The Great Season Two is even better than the first, complete with twists and turns, and roaring laughter at the sheer absurd vileness of some of the characters. Out today on DVD and available to stream on Hulu.
“The Great returns in Season Two from Golden Globe and Academy Award nominee Tony McNamara (The Favourite). 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. This 4-disc DVD set includes every comedy-filled episode of Season Two plus exclusive deleted scenes and a gag reel. Two-time Emmy Award winning actor Gillian Anderson joins stars Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult for all the fun!”
The Great Season Two arrives on DVD today, the next chapter in the hilarious show you probably didn’t know you needed to see. The dark humor of the show continues in this new season, which finds Catherine gaining power over Peter, seeking to bring a better rule to Russia than the tyrant her husband has been, over his people and over her.
Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult’s chemistry remains the constant for the series. Their wit and loathing banter between each other continues to bring immense enjoyment. Both actors have grown in to their characters in a much more natural way, which is consistent with the longevity of any show, but with their relationship the main focus of this series, it really does elevate the second season quite a bit more. The addition of Gillian Anderson is also a nice touch, creating some very entertaining moments.
The story unfolds with some fascinating twists and turns. One thing to note, this isn’t historically accurate, so anything you may know about the true story of Catherine the Great and Peter III you can just throw out the window, in case you didn’t already get that fact quite yet. As somewhat of a purist for historical accounts and accuracy goes, I was more than okay with this, because quite frankly, this is a over-the-top, violent, dark story filled with a lot of laughs.
Here’s an episode breakdown of Season Two:
- Heads It’s Me – Four months after launching a coup against her husband, a pregnant Catherine gains the upper hand in her war against Peter. Being deeply in love with Catherine and their unborn child does little to dissuade her from taking his throne.
- Dickhead – Catherine, Orlo, and Velementov begin their rule of Russia and unexpected obstacles soon appear. Peter is on a journey of self-improvement under house arrest but convinces Catherine to let him attend her coronation and hand over his crown.
- Alone at Last – Catherine’s grief over the loss of Leo during the coup finally catches up with her. Peter’s part in Leo’s death, and the discovery that he just murdered a noble, causes Catherine to lock Peter in his apartment with his mummified mother.
- The Devil’s Lunch – The Ottoman Ambassador pays Catherine a visit as tensions between the regions run high.
- Animal Instincts – A crocodile roams the court, and Archie sends everyone into uproar by suggesting it might be an omen against Catherine’s leadership.
- A Simple Jape – Catherine is frustrated by the lack of meaningful change in her rule of Russia. Seeking to shake the court out of its complacency, she plays a joke on them involving a serf to prove a point.
- Stapler – Catherine’s team is falling apart and she begins doubting her reign when her mother comes to visit.
- Five Days – Elizabeth pronounces that Catherine’s baby will be born in 7 days and the court begins preparations involving rituals for Peter and Catherine.
- Walnut Season – Catherine and Peter are co-parenting their newborn son, Paul, with the help of Elizabeth and trying to avoid their feelings for each other.
- Wedding – Catherine makes a devastating discovery about Peter before traveling to the war front for a meeting with the Sultan.
Video
This DVD set is presented in 16:9 480 resolution. Unfortunately, there is no Blu-ray release for this show, in the United States anyway, so the only way to watch it in High Definition is to stream it on Hulu, which I recommend, as it looks incredible; especially the set and costume design for the period it takes place in.
Audio
The audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1, which sounds quite good. There are quite a number of atmospheric effects you’ll hear from the surrounds, as well as other background commotion that enhances the immersive experience. Dialogue, soundtrack, all sound good on this set.
Special Features
Extras would be the main reason to pick up this set in Standard Definition, besides the fact of not having to rely on internet connection. These include:
- Deleted Scenes
- Blooper Reel
Already renewed for a third season, The Great continues its presentation of dark, witty humor, filled with some brilliant writing and performances. This really should have a High-Definition release, but perhaps down the line depending on the run of the show it may one day. Support this show any way you can, it’s worth your time. Watch it now on Hulu or grab it on DVD today!
