Few lives have been told on screen as often as that of Muhammad Ali, so a new series about him has to justify itself. The Greatest, now streaming on Prime Video, does it with a clever choice of focus. Instead of covering every decade of the champion’s life, it stays with the young Cassius Clay during a short and decisive stretch, from his Olympic gold in Rome in 1960 to his title fight against Sonny Liston in Miami in 1964.
That tighter window gives the eight episodes room for the details biopics often rush past. We see early professional bouts, the famous night in London against Henry Cooper, and a young man slowly discovering how powerful his own voice can be outside the ring. Critics have singled out the boxing scenes in particular, describing them as some of the most convincing fights ever staged for television.
The real talking point, though, is the lead. Jaalen Best plays Clay, and early reviews agree that he avoids the trap of a simple impression. Instead he builds the character gradually, letting the swagger grow out of a softer, more uncertain teenager. The series is also billed as the first authorized scripted drama about Ali’s life, with his widow Lonnie Ali among the executive producers.
For more on the cast, the creative team and how reviewers are responding, read this detailed review of The Greatest.
In our directory, this is the pick for viewers who like sports drama with substance. You do not need to be a boxing fan to enjoy it, because at its heart it is a coming-of-age story about ambition, identity and confidence. Not every critic loves every choice the show makes, but the consensus is clear enough: this is a strong start, and Best looks like a name worth remembering.
