Ewan McGregor Smolders Despite His Ridiculous Mustache in Showtime's Delightful 'A Gentleman in Moscow'

By Dustin Rowles | TV | April 9, 2024 |

By Dustin Rowles | TV | April 9, 2024 |

Beginning with its release in 2016, it’s been nearly impossible to step into a bookstore, browse Goodreads, or stroll through an airport without encountering the cover of Amor Towles’ bestselling novel A Gentleman in Moscow. The book’s presence was so ubiquitous that I initially avoided reading it, though I did eventually succumb to Towles’ excellent follow-up novel, The Lincoln Highway. Now, two episodes into the new Showtime series adaptation of A Gentleman in Moscow, I regret not reading the original novel.

Ewan McGregor, sporting a larger-than-life, almost comical mustache, takes center stage here as Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov. Rostov, a member of the Russian aristocracy, somehow avoids execution during the 1917 October Revolution. However, a Bolshevik tribunal still condemns him to house arrest, confining him to an attic hotel room for the rest of his life, albeit with free rein of the hotel and complimentary meals.

Rostov becomes a man out of time, steadfastly upholding his gentlemanly ways — eschewing manual labor, adhering to etiquette, and retaining his pre-Revolution demeanor. The hotel’s cast of characters regard him with a mixture of amusement and tolerance as he reconnects with figures from his past, many of whom grapple with adapting to the new Soviet ideology or face threats due to their ties to the pre-Revolution aristocracy.

It’s a challenging role, and Ewan McGregor navigates the complexities of portraying a character who clings to his former self while exuding enough charisma to captivate the likes of actress Anna Urbanova (portrayed by Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and conveying a profound sense of grief — having lost his entire family, including his beloved sister, to the upheaval of the Revolution. Despite the distracting mustache, McGregor’s melancholic gaze still twinkles, and that man’s sexiness remains.

McGregor’s performance alone would be enough to make A Gentleman in Moscow compelling, but there’s a great story brewing, too. Anna Urbanova, a brash and popular actress, seems entangled in dangerous political circles, leaving the viewer increasingly concerned for her safety. There’s also the narrative thread involving Rostov’s sister and her romantic relationship with Rostov’s best friend, Mishka. The constant threat of Bolshevik intrusions into Rostov’s room, led by Osip, the chief police officer, adds an extra layer of tension, tempered by Osip’s growing, albeit unspoken, fondness for Rostov. And then there’s Nina, a young girl whose admiration for Rostov’s old-world charm fosters a deep bond.

As the series unfolds, the viewer has no idea where it’s heading except toward inevitable devastation. Not having read the original novel affords me the luxury of surprise yet leaves me vulnerable to unexpected twists. Even after just two episodes, Rostov has emerged as a character I do not want to see suffer. Nevertheless, set against the backdrop of Soviet Russia, amid the era of Lenin and Stalin, the specter of impending tragedy looms ominously. It seems likely the series will have a crowd-pleasing ending, but not before it rips our hearts out.