‘Unique’ Period Drama Is ‘Darkly Comedic’ With a Stellar Cast Perfect for Jane Austen Fans

Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult lead the award-winning series that takes a wildly unconventional approach to the period drama genre

Fans of Jane Austen adaptations looking for something very different from the usual costume drama may want to give The Great a try.

Set against an 18th-century backdrop and inspired by historical events, the series combines period costumes and aristocratic intrigue with sharp comedy, absurd situations and deliberately loose interpretations of history.

The result is a period drama that has developed a devoted following among viewers who enjoy seeing the genre pushed in a completely different direction.

Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult lead the cast

Elle Fanning plays a central role (Image: HULU)

The Great stars Elle Fanning as Catherine, with Nicholas Hoult portraying Peter III of Russia.

At the heart of the series is Catherine’s turbulent marriage to Peter. Their relationship takes an increasingly unconventional turn as Catherine develops an ambitious and seemingly absurd plan to overthrow her husband and seize the throne.

The chemistry between Fanning and Hoult has been repeatedly praised by viewers, with their performances becoming one of the show’s major strengths.

Their complicated relationship unfolds across three seasons, taking audiences through a story filled with romance, political manoeuvring, power struggles and plenty of dark humour.

A period drama that refuses to play by the rules

Unlike more traditional historical dramas, The Great makes no attempt to present itself as a strictly accurate account of Catherine’s life.

The series openly embraces historical inaccuracies, giving its creators greater freedom to experiment with its visual style, costumes, sets and characters.

That creative approach is particularly noticeable in the costumes, which are often extravagant and deliberately over-the-top, adding another layer of comedy to the aristocratic setting.

Hulu has even described the series as “anti-historical”, reflecting its willingness to depart from historical fact in favour of a more playful interpretation.

The approach has not worked for everyone, however. While many viewers have enjoyed the creative liberties, others have found the historical inaccuracies difficult to overlook.

The series is also heavily influenced by Tony McNamara’s 2008 play of the same name. McNamara subsequently helped adapt the story for television.

Viewers call it one of the most entertaining period dramas

The show has received numerous accolades (Image: HULU)

Despite its unconventional approach, The Great has received significant praise from audiences.

One Rotten Tomatoes viewer described it as one of their favourite series of all time, praising its cast and “hilarious performances” while expressing disappointment that the show had ended.

Another viewer said they became deeply invested in the characters and ended up binge-watching the series, adding that once they started, they did not want to stop.

The show’s distinctive combination of historical settings and comedy has also attracted particularly enthusiastic reactions.

One fan called it “the most entertaining period series” they had ever watched, praising its stellar cast and mesmerising performances. They described it as one of the most “darkly comedic, unique, and entertaining” period series they had seen.

Another viewer highlighted how much the show stands apart from other period dramas, saying that every episode made them both laugh and think.

They also singled out Fanning and Hoult, describing the pair as leading actors of their generation and calling the series “unmissable”.

Three seasons of unconventional historical comedy

There are three seasons in total (Image: HULU)

The Great premiered on Hulu in 2020 and was quickly renewed for a second season, which helped push the series to an even wider audience.

The show ultimately ran for three seasons before coming to an end in 2023, a decision that left some fans disappointed.

Across its run, the series earned seven Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including Lead Actress and Lead Actor in a Comedy Series nominations for Fanning and Hoult.

For viewers who enjoy period settings but want something more irreverent than a traditional historical drama, The Great offers a distinctly different experience, blending royal ambition, romance and political intrigue with an intentionally exaggerated sense of humour.

All episodes of The Great are available to stream for free on Channel 4. The series is also available on Amazon Prime and Apple TV for a fee.