TV Review: The Great Is Wickedly Funny
I love history that is truly a murder mystery. Did Stalin die of indigestion or was he murdered by some of his closest consultants? Where the hell is Jimmy Hoffa and the Arc of the Covenant? And did Catherine The Great murder her husband Emperor of Russia, Peter III.? The latter might not ever have an answer, but Hulu’s The Great certainly gives you a bunch motives.
From the trailer, The Great gave off a “The Favourite” meets “Marie Antoinette” meets “Gossip Girl” vibe; beautiful, young people, with incredible wealth and power, hating and plotting against each other to gain EVEN MORE wealth and power. Moreover, Nicholas Hoult is my “fave jerk” in any period piece; him and Kiera Knightley have truly cornered the “era film” market. Thus, I am not surprised that Hoult kills it in giving Peter an aloof meanness. Part of why we love period pieces like, “The Favourite” is that they make pettiness feel elegant. In the same way Real Housewives, makes the wealthy feel dramatically, yet deliciously insufferable, The Great does the same for royalty, but, like the latter, makes you cling on to which “character” you are pulling for in the war of words.
The Great – Trailer (Official) * A Hulu Original
The show is 100% character driven, and the character you, naturally, root for is Catherine. Hoult’s Peter is the epitome of cruel privilege; starting wars, making cruel laws, and living lavishly over his poor citizens. Written by Tom McNamara, it is clear he wants us to love Catherine and hope that the young princess, filled with higher morals and intelligence, grows bold enough to overthrow her king/ husband. History Spoiler: SHE DOES! Yet, what I enjoyed about Season 1 is that, like Catherine, we are meeting a world unknown to us, which allows Elle Fanning to develop her character’s confidence as she explores her new world.
The Great – Teaser (Official) * A Hulu Original
Though Catherine was always royal, she was not an Empress of RUSSIA! That is a whole other ball game, and the show, along with Fanning’s performance, draws behind Catherine by making her feel like the “people’s princess.” She, too, is shocked that the nation’s leaders are evil idiots with quick wits and quicker libidos. Thus, by the season’s end, we get the hints of future Catherine; the one that will kill her husband to become one of the most powerful women in history. Of course, we don’t know if she did it, and The Great makes clear that it is loosely based on history. Who knows if Catherine had a hot “misteress” that looked like Sebastian De Souza or a humorously loyal servant called, Marial (Phoebe Fox), or a drunk “aunt in law”(Belinda Bromilow), and the palace priest/ would be Fox News correspondent (Adam Godley). Yet, The Great is great because it takes liberties in story to land on one, historical truth: Catherine The Great was a BADASS! The Great Comes out in Hulu on May 15.
