Plot: Follows the tumultuous monarch and politician who ruled the Russian empire and transformed its place in the world in the 18th century. But more than a political success story against all odds, it is a sweeping epic that follows the love affair between Catherine and Russian military leader Grigory Potemkin, the most extraordinary woman and man of their age, who formed a singular and powerful relationship that helped shape the future of Russian politics.
Review: HBO has a storied history of marquee mini-series, especially those set during tumultuous periods. From Band of Brothers and The Pacific to John Adams, HBO has long been a go to network for award-winning event series before event series was even a phrase. Their latest is a collaboration with British premium network Sky Atlantic, which aired this series a few weeks ago. Catherine the Great is a four part epic that tells of a period in world history that has rarely been filmed more sumptuously or brutally than in this adaptation. It also represents what may be the single greatest performance of Helen Mirren's career. But, just because the acting is as good as it is here, that does not mean that Catherine the Great is an achievement. Rather, this is a good mini-series that is missing that special something to make it great.
Beginning in the 1760s, each episode of the series makes a time jump to give us a look at Catherine's reign at various tumultuous points. Starting with the coup d'etat that put her in power thanks to her former lover Count Grigory Orlov (Richard Roxburgh), we see Helen Mirren easily play Catherine in her mid-30s as she meets Grigory Potemkin (Jason Clarke). The romantic entanglement between Catherine and Grigory is the focus of the entirety of the series as they fall in love and eventually part ways, all through the backdrop of war and political machinations. Mirren and Clarke previously shared the screen in the horror film WINCHESTER but the two decade age difference between the actors does not bely the clear chemistry they share.
And while there is a clear romantic element to Catherine the Great, this series is rife with explicit sequences, both in a sexual nature and in the battle scenes. Taking a cue from Game of Thrones, HBO and Sky have aimed to make this mini-series a blend of nudity and gore but the story does not venture to the more fanciful legends about Catherine's sexual appetites. A quick Google search will tell you some of the more elaborate stories about the Empress, which do not factor into this series. Yes, there is sex, but it is presented more as a tool for those to climb the political ladder, similar to what was seen in last year's THE FAVOURITE. But, the romantic elements of this series come from the very complicated relationship between Catherine and Potempkin.
Helen Mirren has played monarchs before, notably both Elizabeth I and Elizabeth II, but Catherine is a very different ruler. The longest reigning woman in Russian history, Catherine's strengths shine through Mirren's performance which ranges from quiet reflection to firm and iron fisted as a ruler. She is vengeful but never impulsive which gives every decision she makes a calculated measure. Helen Mirren draws upon every acting ability she posseses to make this character come alive. Mirren, who is of Russian ancestry, is respectful of the famed ruler but never paints her as flawless. Catherine suffers as much as she celebrates in this series which makes her one of the most relatable queens ever put to screen.
Jason Clarke, on the other hand, is equally up to the task of going toe to toe with Mirren. Playing a character ten years younger, Clarke's Potempkin desires titles and riches but only those he earns himself. Not willing to accept gifts for being Catherine's lover, Potempkin rises through the ranks and eventually the passions between him and the monarch clash. The path of their love story mimics the backdrop of Catherine's reign and Clarke manages to give one of his strongest performances since DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES. But, even though Mirren and Clarke steal the spotlight in this series, the supporting cast that also includes Rory Kinnear, Kevin McNally, Gina McKee, and Clive Russell give solid work even if they are vastly overshadowed.
Directed by veteran TV helmer Philip Martin and scripted by Nigel Williams, Catherine the Great itself is overshadowed by Mirren's towering performance. Whenever she and Clarke are not sharing the screen, no one else can match their presence which makes it hard for the stakes of those plotting against the Empress to feel very threatening. The score by Rupert Gregson-Williams is appropriately sweeping and imbues the proceedings with some gravitas, but there is just not enough to justify the length of this project. Worth watching purely to see just how damn great Helen Mirren is makes it worth tuning in for this mini-series, you may end up feeling a bit underwhelmed by the rest.
Catherine the Great premieres October 21st on HBO.