Stream It Or Skip It: ‘The Great’ Season 3 on Hulu, In Which The Third Iteration Of The Period Drama Lives Up To Its Name (And Then Some)

Hulu’s “occasionally true story” (and “almost entirely untrue story,” per title cards in recent seasons) about Russia’s Catherine the Great and her husband Peter III has returned for its third season. The Great is a black comedy written almost entirely by Tony McNamara has received critical acclaim—will the third season reach the same highs as the previous two?

THE GREAT – SEASON 3: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

Opening Shot: Peter and Catherine sit on the sofa in what seems to be a moment of couple’s therapy, recounting all of the things they’ve done to hurt one another.

The Gist: Season 3 picks up almost immediately after Catherine’s (Elle Fanning) stabbing-gone-wrong, though everyone thinks that Peter (Nicholas Hoult) is dead (for better or for worse). But Peter is now wary that Catherine could potentially kill him at any moment, and no one is more mad about the mix-up than Orlo (Sacha Dhawan).

Meanwhile, Peter’s friends are still imprisoned by Catherine and they’re put to a test called “The Bullet or the Bear” (also the season opener’s episode title): Either they consent to get shot by a firing squad or mauled by a bear, but if you walk away from it you get to live. But unfortunately for some, both outcomes apply; there is no mercy under Peter and Catherine’s rule.

What Shows Will It Remind You Of? The new Netflix miniseries Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story does a similar type of revisionist history about a monarch in history, and both series employ dialogue written for the modern ear.

Our Take: When The Great premiered back in 2020 during the throes of the pandemic, audiences were immediately charmed by the show’s determined retelling of a monarchical rule and the heightened drama happening inside the royal court (a trend that continues in 2023 programming). The premise hooked people, while the snappy, witty, and modernized dialogue, and playful performances won over hearts.

The third season of the Hulu series doesn’t steer away from its strengths, instead doubling down on them. Fanning and Hoult continue to play off of each other like pros, this time reaching for empathy in their marriage while also keeping each other at bay. Their brutality is still central to their characters and they are still deeply toxic towards each other, but there is a welcomed softening to their interactions, even if they’re still sleeping with one eye open.

McNamara’s scripts crackle with funny one-liners and intellectual references, but some episodes still do feel bloated by many side characters and seemingly inconsequential storylines. But if you’ve come along for the ride for the past two seasons, you won’t want to tune out now.

Sex and Skin: The Great doesn’t shy away from nudity and sexual acts, so this one is NSFW.

Parting Shot: One unfortunate soul gets the wrath of both the bullet AND the bear.

Sleeper Star: Belinda Bromilow’s turn as Peter’s Aunt Elizabeth is delightful, especially as she defends her love of orgies and showcases her knowing wit in the same breath.

Most Pilot-y Line:: “I’m starving,” Catherine says over an opulent breakfast spread. “Yes, killing will do that to you,” Peter retorts, poking fun at her murder attempt on him that actually did end with a dead body.

Our Call: STREAM IT. Fanning and Hoult are as winning as ever, and the series wastes no time diving back into its playful retelling of one of Russia’s most famous monarch couples.

Radhika Menon (@menonrad) is a TV-obsessed writer based in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared on Vulture, Teen Vogue, Paste Magazine, and more. At any given moment, she can ruminate at length over Friday Night Lights, the University of Michigan, and the perfect slice of pizza. You may call her Rad.