter III, the Emperor of Russia, played by Nicholas Hoult. After arriving in Russia, Catherine quickly realizes that her new husband is a man-child who is completely unsuited to the task of ruling an empire. However, Catherine is not content to sit on the sidelines and watch as her husband makes terrible decisions that will hurt the people of Russia. Instead, she takes matters into her own hands and plots to overthrow Peter and take the throne for herself. Despite the serious subject matter of the show, The Great is not a dry historical drama. Instead, it is a witty and irreverent take on the life of one of history's most fascinating figures. The show's dialogue is sharp and clever, with plenty of one-liners and snappy comebacks that keep the audience entertained. One of the show's standout performances comes from Nicholas Hoult as Peter III, the bumbling and ineffectual emperor of Russia. Hoult's performance is a master class in comic timing, and his portrayal of Peter as a spoiled child who throws temper tantrums when he doesn't get his way is both hilarious and disturbing. Hoult's performance is so entertaining that it's easy to forget that Peter was a real person who held a powerful position in Russia. The supporting cast of The Great is just as impressive as the leads. Phoebe Fox plays Marial, Catherine's maid and confidante, and her dry wit and sarcastic comments provide a welcome contrast to Catherine's idealism. Sacha Dhawan plays Count Orlo, a powerful noble who helps Catherine in her quest to take the throne, and his performance brings a sense of gravity to the show. Additionally, Adam Godley plays Archbishop Michael, the man who is tasked with instructing Catherine in the ways of the church, and his subtle humor adds an extra layer of complexity to the show. One of the things that sets The Great apart from other historical dramas is its production design. The sets and costumes are lavish and opulent, with every detail carefully crafted to create a sense of immersion in 18th century Russia. The show's cinematography is also stunning, with lush landscapes and sweeping vistas that showcase the beauty of the Russian countryside. Overall, The Great is an impressive show that manages to be both entertaining and educational. It's a witty and irreverent take on the life of Catherine the Great, with strong performances from its cast and impressive production design that brings the world of 18th century Russia to life.

The Great
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Seasons
Wedding
10. Wedding
November 17, 2021
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.
Walnut Season
9. Walnut Season
November 17, 2021
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.
Five Days
8. Five Days
November 19, 2021
Elizabeth pronounces that Catherine's baby will be born in 5 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.
Stapler
7. Stapler
November 17, 2021
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.
A Simple Jape
6. A Simple Jape
November 19, 2021
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.
Animal Instincts
5. Animal Instincts
November 19, 2021
A crocodile roams the court, and Archie sends everyone into uproar by suggesting it might be an omen against Catherine's leadership.
The Devil's Lunch
4. The Devil's Lunch
November 19, 2021
A genre-bending, anti-historical ride through 18th-century Russia following the wildly comedic rise of Catherine the Nothing to Catherine the Great.
Alone at Last
3. Alone at Last
November 19, 2021
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.
Dickhead
2. Dickhead
November 19, 2021
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.
Heads It's Me
1. Heads It's Me
November 19, 2021
4 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.
Description

The Great is a bold and audacious historical drama that premiered on Hulu in 2020. The show is set in 18th century Russia and follows the life of Catherine the Great, one of the most powerful female rulers in history. The series is a tongue-in-cheek retelling of the story of Catherine the Great, with a modern sensibility that adds a fun twist to the historical narrative.

Elle Fanning stars as Catherine the Great, a young and idealistic girl who is betrothed to Peter III, the Emperor of Russia, played by Nicholas Hoult. After arriving in Russia, Catherine quickly realizes that her new husband is a man-child who is completely unsuited to the task of ruling an empire. However, Catherine is not content to sit on the sidelines and watch as her husband makes terrible decisions that will hurt the people of Russia. Instead, she takes matters into her own hands and plots to overthrow Peter and take the throne for herself.

Despite the serious subject matter of the show, The Great is not a dry historical drama. Instead, it is a witty and irreverent take on the life of one of history's most fascinating figures. The show's dialogue is sharp and clever, with plenty of one-liners and snappy comebacks that keep the audience entertained.

One of the show's standout performances comes from Nicholas Hoult as Peter III, the bumbling and ineffectual emperor of Russia. Hoult's performance is a master class in comic timing, and his portrayal of Peter as a spoiled child who throws temper tantrums when he doesn't get his way is both hilarious and disturbing. Hoult's performance is so entertaining that it's easy to forget that Peter was a real person who held a powerful position in Russia.

The supporting cast of The Great is just as impressive as the leads. Phoebe Fox plays Marial, Catherine's maid and confidante, and her dry wit and sarcastic comments provide a welcome contrast to Catherine's idealism. Sacha Dhawan plays Count Orlo, a powerful noble who helps Catherine in her quest to take the throne, and his performance brings a sense of gravity to the show. Additionally, Adam Godley plays Archbishop Michael, the man who is tasked with instructing Catherine in the ways of the church, and his subtle humor adds an extra layer of complexity to the show.

One of the things that sets The Great apart from other historical dramas is its production design. The sets and costumes are lavish and opulent, with every detail carefully crafted to create a sense of immersion in 18th century Russia. The show's cinematography is also stunning, with lush landscapes and sweeping vistas that showcase the beauty of the Russian countryside.

Overall, The Great is an impressive show that manages to be both entertaining and educational. It's a witty and irreverent take on the life of Catherine the Great, with strong performances from its cast and impressive production design that brings the world of 18th century Russia to life.

The Great is a series that is currently running and has 2 seasons (20 episodes). The series first aired on May 15, 2020.

Where to Watch The Great

The Great is available for streaming on the Hulu website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch The Great on demand at Apple TV.

  • Premiere Date
    May 15, 2020
  • IMDB Rating
    8.2  (45,105)