Hulu's 3-Part Period Drama Series Is One Of Its Best

The Great might have been canceled before its time, but the three seasons we had of the hit show were enough to make it a masterpiece series on Hulu. The Great is a largely fictionalized account of Catherine the Great's rise to power, and while it might not be a faithful retelling of history, that hardly matters, as the story's satirical comedy is so entertaining.

The cast of The Great features cameos from A-list actors like Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs, as well as fantastic casting in general. Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult play Catherine and Peter, and the chemistry between the two carries the show's funniest moments well. While The Great's shocking ending in season 3 left viewers wanting more, it still outshines other historical dramas, even while unfinished.

The Great Stands Out Against Other Hulu Period Dramas

Hulu has become known for prestige period dramas with unusual perspectives, and some of the best historical TV shows can be found on Hulu. The Handmaid's Tale is a gritty dystopian triumph of acting, while Only Murders in the Building is a fun crime comedy drama. Still, as exciting and original as these shows are, The Great stands out.

Unlike most other historical dramas, The Great puts a satirical lens on real events, blending the culture of the time with modern humor. This means that viewers do not have to be familiar with Catherine the Great's life in order to enjoy the show. In fact, it is often best if they are not, as The Great even uses the tagline "an occasionally true story."

This unusual approach allowed the show to take the kind of creative risks that have rarely been seen in historical dramas since Sofia Coppola's 2006 movie, Marie Antoinette. This could have been an unpopular choice, but instead, The Great became a hidden gem on Hulu, and its bold and exaggerated style now highlights a continuing trend in historical dramas.

How The Great Continued A Trend In Historical Dramas

TV shows that attract history lovers are generally accurate while still being entertaining. However, a growing trend in historical dramas favors reinterpretation rather than strict accuracy. This allows writers and creators the freedom to put a modern twist on a story, highlighting issues like gender roles and political change without merely retelling a biography that may not have included this commentary.

Much depends on the writer's intention. The Crown was originally treated as a biopic, with attention to small but accurate details of Queen Elizabeth II's life. However, as the writers drew more on speculation, the show's Rotten Tomatoes ratings dropped dramatically. However, as The Great is a comedy drama, there is less need for accuracy, and two seasons have perfect scores from Rotten Tomatoes critics.

No other show reflects this as much as Bridgerton. Both shows first aired in 2020, and while Bridgerton does not depict a specific historical event, it reimagines a world in which the costumes are more dazzling, the action more extreme, and the racism nonexistent. In time, Bridgerton's well-deserved popularity might prompt Hulu to look at renewing The Great for a fourth season.

The True Story Behind The Great

The broad strokes of the story are true. Catherine the Great was one of the most powerful rulers in Russian history, with a talent for navigating a hostile political environment. While sexual rumors about her persisted, these are most likely to have been perpetuated by misogynists, and Catherine even had the foresight to write a memoir posthumously dispelling these.

While much of the show is deliberately fictional, The Great was often historically accurate, especially when it came to Peter, who was arrogant, narcissistic, and known to be an alcoholic prone to violent public outbursts. However, some of the facts that appear fictional are surprisingly real, such as Catherine the Great inventing roller coasters and being a champion of both vaccines and women's education.