The Great
Royalty & aristocracyCourts, crowns and dynasties.This show: 9/10SatiricalComedy sharpened into social and political critique.This show: 9/10Dark comedyFinding the laughs in grim and taboo material.This show: 8/10Witty banterRapid-fire verbal sparring.This show: 8/10Strong female leadA complex woman drives the story.This show: 8/10Period pieceSet meaningfully in a past era.This show: 8/10RaunchyExplicit, adult, boundary-pushing humor.This show: 7/10Dialogue-drivenThe writing's voice is the main event.This show: 7/10
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Starring
Elle FanningPhoebe FoxGwilym LeeAdam GodleyDouglas HodgeBelinda Bromilow
Written by
Tony McNamara
Starring
Elle FanningPhoebe FoxGwilym LeeAdam GodleyDouglas HodgeBelinda Bromilow
Written by
Tony McNamara
Ratings per Episode
Votes per Episode
The Great Episode Ratings Heatmap
| Avg | E1 | E2 | E3 | E4 | E5 | E6 | E7 | E8 | E9 | E10 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | 7.9 | 7.8 | 7.6 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.8 | 7.8 | 8.0 | 8.3 | 8.2 | 8.4 | |
| S2 | 8.2 | 8.1 | 8.1 | 8.0 | 7.7 | 8.0 | 8.4 | 8.0 | 8.2 | 8.4 | 8.7 | |
| S3 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.8 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 7.7 | 7.8 | 7.4 | 7.5 | 7.3 | 8.1 |
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About
"History rewritten as savage, gorgeous farce"
This is a wildly irreverent take on young Catherine the Great's arrival in 18th-century Russia as an idealistic bride, only to find her husband Peter a vain, volatile buffoon running an absurd, brutal court. Billed as 'an occasionally true story,' it mixes lavish period drama with anachronistic, filthy dialogue and pitch-black comedy. It's fast, theatrical, and unpredictable, swinging from farce to real cruelty in a single scene. The pleasure comes from the performances and the sheer nerve of the writing rather than historical accuracy.
Watch it for
the fearless, darkly comic performances from Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult as warring newlyweds.
Maybe skip if
you want historical accuracy or dislike graphic violence mixed with broad comedy.
Written by our AI editor to help you decide, spoiler-free by design.
All Seasons
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Season 12020
7.914K108h 35m
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Season 22021
8.29K109h 7m
In season two, Catherine finally takes the Russian throne for her own — but if she thought coup-ing her husband was difficult, it’s nothing compared to the realities of ‘liberating’ a country that doesn’t want to be. She’ll battle her court, her team, even her own mother in a bid to bring the enlightenment to Russia. Meanwhile she’ll also battle her heart as Peter slowly transitions from much-hated husband, to prisoner? Ally? Lover?
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Season 32023
7.76K108h 52m
Catherine and Peter attempt to make their marriage work after some seemingly insurmountable problems. Peter witnessed his own attempted murder at Catherine's hands and she also imprisoned all of his friends. On top of this, Peter is at a loose end playing First Husband to Catherine's reign, so he busies himself with fathering, hunting and salty culinary ventures. But they're not enough to keep him contented as visions of his late father, get in his head about his failures as Peter the Great's son.
Full Cast & Crew
Cast
Elle Fanning Catherine
Phoebe Fox Marial
Gwilym Lee Grigor Dymov
Adam Godley Archbishop
Douglas Hodge Velementov
Belinda Bromilow Aunt Elizabeth
Bayo Gbadamosi Arkady
Florence Keith-Roach Tatyana
Nicholas Hoult Peter, Pugachev
Charity Wakefield Georgina, Georgina Dymov
Crew
Tony McNamara
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