While Bridgerton continues to dominate Netflix as its most-watched programme globally, another period drama, The Great, has been hailed by fans and critics as superior. The series, which premiered the same year as Bridgerton, follows Catherine the Great's rise from German princess to Empress of Russia, starring Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult.
Despite not generating the same level of hype as its Netflix counterpart, The Great has earned critical acclaim, with two of its three series achieving a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The show has also received seven Emmy nominations, including nods for Best Actor and Best Actress in a Comedy.
Described as a dark comedy with an 'occasionally true story' tagline, The Great takes creative liberties with history while delivering sumptuous visuals. The opening episode depicts Catherine as a teenage 'mail-order bride' selected for Emperor Peter III. Across 30 episodes, the series charts her transformation from brood mare to Empress.
Now cancelled, all three series of The Great are available to stream for free on Channel 4. Fans have expressed frustration over its relative obscurity compared to Bridgerton, with one viewer stating: 'I can't believe Bridgerton got so popular as a period romance when The Great is right there.' Another added: 'The Great is filled with dark absurdist humour; I never laughed once at Bridgerton.'
