2. A Fake Beard | WORKING |

: Elle Fanning (Catherine), Nicholas Hoult (Peter), Sacha Dhawan (Orlo), and Phoebe Fox (Marial). The Great | Tele2 Play

"" is the second episode of the first season of the satirical historical drama series The Great . It originally aired on May 15, 2020, on Hulu. Episode Summary 2. A Fake Beard

: Catherine attempts to seduce and then persuade Orlo to help her overthrow Peter. After initial resistance and a failed attempt to flee, Orlo joins her when he realizes she offers a path to an enlightened Russia. : Elle Fanning (Catherine), Nicholas Hoult (Peter), Sacha

Following her discovery of the Empress's portrait and the realization of Peter's incompetence, Catherine begins her quest for power by attempting to organize a coup. Her primary focus is recruiting , a neurotic intellectual, to her cause. Key Plot Points Episode Summary : Catherine attempts to seduce and

: Peter forces his religious advisor, Archie, to find a "divine sign" to justify a war, highlighting the tension between the church and Peter's whims.

: Marial, a former noblewoman turned servant, continues to mentor Catherine in the brutal and eccentric politics of the Russian court.

: The episode further establishes Peter's volatile nature, including his obsession with "beard taxes" and his bizarre methods of maintaining control over his nobles. Production Details Director : Colin Bucksey Writer : Tony McNamara Runtime : 53 minutes