The Great (Season 3)

Available on Channel 4

The third and final season of Tony McNamara’s adaptation of his own play about the life and times of Catherine the Great is beset with the same issues that made its sophomore outing only a fitfully entertaining watch. While Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult continue to serve up two stellar leading performances, their supporting cast are hindered by a sluggish story arc that means their character’s motivations are scarcely any different from what they were at the show’s onset. This is problematic and means The Great’s swansong is mostly a rehash of its greatest hits, that being a sardonic and, for the most part, wildly inaccurate recounting of history.

While this season mostly has the misfortune of being a political satire that is devoid of any genuinely unforeseen machinations, it does contain a shocking character death in the build-up to its final act. To reveal the identity of the felled individual would be to spoil the surprise, but it does leave a rather noticeable void that is only partly filled by a dexterous turn from Fanning, who seemingly grows in stature while everything around her wilts.

McNamara’s work with Yorgos Lanthimos on both The Favourite and Poor Things is ample evidence of his writing prowess, but here he sadly fails to evolve what was once an intriguing and humorous tale.