Ewan McGregor's best TV shows, and it even beats out a few of his movies too. It's available to stream on Paramount+, with the first episode airing on March 29, 2024. The finale aired on May 17 of the same year, and I'm still not over the emotional roller coaster the show took me on.

The show has a score of 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, and the fan rating is not that much lower - still boasting an impressive 80%. I think it's one of the McGregor's role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in his Star Wars appearances, and certain elements from his arc in the iconic space opera are even mirrored in the Paramount+ project. The show is not normally my kind of thing, but my enjoyment s its brilliance.

A Gentleman In Moscow Is An 8-Episode Adaptation Of Amor Towles' 2016 Novel On Paramount+

McGregor's character spends decades imprisoned inside a luxury Russian hotel

Ewan McGregor plays Count Alexander Rostov in A Gentleman in Moscow, a former member of Russia's defunct ruling class during the Bolshevik Revolution. Beginning in 1917, A Gentleman in Moscow sees Count Rostov imprisoned inside the Metropol Hotel simply for his social status. He is spared the death penalty that is enforced upon so many of his peers, but he is never allowed to leave his surprising new home. However, living in relative luxury and being provided with free food and drink doesn't mean an easy life for McGregor's character.

Despite being a work of fiction, A Gentleman in Moscow pays a great level of attention to historical accuracy. None of the characters are real, but the Metropol is a genuine hotel in Moscow. Plus, all the major events of the Russian Revolution happen offscreen during the show's decades-long narrative and impact Count Rostov, along with his newfound friends and makeshift family. It's almost as if an unseen chronicle from that period of Russian history is being played out onscreen. The show is just one year old, but Amor Towles' source material is nearing its tenth birthday.

A Gentleman In Moscow Allows For A Rare Team-Up With Ewan McGregor & His Real-Life Wife

Mary Elizabeth Winstead plays Anna Urbanova

After meeting on the set of Fargo in 2017, A Gentleman in Moscow provides the show's star and his real-life wife a rare opportunity to work together again. Mary Elizabeth Winstead is known for several roles - including Ramona Flowers in 2010's Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and General Hera Syndulla in Ahsoka. What's even better than Winstead appearing in A Gentleman in Moscow alongside her husband is that her character is Alexander's love interest and eventual long-term romantic partner- an actress called Anna Urbanova.

A Gentleman in Moscow's cast, while brilliant, is short on other big names beyond McGregor and Winstead, but the couple's real-world romantic dynamic transfers beautifully to the screen. Although it's presumably not an authentic representation of their real marriage, I think it's clear that the underlying emotions are at least similar when McGregor and Winstead step into their respective roles as Count Rostov and Anna. Without Winstead being cast to McGregor, I think the show wouldn't have been quite as good. That being said, there are still plenty of other elements to enjoy.

Why A Gentleman In Moscow's Reviews Are So Good

McGregor bringing Alexander Rostov so brilliantly to life is just one reason why the show did so well

McGregor's brilliant performance as A Gentleman in Moscow's protagonist helps carry the story forward. He nails all of his dramatic moments, but also the more comedic scenes that punctuate the narrative. The Metropol hotel is populated with a variety of characters both loyal to Alexander and against him. His interactions with figures in both categories are equally entertaining, but for very different reasons. All the episodes are also immaculately directed, and Amor Towles' original version of the story remains largely intact.

A Gentleman in Moscow somehow manages to cover 30+ years of events in just eight episodes.

Furthermore, A Gentleman in Moscow somehow manages to cover 30+ years of events in just eight episodes. This is no easy feat, as the political unrest in Russia at the time often resulted in some drastic changes in the country's socio-economic landscape. The time jumps are placed at perfect points, so the story's momentum isn't slowed, and the writers do a terrific job of quickly getting the audience up to speed in the following era. In short, A Gentleman in Moscow worked very hard to earn the numerous positive reviews it got.