The Great

[Nighthawker]

Anyone else watch this on Channel 4 last night? I enjoyed it a lot, the two main actors playing the emperor and empress are great, I know I should hate Peter's character because he is such a terrible person but Nicholas Hoult has great charisma. Saying that, I really hope he gets what is coming to him by the end of the series.

When is it usually on so we can watch ep. 4 ?

I loved it. Nicholas Hoult is like a young Hugh Grant. Or that guy who played Henry the 8th in The Tudors.

All the acting/ timing is very high quality.

I love the maid and the Emporer's aunt.

Sunday at 9 on channel 4. Huzzah!

👍

Caught up with an episode last night/early Morning. Not sure what episode - the one where he gives Catherine a gift of a lover!!

Remaining episodes can be watched through Prime but you have to sign up for a starzplay account. Apparently 5 day free trial for that at the mo.

I love it, it's a historically inaccurate costume romp . Like 'Tom Jones', with Albert Finney, back in the 70' s. The two leads are great & you feel the actors are enjoying the comedy side of it. It is accurate in in one way. Catherine is shown as cultured, hugely intelligent & educated: which she was.

I've got up to episode 3, so funny (in an awful, I can't believe they just said/did that way).

The bit with the heads and eyes at the dinner table was so so hideous, I couldn't bare to watch it.

Definitely makes me want to read a properly history book about Catherine.

I watched it all online a few weeks ago. I'd give it 0/10 for any recognisable connection with fact but a solid 10/10 for sheer ridiculous enjoyability. The episode where he meets the King of Sweden is comedy gold.

Hi - I am watching this week by week when there really doesn't seem tobe anything else to watch. Have found the style a bit wearing. Funny in episode 2, but starting to grate.

But, if possible with no spoilers who was Ivan, in terms of relationship it Peter, and why was he killed?

Thanks!

I have a friend in the states who has a media sharing server. Watched it on that a while ago now.

He's a cousin or a nephew or something. Has a right to the throne so needs to be eliminated.

Thanks Rhapsody - I wasn't sure if he was an illigitimate son or something.

Also, for that period, seems strange that the wife of a Tsar, who is only connected by marrieage, could be considered next in line.

Not that I am watching in for historical accuracy, but couldn't work out if he was locked up because he was a bit violent or something, or because he was a threat to the throne.

Shall try not to think too deeply about it and continue to watch it for the costumes, jokes, and general silliness!

Basically in Russia they had the inheritance by birth thing, but that was quite fluid and if someone could prove themselves a strong leader and get the majority of the factions at court behind them, they could have a sort of coup which would get that person on the throne.

hmmmmmmm ... sounds like a tradition the Kremlin has been happy to follow.

Russian history isn't my forte but I think that Ivan was the great nephew of Peter the Great's niece Tsarina Anna. He'd actually been proclaimed as Tsar when he was a baby but was supplanted by a coup by Tsarina Elizabeth who was Peter the Great's daughter. She didn't kill the baby but imprisoned him as a threat. He was actually 23 when he was killed at the time of Catherine the Great's sucessful coup.

Thanks for that. I tried googling and got really confused with all the Peters and Catherines. As usual mumnet gets to the heart of it!

My comment about the Kremlin wasn't from any real knowledge but because a friend persuaded me to watch Death of Stalin (a political farce?) and I did wonder if this play hadn't influenced some of the writing in The Great. Was shown on BBC but not available via iPlayer www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000qrrc

Now on Ep 6, anyone know if there will be a second series?

Love The Great and loved Bridgerton! I know they're both historical but otherwise they aren't comparable/of the same genre or tone. Bridge was meant to be silly!

@SunInTheSkyYouKnowHowIFeel

Now on Ep 6, anyone know if there will be a second series?

I think there's another planned

Oooo, looking forward to it!

I’m in ep 5 and have got mixed feelings about it. It’s sort of enjoyable but a bit one-note somehow (plus I can’t stomach the violence).

I've read a lot about Catherine the Great and know how historically inaccurate this is....but it's magnificent viewing.
Marielle, the maid is fantastic. I felt quite sad when her teasing of young Vlad didn't end in the shag they both wanted.

If 'The Great' has whetted your appetite for more about Catherine's life, the coup and her reign and her lovers, I'd recommend the Russian production of 'Ekaterina' on Prime. 3 series of 12 episodes each. A sumptuous period drama following all the intrigues of the Russian court. Orlov in particular is a million miles from his 'Great' portrayal. Not a timid bureaucrat but a handsome, ruthless cavalry officer in the Imperial Guard.

Seconding the recommendation of Ekaterina, it is a fabulous series.
And after you've watched that Sophia about another Russian empress (though because of marriage, no coups involved) is also fab!

I loved the fight Peter had with the king of Sweden - as far as acts of aggression go, smushing a pomegranate into your opponent's face is about as silly as you can get. The actors always look like they're having loads of fun. I have a dilemma, though, in that Nicholas Hoult is so ridiculously charming that I don't really want Peter to lose out, even though he's a little shit most of the time!

Ekaterina sounds good, will check it out!
Yeah I'm enjoying watching Peter being so awful yet hilarious too, I hope he lasts a while!