The Great: How Wrong Is Hulu’s Historical Drama?

Hulu’s The Great is a historical drama that is deliberately and proudly inaccurate, using real 18th-century Russian figures as a springboard for a satirical, darkly comic story rather than a factual retelling. The show is not a documentary; it is a fictionalized “occasionally true story” that prioritizes entertainment and thematic exploration over historical accuracy. This article explains exactly where the show diverges from recorded history, what it gets right, and why its creative liberties are central to its artistic purpose.

What the Show Gets Right

Despite its anachronistic dialogue and absurdist tone, The Great is anchored by a few genuine historical touchpoints. Catherine the Great did indeed overthrow her husband, Peter III, in a 1762 coup, becoming empress of Russia. Peter was a real figure known for his admiration of Prussian military culture and his volatile behavior, though the show exaggerates his cruelty and idiocy for comic effect. The series also correctly places Catherine as a German-born princess who married into the Russian royal family and who corresponded with Enlightenment philosophers like Voltaire, reflecting her genuine intellectual ambitions. The show’s setting, costumes, and general atmosphere evoke the opulence and brutality of the Russian court, even if the specific events are invented.

The Major Historical Distortions

The most glaring inaccuracy is the show’s timeline and the nature of Catherine’s involvement in the coup. Historically, Catherine was not a naive, romantic idealist who stumbled into power; she was a politically astute woman who spent years cultivating alliances with the military and nobility. The coup was a carefully planned operation, not a spontaneous uprising inspired by a sudden desire to modernize Russia. Peter III’s reign lasted only six months, and while he was unpopular, his death shortly after the coup (likely murder) is depicted in the show as a direct result of Catherine’s actions, whereas the historical record is murkier. Furthermore, the show invents a love triangle and numerous court intrigues that have no basis in documented events, compressing years of political maneuvering into a single season.

Why the Show Admits It’s Not Accurate

The series opens with a title card that reads “An occasionally true story,” which is a clear signal to viewers that the creators are not aiming for historical fidelity. This framing allows the writers to take liberties with facts for the sake of satire, exploring themes of power, feminism, and enlightenment through a modern lens. The show’s creator, Tony McNamara, has stated in interviews that he was more interested in capturing the emotional and psychological truth of Catherine’s journey than in documenting actual events. By embracing its inaccuracy, the show invites audiences to engage with it as a work of fiction that uses history as a colorful backdrop, rather than as a factual account.

Common Misconceptions About the Real Catherine

Many viewers come away from The Great with a skewed understanding of Catherine’s legacy. In reality, Catherine was a long-reigning empress (34 years) who expanded Russia’s borders, modernized its administration, and was a patron of the arts. She was also a prolific writer and corresponded with Enlightenment thinkers, but she was not a proto-feminist in the modern sense; she maintained the institution of serfdom and was ruthless in suppressing rebellions. The show’s portrayal of Catherine as a bumbling idealist who stumbles into power is a dramatic invention. The real Catherine was a pragmatist who understood that power required compromise and often violence. These nuances are lost in the show’s focus on her personal struggles and romantic entanglements.

How the Show Compares to Other Historical Dramas

Compared to other historical dramas, The Great is an outlier in its open disregard for accuracy. Shows like The Crown or Downton Abbey strive for a degree of realism, even when they dramatize events. The Great, however, is closer to a historical fantasy, akin to Bridgerton, which also uses a historical setting as a playground for modern sensibilities. This approach has drawn both criticism and praise. Historians have pointed out the factual errors, while critics and audiences have appreciated the show’s wit and its willingness to subvert genre conventions. For viewers seeking a more accurate portrayal, reading a biography of Catherine the Great would be a more reliable source.

What to Watch If You Want More Accuracy

If The Great piques your interest in Russian history, there are better resources to learn about Catherine. Documentaries on PBS or the BBC, such as those by historians like Simon Sebag Montefiore, offer a factual overview. Books like “Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman” by Robert K. Massie provide a detailed and engaging biography. For a more cinematic but still relatively accurate take, the 2019 HBO miniseries Catherine the Great starring Helen Mirren covers her later years with more historical grounding, though it also takes some liberties. These alternatives can help separate the fictional drama from the real historical figure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Great based on a true story?

It is based on real people and a real event—Catherine’s coup against Peter III—but the specific events, characters, and dialogue are heavily fictionalized. The show’s title card “An occasionally true story” is a humorous acknowledgment of this.

Did Catherine really kill Peter?

Historically, Peter III died in 1762, shortly after his abdication, likely murdered by supporters of Catherine, but she did not personally kill him. The show depicts a more direct involvement, which is a dramatic invention.

Was Peter III really as stupid and cruel as the show portrays?

Peter was known for his erratic behavior and admiration for Prussia, which alienated the Russian court, but the show exaggerates his incompetence and cruelty for comedic effect. He was likely not as cartoonishly villainous as depicted.

Does the show get any historical details right?

Yes, it accurately captures the general atmosphere of the Russian court, Catherine’s German origins, her intellectual interests, and the fact that she did overthrow her husband. The costumes and setting are also visually evocative of the period, even if not entirely accurate.

Why did the creators choose to be inaccurate?

Tony McNamara has said he wanted to explore themes of power and enlightenment through a modern, satirical lens, not to create a documentary. The inaccuracy allows for more creative freedom and a more engaging, comedic narrative.

Is there a more accurate film or show about Catherine?

The 2019 HBO miniseries Catherine the Great with Helen Mirren is more historically grounded, covering her later reign. For a book, Robert K. Massie’s biography is widely recommended for its accuracy and readability.

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