Prime Video's Eight-Episode Series 'The Greatest' Dramatizes Muhammad Ali's Rise
Photo: SlatePrime Video's new biographical drama series The Greatest, an eight-episode show about boxer Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Clay, follows his life from early success. The first episode shows Ali winning the light-heavyweight gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics. Its writers and producers include Ali's widow Lonnie, actor Michael B. Jordan, and rapper Jay-Z through Roc Nation. Critics note that the story gives Ali his success early, with little of the usual underdog struggle. Midway through, after Ali is nearly knocked out and his team struggles to get him back into the ring, the series shifts into a black-and-white, dreamlike sequence. Reviewers describe the show as visually rich, with period automobiles and stylized imagery.
Left-leaning Slate, under a headline calling Ali the greatest boxer of all time, leads with the show's craft, saying it stays compelling despite its lack of conventional conflict, and highlights its sumptuous visuals and its creative team. Alternative outlet The A.V. Club, headlined "The Greatest goes the distance," calls the series compelling and focuses on the midway sequence and its emotional depth, saying it probes Ali's complicated past. Right-leaning New York Post runs its piece under a "Stream It Or Skip It" headline that describes the show as a drama about Ali's rise to the heavyweight championship. Its visible text is largely a streaming guide with links to other titles and gives no verdict. All three cover the same eight-episode Ali drama and praise its visual style. Slate and The A.V. Club focus on craft and emotional scope, while the Post frames the show as a viewing decision. Only Slate discusses the lack of underdog stakes and names the creative team, and only the Post uses the heavyweight-championship framing.
How the sides differ Left and alternative sources praise the series' craft and visuals; right sources use a "Stream It Or Skip It" verdict format.
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Slate leads with the show's craft, calling it compelling despite a story without underdog conflict, and features its visuals and creative team. Its headline praises Ali as the greatest and the show as magical.
The A.V. Club leads with the midway black-and-white sequence and the show's emotional depth. It stresses the series' exploration of Ali's complicated past and calls it compelling.
The New York Post uses a "Stream It Or Skip It" consumer-guide headline that frames the show as a drama about Ali's rise to the heavyweight championship. Its visible text is mostly links to other streaming titles, with no verdict shown.