the great season 2 being SUCH an amazing season with excellent character work for its two main protagonists, especially peter, really laid the foundation that would kickstart and ensure the show's downfall if you think about it. peter and his relationship with catherine was never intended to be the main focus, but as tony mcnamara (creator) observed his two leads on set, elle fanning and nicholas hoult, and them being a match made in acting heaven, he couldn't help himself and who could blame him? and that's how season 2 was born: from a very human wish to self-indulge as a writer and have fun (despite still wanting one half of said pairing to die at some point, go figure!) like it's no wonder season 2 is the most cheerful, heartwarming and best season of the entire show! not only are peter and catherine a pure joy to watch both individually and together, but the writing is sharper, wittier, every line either a gut punch or a punchline. season 2 felt like SUCH a celebration of insanity and love with its main characters challenging each other to expand their own hearts to accept each other as they are, flaws and all. season 2 is a love story for the ages!!!! the writing wasn't shy about it and embraced its celebration of life, so season 3 being such a sad affair felt like a slap in the face after being doused in ice cold water. using anti-history as a foundation, season 2's thesis was about embracing the messiness of human nature, and inviting love in to mend the broken parts, whilst season 3 chose to unceremoniously revert back to historical accuracy, and to wallow in this cynical and jaded view of humanity, which really broke my freaking heart.
nicholas hoult was also just way TOO good at his job, and that's why we can't have nice things! no but seriously, not being able to imagine the show without him, and some viewers (like me) losing their emotional investment in the show after his character died is a testament to how great of an actor he is, and how great of a character peter had become. he arguably became the best character on the show in a way that feels almost accidental yet fated as he was always meant to be essential to the show's trajectory. in a way, both in the show and outside of it, characters and viewers alike had the hardest time mourning him, for it did feel like the sun stopped shining abruptly and matter-of-factly.
the great was such a bonkers, off the wall, marvellous and little gem of a show. i'll always look back on it fondly and i will always have too many freaking feelings about it! wouldn't it be crazy if someone started a podcast about it to dissect it and cut it open? like what if i did that? wouldn't it be crazy? would it be though?
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