The Great Review: Daddy Issues (Season 2 Episodes 1-5)

Huzzah! The Great is back with a great, big season that thrills and delights in a myriad of ways. The battle between Catherine and Peter to rule Russia continues with plenty of political scheming, death, parties, even a crocodile, but most of all, sublime chaos.

It is the Russian way. 

Note: This review contains spoilers for The Great Seasons 1 and 2.

*An Occasionally True Story

At the start, Catherine (Elle Fanning) is poised to assume power and she succeeds by the end of the first episode. It happens fast, but it is great fun and nothing is lost by swiftly tying up this loose end carried over from Season 1.

It works because there is so much more story to tell. Who knew 18th century Russia could provide such escapism? Thanks to the satire framework, outstanding performances, and sharp writing, The Great is a wild, wonderful world in which to get lost.

Although it is a cruel and barbarous place, that little asterisk that goes with the series title allows for it to be a fantastical place as well, where one can enjoy the harsh brutality and the absurd without logic getting in the way.

That is not to say there is not much to think about—there definitely is. For example, figuring out the motivations and goals for the many well-rounded, full-of-depth characters keeps the mind running after each episode.

Loyalties are tested and shift like the bitter winds of Russia. Murders are planned and carried out and, sometimes, not. It’s a lot of death, but it’s balanced, surprisingly, with a lot of love. 

Peter the Father

Most surprisingly of all, much of that love is expressed by Peter (Nicholas Hoult), the now unseated Emperor.

His immediate love for his unborn child is so pure—it’s almost as if carrying on the family line is of little consequence to him. He and Paul are already buddies.

Peter finally agrees to abdicate the throne to Catherine with the provision that he is able to spend 20 minutes a day with her and Paul.

Well, that and he is terribly hungry.

His love for Catherine also appears to be genuine and he works hard at winning her over. With smart advising from his Aunt Elizabeth (Belinda Bromilow), he tries to tame his violent side and improve himself.

And it’s not just for show or to win.

On Season 2 Episode 2, “Dickhead,” he makes an concerted effort not to kill someone for calling him “dickhead” in passing. He does end up killing him, but he is able to suppress the urge for longer than I expected. And when he does, it gives him little satisfaction.

That’s growth.

His love for her is real and the audience becomes privy to that on Season 2 Episode 5, “Animal Instincts,” when they go in search for the crocodile on the loose. At one point, Peter sees the croc but doesn’t say anything so as to prolong their time together.

Rom-Com, Russian-style

There is a will-they-won’t-they trope at play on The Great Season 2. Will Catherine and Peter come together with a mutual love or won’t they? But even more fascinating is the will-they-won’t-they kill each other business.

Peter has Elizabeth’s support and help to get Catherine to love him back and Catherine has Marial (Phoebe Fox) persistently making the case that killing him is the best and only option. The others in both camps have their own opinions on what the royal couple should do and those opinions are in constant flux.

The comedy of errors in this dynamic is most entertaining, and enriches the romantic half of the rom-com aspect. There is a shippy element as well as an examination of the meaning of love itself.

Catherine has the power now and wants to do great things with it, but it is not as simple as that. She has to contend with a general who longs for war, friends that either want to see her together with Peter or have him killed, but the most difficult of all is Peter—his love, his strategy, and his intense paternal devotion to his son and future heir to the throne.

The first half of The Great Season 2 packs a hell of a lot into five episodes. The storylines flow and do well to hold the viewer’s interest with engaging themes and complicated relationships.

Ponder This and That:

• “There is poetry of what we want and there is the blood and grind of how we get it.”
• It feels like Orlo (Sacha Dhawan) is exploring his asexuality a bit, but then he flirts with the school teacher so that may be a dead end path. It’d be cool representation, though.
• I am a big fan of the word “thusly,” Catherine, don’t outlaw it or whatever.
• “Suffer it, shed bitter tears for it, yet live anyway.” That is “feel your feelings” in Russian.
• “I find power balances wildly erotic.”
• “She may sit on your face but not on your throne.” Ah, the irreverence is divine.

What did you think of the first half of The Great Season 2? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

The Great Season 2 is now streaming on Hulu.

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

Top 10 Most Intriguing Characters on The Great