MINISERIES PREMIERE: Tony McNamara, who co-wrote
The Favourite, created and co-wrote this new 10-part Hulu miniseries, which drops all at once today – and which, I hope, gets an order for additional episodes, and thus becomes an official series. It’s that good, and that much fun. Elle Fanning plays the eventual Catherine the Great in this comedy about 18
th-century Russian court intrigue, and Nicholas Hoult plays her boorish regal husband, the not-so-great Peter. The jockeying for position, and the high stakes and imperious and unpredictable rulers, are as entertaining here as they were in
The Favourite, and the two leads are a constant delight. Over the 10 episodes, there’s a lot of regal choreography, beautiful scenery and bloody bursts of action, but the best part of
The Great remains its crackling dialogue during intimate scenes between two characters, whether discussing sex or murder. For my full review on NPR’s
Fresh Air with Terry Gross, and to hear a clip, listen to today’s radio show, or visit later at
the Fresh Air website.