Critics have reached a verdict on "The Greatest" a day before it premieres: they say Prime Video has found a star. The eight-episode series is the first authorized scripted drama about Muhammad Ali, and all episodes stream Wednesday, Nov. 4. Reviews are strongly positive overall. Nearly every critic singles out newcomer Jaalen Best for his portrayal of the young Cassius Clay. Most complaints are about heavy-handed messaging and some style choices.
The Scorecard
As of Tuesday night, "The Greatest" has a Metascore of 79, which Metacritic labels "Generally Favorable," from six critic reviews, with none negative. Earlier in the day, the show had a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score from seven reviews. Both numbers will change as more reviews come in after the premiere.
The series was created by Ben Watkins ("Cross"). Executive producers include Ali's widow, Lonnie Ali, and Michael B. Jordan. It covers 1960 to 1964, from Clay's Olympic gold in Rome to his heavyweight title win over Sonny Liston. Critic's choice
The Raves
TheWrap gave the strongest review. Zaki Hasan awarded a perfect 100 and called the show "one of the year's best new shows." Hasan wrote that Best avoids "a collection of quirks pulled from an impersonation kit" and is "a true talent to watch."
FandomWire gave it a 9 out of 10, calling it "a rich, powerful, and exhilarating portrait of a man whose greatest victories weren't always won inside the ring." The Sydney Morning Herald gave it four stars and asked for "a rare accolade: make a second season." Boxing magazine The Ring was also impressed. Tom Gray, who saw all eight episodes in September, called the performances, story, and visuals "outstanding."
The Solid Middle
Several major critics liked the show but had reservations. At the Los Angeles Times, Robert Lloyd gave it an 80 and simply called it "very good." He also flagged a soundtrack that is "generally intrusive and often chronologically inappropriate," along with visual effects for dreams and memories that clash with the show's naturalism. latimes+1
Time's Judy Berman also gave it an 80. She called boxing montages set to hip-hop "Gatorade ads." She also argued the show "minimizes the Black church's centrality to the civil rights struggle" when it explains Clay's turn to the Nation of Islam. Even so, she concluded that it "builds a strong case for integrity as the key ingredient of greatness."
Richard Roeper at gave it 3 out of 4 stars. He wrote that it "might not tell us much we didn't already know about Muhammad Ali" but is "thorough" and "finely crafted." He also pointed out a factual slip: an announcer mentions Ali's "famous shuffle" in 1960, years before the move first appeared. rogerebert+1
The Hollywood Reporter gave the lowest score so far, a 70. Daniel Fienberg called the show "uneven but impressive" and praised Best's "star-making performance." He wrote that the women characters feel "especially archetypal" and that Rudy is "reduced to a devoted sidekick. " The A.V. Club gave it a 75 and noted "stiff portrayals of other historical figures," but added that "Best Jolts the Greatest back to life."
The Common Thread: Jaalen Best
Critics disagree about the soundtrack and the subtlety, but they agree on the lead actor. The A.V. Club called his portrayal "phenomenal." The supporting cast also earns praise. TheWrap called Dana Gourrier "an absolute force" in her role as Ali's mother, Odessa "Bird" Clay. TheWrap praised Amin Joseph's "quiet intensity and surprising vulnerability" as Sonny Liston.avclub+2.
The awards conversation has already started. Best gets the Critics Choice Association's Rising Star Award on Nov. 16 at its Celebration of Black Cinema & Television in Los Angeles. critic's choice
"The Greatest" streams on Prime Video starting Wednesday, Nov. 4.
Read our review of The Greatest below
