Plot Synopsis

Incorporating historical facts occasionally, THE GREAT is a satirical dramedy series about the rise of Catherine the Great from outsider to the longest reigning female ruler in Russia's history. Season 1 is a fictionalized, fun and anachronistic story of an idealistic, romantic young girl, who arrives in Russia for an arranged marriage to the mercurial Emperor Peter. Hoping for love and sunshine, she finds instead a dangerous, depraved, backward world that she resolves to change. All she has to do is kill her husband, beat the church, baffle the military and get the court onside. A very modern story about the past which encompasses the many roles she played over her lifetime as lover, teacher, ruler, friend, and fighter. On Friday, May 15, 2020 at 3:01am ET/12:01am PT, Hulu released the entire 10-episode first season of THE GREAT.

The entire 10-episode second season of THE GREAT dropped on Friday, November 19, 2021 on Hulu. In Season 2, Catherine finally takes the Russian throne for her own -- but if she thought coup-ing her husband was difficult, it's nothing compared to the realities of "liberating" a country that doesn't want to be. She'll battle her court, her team, even her own mother in a bid to bring the enlightenment to Russia. Meanwhile she'll also battle her heart as Peter slowly transitions from much-hated husband, to prisoner? Ally? Lover? Ultimately, Catherine will learn that to change a country, you must let it change you, that there is a fine line between idealism and delusion, and that becoming "the Great," will ask more of her than she could have imagined.
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The third season of THE GREAT premiered on Friday, May 12, 2023, as Hulu released all 10 episodes of the new season. Season 3 sees Catherine and Peter attempt to make their marriage work after some seemingly insurmountable problems. Peter witnessed his own attempted murder at Catherine's hands and she also imprisoned all of his friends. On top of this, Peter is at a loose end playing First Husband to Catherine's reign, so he busies himself with fathering, hunting and salty culinary ventures. But they're not enough to keep him contented as visions of his late father, get in his head about his failures as Peter the Great's son. Catherine the Great starts making a name for herself beyond her borders and inspired by a visit from the US ambassador, sets up a conference where peasants, nobles and merchants can all give their input on developing a new Russia. She learns that even the best political leaders sometimes need to make compromises in order to progress.