The revolution has been televised.

The astonishing success of Hamilton really has been something to behold. By all accounts, a hip-hop-heavy musical rendition of Alexander Hamilton’s life shouldn’t work. At all. But it does...and then some.

Through the years, there have been stage musicals covering everything from Lord of the Rings to Spider-Man, so it takes some doing to break through and offer something completely unique. On first impressions, the odds appear stacked against Hamilton, yet, like its protagonist, it’s battled hard to make a name for itself, rising rapidly through the ranks to become the hottest ticket in town.

Since its debut in 2015, Hamilton has gone above and beyond even the most successful musicals, as its brand and cultural cachet - even outside the US - has resonated like few before it. In hindsight, Disney’s decision to bring the entire thing - original cast and all - to the small screen is an absolute no brainer, making it without a doubt their fledgling streaming service’s first must-watch event since The Mandalorian.

With revolution in the air, Caribbean immigrant Alexander Hamilton (Lin-Manuel Miranda) arrives in war-torn New York determined to make his mark on a new nation as hungry and as ambitious as he is. From bastard orphan to George Washington’s right-hand man to founding father, Hamilton would rise up above his humble beginnings and his numerous faults to help shape America as we now know it.

Transferring a musical theatre experience lock, stock, and barrel to a television screen without any drop in quality is no mean feat, however, the impeccable care and attention put into the transition from director Thomas Kail and creator/writer/all-round musical phenom Lin-Manuel Miranda makes it look easy, as we’re treated to Hamilton in all its brave, bombastic, breathless glory.

And make no mistake - Hamilton will take your breath away. You may not be right there up close and personal in the audience, but that doesn’t make it any less awe-inspiring and (positively) exhausting. I mean, it left me wiped-out watching it from the comfort of my own sofa. I can’t imagine how shattering it is to be part of the show every night.

With barely a word of dialogue not sung or rapped, Hamilton can be a bewildering experience, one that will leave you adrift if you’re not paying attention. As the lyrics and rhymes fire off like a machine gun, there will almost certainly be a period of adjustment as you wrestle with the show’s rapid-fire rhythm, however, stick with it, let your ears tune into Hamilton’s frequency, and it’ll have you hooked.

Although his voice and stage presence definitely aren’t the strongest, there’s no faulting Lin-Manuel Miranda’s prodigious musical talents. Despite the odd wobble on the bigger numbers and the occasional overshadowing from fellow cast members, his pin-point lyrical delivery, passion, and ear for a cracking tune are faultless, showcasing an artist at the top of his game.

Encompassing everything from hip-hop to R&B to soul to good old show tunes, Hamilton’s eclectic pallet makes for a fully rounded, thoroughly satisfying viewing experience. Not a big fan of the rapping? Cool, here’s Jonathan Groff’s delightfully sneering colonial breakup ballad ‘You’ll Be Back’. Not keen on the traditional show tunes? Take a few minutes to revel in the knockout ‘Satisfied’, in which Renée Elise Goldsberry swings from a tongue-twisting delivery that would make Busta Rhymes blush to booming Broadway vocals.

Switching tone and style at break-neck speed - often within the same number - Miranda’s intricate song craft and musical range are brought to the fore, as his lyrics breathe life into potentially dry subject matter. And it’s in this accessibility that Hamilton really sings.

With the potential to inform more minds than a million history classes, Hamilton is a pitch-perfect blend of education and entertainment that takes the America of then and launches it face-first into the America of now. And with a huge platform like Disney+ upon which to stand, Hamilton’s story will now be told louder than it ever could’ve tethered to the stage.

Unlike any musical before it, the wordplay, flow, and stagecraft are jaw dropping, as the entire cast pour every last drop of themselves into their performance. To a man (and woman), the cast are on form, never letting their energy drop and never letting the 160 minute runtime drag.

Much like the enviable quality and depth of the track listing, it’s impossible - and almost unfair - to pick out highlights from within the cast, yet special mention must go to Daveed Diggs as both Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson, as well as Renée Elise Goldsberry and Phillipa Soo as the two elder Schuyler sisters, who more than hold their own in what is a pretty male-dominated cast.

Oh, and Jonathan Groff’s King George III is so gloriously outrageous in amongst his relatively straight-laced surroundings that you can’t help but become swept away by the whale of a time he’s having in his own little side play.

After revolutionising musical theatre, Hamilton now has the opportunity on Disney+ to change the game once again. In these uncertain times and with the theatre business in flux, Hamilton’s arrival on Disney’s new streaming service has the potential to show just how powerful musicals can be in the right hands.

With impeccable stagecraft and sweeping camerawork, Hamilton’s transfer from stage to screen is nigh-on faultless. While it will never replace the experience of soaking it in first-hand, Lin-Manuel Miranda and director Thomas Kail get you as close as you’re ever going to get from the comfort of your own home.

Mixing musical theatre and the Declaration of Independence has no right to work, yet, thanks to an embarrassment of catchy tunes, an immersive setup, highly pertinent subject matter, and a talented cast, Hamilton isn’t just one of the most impressive musicals in years, it may well be the most important. For those going in cold, it will certainly take some time to adjust to Hamilton’s rapid-fire rhythm and relentless approach, however, stick with it and you will be richly rewarded. The show’s switch from stage to screen was certainly a huge shot for both Hamilton and Disney, but it’s safe to say that neither have thrown it away.

Hamilton is available to stream on Disney+ now.