I've heard so many good things about The Great ever since it first came out a few years ago but I kept putting it off for some reason. I'm just finishing Season 2 now and I'm actually mad at myself for putting it off for so long. It's freaking hilarious! There's not a weak link on the entire cast but Nicholas Hoult and Belinda Bromilow are the ones that really make this series so good. Hoult & Elle Fanning were both nominated for Emmy's for their work here but Bromilow should've been too. It's obviously not historically accurate, it even says it in the beginning credits, but who cares? It's a comedy. If you want to laugh then go watch this.
567 Reviews
Laugh Out Loud Funny
Supermanfan-132 December 2023
The Great was so much better than I expected it to be. I went into it not expecting much but after a few episodes I couldn't stop watching it. I binged all three seasons as fast as I could. I promise you that you'll laugh out loud at least a few times every episode. While the entire cast is good in this is, Nicholas Hoult is the best part of this show. Every time he talks he made made me laugh. He also has the best character arc on the show. You go from not liking his character to rooting for him. Hoult is already a star from other stuff he's done but this takes him to another level. If you're looking for a new show to just have good time then this is it.
Terrifically entertaining with a great performance by Fanning
cherold10 July 2020
While apparently even historically inaccurate compared to an old Marlene Dietrich movie, The Great is a fantastically entertaining piece of nonsense with Elle Fanning giving a quirky, very funny performance as Catherine and Nicholas Hoult giving a funny, infuriating one as Peter (also a shout out to Phoebe Fox's snarky servant).
The series is consistently entertaining, generally funny, sometimes shocking or horrific, and often just plain nuts. Catherine is an interesting character, both smart and foolish, both strategic and inept, but always moving forward with a blind, frequently insane determination. She's not always sympathetic, and her mistakes are costly, but she's never less than fascinating.
The last episode is a little confusing, and ends on a cliffhanger which doesn't help, but overall the series is wonderful and I look forward to seeing how it all plays out in the next season.
The series is consistently entertaining, generally funny, sometimes shocking or horrific, and often just plain nuts. Catherine is an interesting character, both smart and foolish, both strategic and inept, but always moving forward with a blind, frequently insane determination. She's not always sympathetic, and her mistakes are costly, but she's never less than fascinating.
The last episode is a little confusing, and ends on a cliffhanger which doesn't help, but overall the series is wonderful and I look forward to seeing how it all plays out in the next season.
Inaccurate and Thrilling
randall-alyssa11 June 2020
Huzzah! I want season 2
atfgovedarica-843213 June 2020
This has been one of the best shows of the year. I binged watched it over the weekend and it was great. It is loosely based on history but has an entertaining twist and the ending cries for a second season. Elle Fanning does a great job as well as the other characters. Some you immediately like, some you hate but all of them grow on you as the season progresses.
This made me laugh a lot this weekend!
Almost_Soldout21 November 2021
The way how they play and remastering the history is genius! As being Russian, I find this show absurdly brilliant and funny. That's interesting to follow how the show is portraying current narratives with well known facts from 18 century, as it all together creates absolutely masterpiece satire Universe!
An absurdist masterpiece.Rude,crude and very very funny....
ianlouisiana8 January 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Were the roots of Feminism nurtured in the Emperor's Court?Thought not.
For Heaven's sake how could anyone take this seriously?
It's as fictional as 'The Crown' and a hell of a lot funnier.
Brilliant comic performances are wrung from the cast with Miss P Fox doing the best scene - stealing act since Alan Rickman in 'Robin Hood'
Hugely impressive production values.
Not for the po - faced certainly but the humour ranges from the rapier to the bludgeon with mesmerising speed.
This sets the bar very high for TV comedy in 2021.
Fantastically Hilarious and Witty
Cacorty16 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I'll give this show sections of a review, as to explain why it equals out to about a ten for me. It should be noted that the show plays with actual history, but it's historical fiction, some parts are accurate, the rest is just fun. Don't go into this show with a historical set of glasses on, go in expecting to at least chuckle and have some fun watching the characters interact in their space.
Dialogue: Tony McNamara does an excellent job with the witty retorts and conversational tones of each character. McNamara, of course, also worked on "The Favourite" and it's rather obvious both were worked on by him. The dialogue is snappy, abrupt, and matter-of-fact. There is heavy cussing in this series, I am personally fine with this, as I feel it works as a form of satire on the historical fiction genre as a whole, but I know it will make many people turn away from this series, so I'm mentioning that now. The series is at times "immature" but it should be noted that each character is operating in a Russia that lacks emphasis on education, therefore giving an explanation for the "childish" behavior, and it's still good fun.
Acting: Elle Fanning is doing some of her best acting here. She really carries the show, and delivers her lines in a deliciously hilarious tone and wit. She makes Catherine's infectious bubbly attitude shine through, and it's clear as to why everyone would want to start a coup with her, she's fantastic. But this is not me saying Nicholas Hoult is bad in this show, he's just being out-shown by Fanning. Hoult delivers a performance that is both maniacal and hilarious. His portrayal of Emperor Peter III is one that you WANT to hate. That's the point. He's not likable, he's not kind, he's a tyrant, that's the point. In this regard, Holt delivers. The rest of the actors also give great performances but these two are the best by far.
Plot: Alright, I'll admit it. This is the weakest aspect of the show. Why? Well, I hate to *SPOIL* it for you, but Catherine the Great instigates a coup on her husband Peter III. That's the series. That's the history it's working with. The series is working loosely with history, it's focusing more on the characters themselves and playing with each one as a caricature of the actual history taking place. Again, as stated above, if you come into this show expecting historical accuracy, you'll be disappointed.
In all, a solid 9.5/10. It's a solid series, it's well written, and it's quirky, but it's not everyone's cup of tea and that's ok.
Dialogue: Tony McNamara does an excellent job with the witty retorts and conversational tones of each character. McNamara, of course, also worked on "The Favourite" and it's rather obvious both were worked on by him. The dialogue is snappy, abrupt, and matter-of-fact. There is heavy cussing in this series, I am personally fine with this, as I feel it works as a form of satire on the historical fiction genre as a whole, but I know it will make many people turn away from this series, so I'm mentioning that now. The series is at times "immature" but it should be noted that each character is operating in a Russia that lacks emphasis on education, therefore giving an explanation for the "childish" behavior, and it's still good fun.
Acting: Elle Fanning is doing some of her best acting here. She really carries the show, and delivers her lines in a deliciously hilarious tone and wit. She makes Catherine's infectious bubbly attitude shine through, and it's clear as to why everyone would want to start a coup with her, she's fantastic. But this is not me saying Nicholas Hoult is bad in this show, he's just being out-shown by Fanning. Hoult delivers a performance that is both maniacal and hilarious. His portrayal of Emperor Peter III is one that you WANT to hate. That's the point. He's not likable, he's not kind, he's a tyrant, that's the point. In this regard, Holt delivers. The rest of the actors also give great performances but these two are the best by far.
Plot: Alright, I'll admit it. This is the weakest aspect of the show. Why? Well, I hate to *SPOIL* it for you, but Catherine the Great instigates a coup on her husband Peter III. That's the series. That's the history it's working with. The series is working loosely with history, it's focusing more on the characters themselves and playing with each one as a caricature of the actual history taking place. Again, as stated above, if you come into this show expecting historical accuracy, you'll be disappointed.
In all, a solid 9.5/10. It's a solid series, it's well written, and it's quirky, but it's not everyone's cup of tea and that's ok.
Gimme more!
Shuuba_Dooba_Doo17 June 2020
Entertaining, almost nothing historically accurate, a bit revisionist
headknuckle18 November 2021
First off, the good; Great writing, acting, sets... extremely entertaining. Fun even. Well above average.
The bad; Was there anything here historically accurate beyond a Russian emperor named Catherine that took over and ruled Russia? I didn't see much. And so much of the inaccuracy was pointless and unnecessary... like Peter's father died when he was quite young, and he wasn't Peter the Great. It was his grandfather. And it doesn't stop there... For those of us who enjoy History and historical fiction, it was a bit odd and detracted from the immersion.
The profanity; I'm no prude and have no issues with the F bomb, but some of the later episodes had dialogue where it was nearly every other word. Again, this detracts from the immersion. It's jarring.
Political correctness; I have no issues with multi cultural actors. It is called acting for a reason. But painting an empire that had already had female leaders as some sort of boy's club that needed saving by idealistic young Catherine? Not even close to real, and again, slightly annoying. Catherine was a tomboy, loved horses, shooting, hunting, etc. She was not a dainty little thing dreaming about art and education. That movement had already been started in Russia years earlier, some of which was expanded by Peter, and some subsequently rescinded by Catherine.
I did like the way they explained the old gossip about her sleeping with her horse. Clever, and could very likely be what happened in reality.
With just a bit more effort in the writing to be true to History and the actual characters, this could've easily been a 9 or 10. I'm not expecting 100% accuracy, but something higher than 5% would've been nice.
The bad; Was there anything here historically accurate beyond a Russian emperor named Catherine that took over and ruled Russia? I didn't see much. And so much of the inaccuracy was pointless and unnecessary... like Peter's father died when he was quite young, and he wasn't Peter the Great. It was his grandfather. And it doesn't stop there... For those of us who enjoy History and historical fiction, it was a bit odd and detracted from the immersion.
The profanity; I'm no prude and have no issues with the F bomb, but some of the later episodes had dialogue where it was nearly every other word. Again, this detracts from the immersion. It's jarring.
Political correctness; I have no issues with multi cultural actors. It is called acting for a reason. But painting an empire that had already had female leaders as some sort of boy's club that needed saving by idealistic young Catherine? Not even close to real, and again, slightly annoying. Catherine was a tomboy, loved horses, shooting, hunting, etc. She was not a dainty little thing dreaming about art and education. That movement had already been started in Russia years earlier, some of which was expanded by Peter, and some subsequently rescinded by Catherine.
I did like the way they explained the old gossip about her sleeping with her horse. Clever, and could very likely be what happened in reality.
With just a bit more effort in the writing to be true to History and the actual characters, this could've easily been a 9 or 10. I'm not expecting 100% accuracy, but something higher than 5% would've been nice.
Better than funny
julesfdelorme3 March 2023
I'm old enough to remember a time when Elle Fanning was just Dakota Fanning's adorable little sister. I think we may have arrived at a time when Dakota is known as Elle's sister. Elle has done some other really good work. But she really comes into her own, and I mean into her own, with The Great. This superbly written comedy based very loosely and hilariously on the life of Catherine the Great has Elle playing her as a young woman/girl who first comes from Germany to find herself the wife of Russian Czar Peter, played with gut laughing vacuity and yet, oddly charm, by Nicholas Hoult. Catherine is a bright and well educated woman who is faced with a Russian court that is, well, neither. And from there the comedy ensues. And, while the entire cast is brilliant, the show hinges on Elle Fanning's ability to be funny. And does she ever deliver. Her timing and her performance are note perfect. I've seen her handle drama extremely well. But comedy is a different animal. It is actually very hard for an attractive person to be funny because they're just not funny to look at and we have a weird tendency to take attractive people seriously. And Elle Fanning has grown to be a very beautiful young woman. It seems odd and unfair to say that a beautiful person has anything to overcome but, when it comes to playing comedy, they really do. Comedy, to do it well, as any actor would tell you, is actually very difficult. It requires timing and pathos and just the right balance between energy and constraint. And Elle Fanning, at this young age, shows herself to be a master at it. The show itself is brilliant. Fall off your seat funny. Not titter funny but legitimately hilarious. You'd be a fool not to watch it. Or a member of the show's version of the Russian court.
S1 and S2 were great! S3 was EXTREMELY disappointing.
julianrgallagher5827 June 2023
This show went massively downhill. So many of the episodes in S3 were just all over the place and had just random crap happening.
I had a few laughs here and there throughout the season, but overall, it pales in comparison to S1 and S2.
There was no overarching main storyline that was actually interesting/intriguing to keep you captivated and caring about the characters...
It's almost like a completely different show.
Also nice one completely ripping off the dumb Wednesday dance at the end of the final ep. I guess the writers were like oh that weird quirky dance was really well received, lets also do that. It was just extremely lame and cringe.
I had a few laughs here and there throughout the season, but overall, it pales in comparison to S1 and S2.
There was no overarching main storyline that was actually interesting/intriguing to keep you captivated and caring about the characters...
It's almost like a completely different show.
Also nice one completely ripping off the dumb Wednesday dance at the end of the final ep. I guess the writers were like oh that weird quirky dance was really well received, lets also do that. It was just extremely lame and cringe.
Could have been Great but the creators ruin it
jnatch12 May 2021
The Great is high quality television. The first few episodes are gold and then it descends into monotony and transparent attempts at cleverness. You stop watching the characters and you are instead watching projections of 21st Century writers. Plus, after the first few episodes it seems to be nothing but a tease and denial, tease and denial, on one main expectation. The acting is quite good because you cannot blame the actors for some of the putrid dialogue. The sets, costumes and cinematography is Emmy worthy, even Oscar worthy. The story seems like it could be fascinating. But here are the problems, the vulgarity and the wokeness. I wish I could curse here but I cannot. Now keep in mind I love cursing and I love vulgarity, I curse a lot myself. But here they use the F word so frequently that is is bizarre. You could lock Joe Pesce in a closet and set it on fire and you would not hear the F word as much as you do in this show,. You hear it literally every 30 seconds in every episode. It is beyond forced. Then there are the unceasing references to copulation, oral sex, body fluids and all that juvenile stuff, in the most extreme and graphic ways and endlessly. It is not edgy nor funny, it's strange. Nothing can have it's intended intent when done so repeatedly. Then we get to the characters of color. I am not anti-woke. In fact this whole show is based on the power of women, and it is, or should be, a fascinating story in that regard. But this is 18th century Russia and, no exaggeration, 40% of the characters/actors, both in speaking roles and background, are people of color. Yeah, sure, you could say to me oh they could be from this region or that, but 40%!!. It is beyond distracting. Why abandon accuracy to make the show look like every tv commercial we see nowadays, they even have bi-racial children running around, you have to get those in there. It is just bizarre and completely takes you out of the story. When almost every week we see a new story of a white male actor apologizing for playing or voicing a character of color 20 years ago, we have scores of roles here which should be white people, but no, its 2021 and everything is woke. It is beyond absurd. Big missed opportunity here, this could have been as good as Queens Gambit but instead you get an amateurish mess.
Seriously, this is my favourite series this year...
deeegenerate21 November 2021
Who the hell cares if this show is not historically correct? This isn't the History Channel, this is a comedy. I've seen far too many period pieces take themselves far too seriously. It's a genre well-trodden, but hardly ever done with wit like this.
If you can't see that this is the funniest show on television, your sense of humor must be broken.
If you can't see that this is the funniest show on television, your sense of humor must be broken.
History be damned, on with the laughs!
DarthBaras1322 November 2021
So just to get this out of the way: this show is anything but historically accurate. If you want one more like that, Russia-1's Ekaterina is like that.
But anyways, if you really want to find this show incredibly funny, read up on the history of Catherine the Great.
Also, to the person who did the editing for Season 1 Episode 8, why would you use "The Sacred War"?! I know historical accuracy wasn't on the table, but for gods sake don't intentionally mix up the eras (The Sacred War was written in 1941).
But anyways, if you really want to find this show incredibly funny, read up on the history of Catherine the Great.
Also, to the person who did the editing for Season 1 Episode 8, why would you use "The Sacred War"?! I know historical accuracy wasn't on the table, but for gods sake don't intentionally mix up the eras (The Sacred War was written in 1941).
One of the best shows currently on tv
breeanalaine12 December 2021
I will never shut up about just how good this show is. Elle Fanning is stunning. Nicholas Hoult is so ridiculously charming. He deftly walks a tightrope between loathsome and lovable, I've never seen anything like it. The entire cast is exceptional but Tony McNamara's dialogue is the true star. Strong, smart female characters and friendships are the core of the show. It's feminist without being girlbossy, which is so rare. The show is exceptionally funny yet at moments so poignant. It kills me that this show is as underrated as it is. You're wasting your own time not watching it!
Worth watching!
2siamese15 May 2020
So funny, please watch this
maxjiazz15 November 2021
Just amazingly funny dark comedy. Acting is top notch, Nicholas is really good as the king thats out to lunch.
I could not stop laughing but at the same time it's not too ridiculous, I could actually see stuff like this happening and it makes yoy realise how mental it would be having a nutter in charger.
I could not stop laughing but at the same time it's not too ridiculous, I could actually see stuff like this happening and it makes yoy realise how mental it would be having a nutter in charger.
The Best Series of 2020
citrons-518798 June 2020
This is the best series I have seen this year- no, in the past few years. The script is simply brilliant, the acting amazing (all the actors are brilliant in their roles), the dialogue smart and witty, the directing and the cinematography top-notch, and... I can't say anything bad about it. This series is absolutely brilliant and I can't wait for season 2! I truly hope more people will watch this amazing series.
What Happened to Season 3?
rcfdmtd14 May 2023
We loved seasons 1 & 2 - the writing was clever and engaging. Season 3 is a non-stop slapstick rant of sexual references and over acted personalities. At times, the tone feels more like a Mel Brooks or Monty Python film.
We are trying to make it through to episode 4 but are struggling to get there.
As always, the costume and production design are exceptional. The sets are lovely. The budget must be significant so its a shame that the writing and direction has turned a marathon-worthy series into an irritating show of silliness and nonsensical plot lines.
We are hoping for a season 4 with better writing and think we are likely to stop watching season 3 and hope for the best next year.
We are trying to make it through to episode 4 but are struggling to get there.
As always, the costume and production design are exceptional. The sets are lovely. The budget must be significant so its a shame that the writing and direction has turned a marathon-worthy series into an irritating show of silliness and nonsensical plot lines.
We are hoping for a season 4 with better writing and think we are likely to stop watching season 3 and hope for the best next year.
Bravo!!!
slicknic-0145115 May 2020
I wasn't sure I would like it at first, but so glad I continued to watch. Some of the best acting from the entire cast that I've ever seen. I wonder how many takes they had to do, as quite a few scenes had me literally laughing out loud! The script was written so well, sudden, unexpected bursts of vulgarity in the midst of speaking so eloquently..😂. This show is something new and different. It has inspired me so much, that I am actually taking the time to write about it....and I watch a lot of TV!!!
Pointless and repetitive
scorpiogemini1 July 2020
Visually, great set and costumes. Elle Fanning and Hoult are great actors. But thats about it. All the episodes are just repetitive, the stort barely evolves at all. and even when the actors are great, one gets sick of Hoults character Peter who is just, disgusting, even if they try to make it seem its bc ge has mommy issues. And Elles character Catherine one grows super tired of aswell, the naivity and the inactions. Its just frustration, meaningless plots and a lot of thrusting. A nice package but its empty or rancid inside.
A real waste of time and also talent.
A real waste of time and also talent.
Funny, Dramatic...and then...
haleighsdean23 May 2023
Just binged this series and it was very enjoyable! Great comedic, great (and wonderfully terrible) characters, and lots of drama!
...Until the last half of Season 3. The drama overtook a lot of the comedy, throwing the show out of balance. I'm sure that was the point with everything that was happening, but even so, it made the last few episodes dull and slow, with the main characters coming close to annoying and redundant. It fit the mood of the show's circumstances, but not the mood of the show as a whole.
Even so, the last episode turned it around and the show ended on a good and interesting note! Overall, the acting and writing make it a great watch!
...Until the last half of Season 3. The drama overtook a lot of the comedy, throwing the show out of balance. I'm sure that was the point with everything that was happening, but even so, it made the last few episodes dull and slow, with the main characters coming close to annoying and redundant. It fit the mood of the show's circumstances, but not the mood of the show as a whole.
Even so, the last episode turned it around and the show ended on a good and interesting note! Overall, the acting and writing make it a great watch!
Insulting to Russians and no respect for make-belief
Averroes884 July 2020
"Occasionally true". More like perpetually bad. The acting (except the Emperor), writing art direction, all terrible. So far removed from historical reality that it should have been better being an animated cartoon or something. I understand the need for diversity in casting at large, but please, when you write about 18th century Russia, you enter a world where racial diversity was non existant, and not because of discrimination. Purely a historical / geographical setting. This show is unwatchable for Russians. The irony is that these color blind casting are actually the opposite of color blind. They are obsessed with race. And it only goes one way. How would it look if a story set in ancient Africa was using color-blind casting with white actors in tribal apparat? I'd pay to watch that haha. Ridiculous. Seriously though, you want racial diversity? Start with a story that can thrive on this.
I could not find a single fault
GIJoel62 January 2022
This fabulous lush historical satire has far and away the sharpest dialogue of any show I can remember seeing on any platform. It is delivered mostly rapid-fire as in the screwball comedy films of the 1930s. It also has the best players delivering the lines from top to bottom of the cast. And finally, it has the most adorable chemistry between a female and male lead that I have seen since Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis as Mickey and Mallory in "Natural Born Killers" (1994)... not to mention the most bizarre chemistry between a man and his mother since Norman Bates, and the most adorable chemistry between a woman and a frog... ever... really. Plus it has a menu that would make Wolfgang Puck seethe with jealousy. And just enough sex to keep adults dull enough to be looking for something else interested.
See also
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