When it comes to streaming services that I grew familiar with as I aged, one of them was Hulu. For years, I would visit this website to watch amazing dramas and interesting comedies and, most of the time, to catch up on the TV shows I had been watching throughout the week.
Honestly, there’s one Emmy-nominated Hulu series that I just loved and was canceled far too soon. I’ve noticed that it has a mini fanbase online, but because I feel the need to share its greatness with the rest of the world, today, we’re going to be talking about The Great — and why you should care so much about it.
What is The Great?
An occasionally true story
Keep in mind that barely anything about this show is relevant. It is a fully satirical dark comedy that changes things so often and makes you stare at your screen in comedic shock, but the way it does is so perfect.
The Great is based on the story of Catherine the Great, an empress of Russia, and her rise to power and how she changed the course of the country’s history. But of course, there are many things in this that are added for dramatic effect — and most of which are not true. However, the series does say that it is an “occasionally true story,” so it’s not like there aren’t some facts in there. The series is originally based on a play by Tony McNamara, but it goes beyond that.
Essentially, The Great is basically the story of Empress Catherine if it were high. I mean that in the best way possible. There are so many story moments that blow your mind, character changes that will cause a gasp to escape you, and hysterical instances that will undoubtedly and unabashedly cause your side to cramp from laughing too hard.
Who is in the cast of The Great?
A cast of characters, that’s who
There are plenty of marquee names in The Great. That’s what makes it one of the best Hulu shows out there. I do have to give praise to the two leads of this series, Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult, as Catherine the Great and Emperor Peter III.
I had been a fan of these two for years before The Great. I had loved Hoult during his Skins days and even more in Warm Bodies. It was even more fun to see him in the latest Superman movie. Fanning had been in some of my favorite movies as a kid. However, these two together make crystal television magic.
The Great would not be what it is if these two were not cast in these roles. The character, personality, and sensuality they bring to these two historical figures make this show so interesting. They took these real-life names and made them compelling and complex, with very dark moments, without stealing the show’s hilarity.
Don’t even get me started on the chemistry between Fanning and Hoult. I swear, you could light up fireworks with the sparks generated by the heat of a single gaze. They tore that screen up every single time anything happened (if you know what I mean).
Aside from their Emmy-nominated performances (because, of course, they were nominated), the series also offers plenty of other great performances from actors such as Sacha Dhawan, Adam Godley, Charity Wakefield, and more. Everyone knocks it out of the park.
Why is The Great so … well, great?
Hear me out, my friends
I’m glad you asked that. If the premise isn’t enough to win you over and the cast isn’t doing anything for you, then here’s your answer — what other show is like this out there?
Yes, there are parody shows where people talk about history in a funny way. Drunk History is a great example of that. But The Great does more than talk about history. In fact, it never really claims to be historical at all — an “occasionally true story” is literally its tagline. What The Great does is add comedic and dark elements to real-world events, making them entertaining and changing the story in ways that make it fascinating.
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The fact that says “we are not factual” really helps its case. I think with historical adaptations, they try to act like they’re the truth when, in reality, there are always things thrown in there for the sake of drama. With The Great, there is not even a whiff of deception. They know what they are; they’re proud of it. It’s funny, dark, and apologizes for nothing.
Why was The Great canceled?
There are a few theories…
Deadline reported in August 2023 that The Great would be canceled after three seasons, without even a proper finale. At the time, it was unclear why the show was canceled. The series was critically acclaimed, earned several Emmy nominations, and, according to Decider, was pitched as a six-season show. The platform confirmed it when they spoke with executive producer Marian Macgowan at the 2023 Winter TCA.
So why was it canceled when it felt like things were just getting good?
Honestly, Hulu never released a full statement as to why. Apparently, according to MovieWeb, the show’s third season did not make the Top 10 on Hulu, so it could have been due to ratings. With a series that has such high reviews, low ratings are easily a killer.
They also said it could have been due to production costs and a possible connection to the SAG and WAG strikes affecting most of Hollywood. Either way, there’s no official confirmation.
All I know is that this series, regardless of it being canceled far too soon, deserved way more viewership, love, and so much more. It deserved the six seasons to properly tell the whole story, but now it will forever be stuck at three, which is a dang shame.
Give The Great a chance
Even so, I still think people should check out the series, if not for the ridiculous comedy that comes with it and the insurmountable urge to scream “HUZZAH!” at the top of your lungs once you finish Season 1. If you have the time, head on over to one of the best streaming services and throw it on for a weekend. You won’t regret it.
- Subscription with ads
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Yes, $10/month
- Live TV
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Yes, various plans available
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
