What I’m Watching: The Great

The Great: Season 2, Episode 2 “Dickhead” (B+)

It’s really fascinating watching how Catherine is trying to implement change and relying on her advisers for different things while not necessarily cluing them in to all of her plans. Velementov and Orlo both understand how the establishment works and what must be done, but they also didn’t inform Catherine of everything, like their stabbing of one noble they knew would never work with their new regime. Archie’s role was particularly interesting since the patriarch held a compelling sway over even the unruliest of nobles who were disrespectful enough of Catherine to share his true feelings on her and then urinate in the room. Catherine managed to make it to the coronation in the dress she wanted to wear with Peter not having a speaking role and even to announce a few sweeping changes, like freedom of religion in the country. There are so many elements plotting and trying to figure out how to cope in this new world, with Elizabeth actually offering the best advice and ignoring Archie’s suggestion that they kill Catherine and she be crowned instead. I think I’m most excited to see how characters like Grigor and Georgina are adapting to their new reality, firmly on Peter’s team but not content to see how it feels to be relegated to second-class citizenry. Marial is adjusting quite nicely to being back on top, enjoying the luxuries of free movement and fine fruits, content even to indulge Velementov because it fed her self-esteem. Catherine’s patience is wearing thin but she’s accomplishing things remarkably nonetheless.