HBO Catherine the Great/Helen Mirren

ms traditional · ‎03-09-2010

this launched this week. i'm interested in reviews from those who watched it.

jackthebear · ‎03-11-2010

@ms traditional wrote:
this launched this week. i'm interested in reviews from those who watched it.

thanks . I wanted to watch it

chrystaltree · ‎05-10-2010

I watched it. I am a big Helen Mirren fan and I love historical dramas but I was disappointed. It's hard to describe but Catherine the Great is a larger than life historical and political figure. Strong, Powerful. Mirren didn't bring that to the role. Not so far anyway, it's only episode 1. There story is weak too, it doesn't draw the viewer in at all. Honestly, I watched only because Helen Mirren is in it. That's my opinion, for what its's worth.

Jannygaz · ‎12-28-2018

I watched and had a similar reaction. I wasn't drawn in. I'll probably stick with it since there is not a lot else on Monday nights that I like. But overall, I was disappointed

ms traditional · ‎03-09-2010

@chrystaltree @Jannygaz thanks for your reactions. pls check in after episode 2 if you think of it. sometimes these things start slow, setting the scene, then build from there.

SharkE · ‎08-19-2010

I'd love to see it since I'm a history buff and have read couple of books on her.

Bet they sex and trash it up. Nothing like in real life. Wonder how they portrayed her when young ? Bring in a young girl ? If they add about 60 pds on her as she got older. She wasn't thin person.

SANNA · ‎04-23-2010

I watched because of H.M. Very disappointing show, nothing interesting at all. I know HM wanted to do this role because she is ethnically Russian. She gave a very weak performance and she looks terrible, too much plastic surgery.

But there is a show on Netflix, done by the Russians, with subtitles, with one wonderful younger actress and one great actor portraying her husband Peter 111.

So much better show. Try it if you like the topic.

Lilysmom · ‎03-09-2010

Agreed. I watched the whole series. Disappointed. The only time I thought HM wasn’t great. LM

skatting44 · ‎07-26-2019

@ms traditional wrote:
this launched this week. i'm interested in reviews from those who watched it.

I watched the 1st episode. It begins around 1772 or so after she over throws her husband Peter III and he is dead . She was abt 43 yrs old .since she was born abt 1729 in Prussia. Their son Paul had just reached age of maturity.

My opinion is that the story seems presented a little low keyed amid all the secreted affairs of how she came into power and what secrets need to be kept for her to remain in power. As , I watched more secrets are revealed . Helen Miren does a terrific job in displaying the complexity of Catherine the Great's personality . One scene she is smiling and encouraging her son to think of beautiful ladies as he's now old enough to marry . In an instant when he walks away she discusses with another as to what he son knows and if he's been consulting with others to gain power. You have to watch and listen carefully at the dialogue, as Catherine was a crafty , intelligent and very conniving Empress . Like the other HBO shows there are frequent sex scenes . Haven't seen the nudity yet but who knows what future episodes will reveal.

Lucky Charm · ‎03-09-2010

@SANNA wrote:
I watched because of H.M. Very disappointing show, nothing interesting at all. I know HM wanted to do this role because she is ethnically Russian. She gave a very weak performance and she looks terrible, too much plastic surgery.
But there is a show on Netflix, done by the Russians, with subtitles, with one wonderful younger actress and one great actor portraying her husband Peter 111.
So much better show. Try it if you like the topic.

@SANNA What is the show called? I'm interested!