The Great

Not having seen the trailer, or knowing anything about the show before watching the first episode, I went into this with no expectation. The Great quickly set a tone unlike any other show I've watched. It's consistently funny, occasionally hilarious, brutal, dramatic, and completely unexpected.

Elle Fanning plays Catherine who is new to the royal court of Peter III of Russia. As his new Empress, she must navigate the tumultuous world of Russian aristocracy. Fanning does a tremendous job of balancing the real aspirations of her character with the unreal circumstances of the show.

Catherine's husband, and Emperor of Russia, Peter is played by Nicholas Hoult who delivers a masterful performance. Hoult captures the debaucherous nature of an all powerful young royal, with no check on his power. I'd need more than two hands to count the number of times Peter does something so shocking that I was forced to pause the show (to the annoyance of my wife) and check Wikipedia for historical accuracy. Luckily for the people of 18th Century Russia, most of the antics were just plot devices to move the story forward.

If you like history, enjoy comedy, and don't offend easily - I think this show could be a real winner for you. It was for me.