Ignorant and with a bad sense of humor: how Russians are shown in the American series about Catherine the Great

On May 15, on the Hulu video service, and on the 16th on more.tv, the screening of the American satirical series The Great begins. The plot focuses on life in Russia by Ekaterina Alekseevna (girlhood - Sophia Augusta Frederic of Anhalt-Zerbst), the future Empress Catherine II, with El Fanning in the title role.

At the very beginning of the story, the heroine Fanning tells her friend about the upcoming marriage with her second cousin Peter Fedorovich (in the series - already with the Russian emperor Peter III). In anticipation of a happy life in Russia, the girl enthusiastically rushes to learn Russian, and immediately after arriving in a new country for herself, she kisses the earth and hurries to the first meeting with her future spouse. The girl captivates with sincerity, childish delight, as well as an attentive and respectful attitude both to her husband, whom she has never seen, and to Russia.

However, the heroine Fanning - very sensitive, educated and well-mannered - does not fit into the local society, almost entirely consisting of fools and savages.

Already at the moment of acquaintance with Peter (Nicholas Holt), a number of his shortcomings become apparent: the emperor is rude, ill-bred, uneducated and has a very specific sense of humor.

The creators of the series endowed not only him with such qualities: everything at court, with the exception of units, was cruel and unceremonious. These people are violent, have erratic sexual relationships, and adhere to terrifying traditions. Education is out of the question: the books here are deliberately ignored, because "they tire and take time." In addition to Catherine, the most reasonable is her maid (Phoebe Fox). She is not stupid, quite rational, and she has order with a sense of humor.

Filmmakers did not forget about the classic stereotypes - vodka and bears - and also drew attention to the position of women in society. The ladies (if you do not take into account the servants) have one task - to give birth. A woman should not do anything else and cannot. It is better for her to be silent at all (and if she wants to speak, then, perhaps, about hats).

The attitude towards women in the wild Russia of the past is demonstrated by an episode in which Catherine asks her husband to let her open a school where she can teach everyone. He willingly agrees - if only his wife was happy. But, having learned that women will study at this school, orders to burn the building.

• © Shot from the series "The Great" (2020)

Fanning's eyes, which had previously shone with delight, widen with each scene, and the anticipation is replaced by horror. But Catherine does not despair and draws up an action plan: to love Peter; make a spouse fall in love with her; to find culture and education in a new place.

Catherine gets down to business and tries her best to be a good wife: she conducts social affairs that she hates, she comes naked at night to her husband, not paying attention to her lover, and in the morning prepares European miracle cocktails for a hangover. In a word, he does everything possible so that Peter could love her. However, after the emperor’s first attempt to drown his wife (in jest), Catherine’s enthusiasm disappears, and the plan loses its relevance.

The heroine Fanning never ceases to delight with optimism, energy and hope for a bright future, which is not so easy to destroy. In the first series, the actress very well showed a storm of emotions that a romantic girl could have experienced from some idyllic world into real hell. But over time, when the raid of youthful naivety and enthusiasm disappears, Fanning begins to replay. In the image of Catherine, the actress looks, at least, solid: looking at the heroine, it is difficult to believe in her wisdom and seriousness of intentions. Fanning here more likely resembles one of his previous characters - Princess Aurora, who suddenly discovers that the Russian Empire is somewhat different from the Marshes.

At first, very harmonious at first, to match the new, more serious image, Fanning uses an exaggerated facial expression, which makes it seem comically outraged, or excessively suspicious.

Nicholas Holt in the role of the tyrant emperor, as filmmakers saw him, is so convincing that an external resemblance slips between him and Peter III. In The Great, the actor expanded the list of his roles and proved that he was not afraid of such absurd and offensive roles.

From the beginning to the end, Gwilim Lee (Bohemian Rhapsody), who played one of Peter's close associates, really copes with the role really well. His hero is the only one whose behavior does not raise questions, and only in his whole story do you empathize with him from beginning to end. The actor very convincingly showed the throwing of a man who is forced to share his beloved woman with the emperor.

• © Shot from the series "The Great" (2020)

There is no need to speak about the historical authenticity of the “Great”: filmmakers immediately warned that the series presented a free interpretation of real events.

Most heroes, including key ones, do not have prototypes. The stories of those that are somehow connected with reality, too, have been largely subjected to artistic rethinking. Only numerous rumors related to Peter and Catherine claim to be more or less accurate in the picture.

The visual component of the series is up to par, but Russia is difficult to discern in all these beautiful scenery. The landscapes look European, the architecture and decoration of the palaces is much more modest than those that can be seen in Russian museums. Not much attention is paid to the development of details. So, for example, under the monument to Peter I flaunts the inscription "Peter the Great."

The search for actors who would be like Slavs, filmmakers, too, were not puzzled. And it's not about the central characters: it is expected that these roles were intended for stars. However, the presence at the court of Emperor Peter III of Indians, owners of Latin and African appearance discouraged. Of course, people of different origin lived in Russia at that time - we recall the great-grandfather of Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin, Abram Petrovich Hannibal. But the fact that every fifth was dark-skinned is hard to believe.

Among the undoubted advantages of the picture can be called the brilliant work of make-up artists and dressers.

The abundance of intricate dresses, sophisticated costumes and wigs is really impressive and helps to recreate the atmosphere of the XVIII century. Some of the outfits of the serial Catherine even resemble dresses in which the empress is depicted in famous portraits.

As for makeup, it is good because it is completely invisible, the faces look very fresh and natural.

• © Shot from the series "The Great" (2020)

“Great” strongly resembles the “Favorite” of Yorgos Lantimos. And the matter is not only in the coincidence of historical periods and the presence of Nicholas Holt: one of the authors of both projects was Tony McNamara, thanks to which the tapes received a scenario similarity. In both cases, the plot is based on a satirical reading of the story, and the key characters are endowed with exaggerated, caricatured features. However, the “Favorite” is constantly balancing between comic and deep drama. In addition, the characters of the Lantimos tape are much better thought out: they are ambiguous, and you have to worry for everyone. And the Favorite is nevertheless closer to the real story than the Great. The Great is a real parody of Russian history and society.

The series has a lot of really funny moments. It is difficult to resist laughing when Catherine walks the bear like a dog or personally delivers large boxes of macaroons to seriously wounded soldiers, completely not understanding how inappropriate it is. Special attention should be paid to caricature bed scenes and the heroes' belief in widespread stereotypes (for example, in the contraceptive functions of lemon juice). But when the whole plot is built solely on the ignorance of the population of the whole country and its contrasts with progressive Europe, a story based on real events turns into a profanity.

However, if we ignore the historical reality and the negative appearance of the entire state, the series may seem very atmospheric and quite interesting. The plot, famously twisted around palace intrigues and tricky plans of original characters in its own way, is intriguing; Beautiful high-quality picture is amazing. But it will be appreciated primarily by the Western audience, since it will be difficult for the Russian to abstract.