It was inevitable throughout the story because the occasional truth would have to deal with Peter’s (Nicholas Hoult) death, eventually. And they wasted no time, with emotion and incredible performances, especially, of course, Nicholas Hoult.

The real Peter didn’t have a life or legacy that surpassed the version that entered the history books thanks to Catherine the Great. In The Great, Elle Fanning, nominated for an Emmy, unfolds to show the pain of Catherine, who feels guilty for having lost – on the series – the only person who loves her unconditionally and never did the least to make him happy. The brilliance of the writing makes the whole episode perhaps the best of the entire series to date.

I knew, of course, that Peter would die, and I knew too, thanks to the delay in the show’s release in the rest of the world (it aired on Hulu in May and it’s August). And even with all the spoilers the scene was beautiful, sad, and emotional.

Catherine has entered a state of psychotic denial, which only Grigor (Gwilym Lee) (and Georgina (Charity Wakefield), know. The trauma and guilt temporarily blind her to the problem created by Archie and Marial, even if indirectly and the two are trying to ‘control’ Purgachev.

Critics compared Peter’s death in the third episode of the season to Logan’s in Succession. Everyone knew what everyone expected, and everyone gasped when it finally happened. It’s incredibly manipulative psychological violence in storytelling when it’s right because it ‘erases’ the bad memories and turns the abuser into a victim. In Peter’s case, this trip had already been going on for some time, assuming the role of mother-father and leaving his wife in charge, which is unfair given what would inevitably happen. In “real” reality, there was no understanding or love between the couple, so creating a torturous love story in The Great was with the sole intention – achieved – of making us suffer. And make it clear how young Catherine is still a long way from the leadership and command she needs to have as Empress.

Now, created the farce to justify the Emperor’s death, the immediate focus is to stop Purgachev. Catherine has never been more isolated. On Throne Glacier.

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