The Great (2020 TV Series)

About The Great

"The Great" is a satirical, comedic drama about the rise of Catherine the Great from outsider to the longest reigning female ruler in Russia's history. Season One is a fictionalized, fun and anachronistic story of an idealistic, romantic young girl, who arrives in Russia for an arranged marriage to the mercurial Emperor Peter. Hoping for love and sunshine, she finds instead a dangerous, depraved, backward world that she resolves to change. All she has to do is kill her husband, beat the church, baffle the military and get the court onside. A very modern story about the past which encompasses the many roles she played over her lifetime as lover, teacher, ruler, friend, and fighter.

Making / Production

"The Great" was created by Tony McNamara (who wrote the Oscar-nominated screenplay for "The Favourite") and premiered little less than two years after that movie. It was produced by Civic Center Media in association with MRC Television. The series was released on Hulu in May 2020, and in the UK on Channel 4 and StarzPlay. The Great was renewed for a second season by Hulu.

Actors

• Elle Fanning as Catherine: Fanning brought a perfect balance of naivety and determination to her portrayal of Catherine, becoming the driving force behind the series.
• Nicholas Hoult as Peter: Hoult delivered a standout performance, perfectly capturing the mercurial, childlike, and occasionally cruel nature of Peter.
• Phoebe Fox as Marial: Fox was impressive as Catherine's loyal but sharp-tongued servant Marial, providing both comic relief and emotional depth.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The show is based loosely on history and incorporates modern language and attitudes into the story, leading to an anachronistic blend of historical drama and contemporary commentary.
• Despite being set in 18th-century Russia, the series was actually filmed in the UK.

Quotes

• "I like to be alone, or with someone who is also great." - Emperor Peter
• "If you wish to be great, Peter, be great in the real world. Live a life of substance." - Catherine

Music, Soundtrack

• The series' innovative soundtrack includes a mix of classical music, contemporary beats and pop ballads, reflecting the anachronistic style of storytelling.