You don't need another "best action shows" list — Catherine the Great in Australia on BritBox, and in the US on HBO Max Amazon Channel and YouTube TV belongs on it anyway. A compact run that never overstays its welcome. 172 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Helen Mirren's performance is the throughline that holds the set pieces together. Start it on BritBox whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

There is a reason Catherine the Great keeps coming up in conversation. The choreography in Catherine the Great serves the story instead of interrupting it. This four-part historical drama follows the end of Catherine the Great's reign and her affair with Russian military leader Grigory Potemkin that helped shape the future of Russian politics. Helen Mirren and Jason Clarke lead a cast that keeps the chaos grounded in who's actually at stake. It was aired in 2019. What separates Catherine the Great from disposable action entertainment is character work that survives the explosions. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Action fans who want craft and story alongside the spectacle will find exactly that in Catherine the Great. Viewers who responded to The Tudors will find a lot to like here too. Short enough to finish in a weekend, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Helen Mirren brings a physicality to the role that elevates every set piece. Action that earns its sequences rather than just delivering them.

Catherine the Great wrapped up in 2019, created by Nigel Williams — and 1 season is available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.