Wells’ dilemma mirrors that of a modern-day woman who is simply trying to have it all as a shrewd businesswoman and entrepreneur, devoted partner, and tough but loving mother. Women not only dominate the screen, but their inner life and motivations feel fully realized. The goal is for Lucy to become a famous courtesan and kept mistress like her older sister, Charlotte (Jessica Brown Findlay). Wells attempts to auction off the virginity of her younger daughter, Lucy (Eloise Smyth), to help fund the move. We get a glimpse of the cruel, cyclical nature of prostitution, as Mrs. Wells was sold off by her mother to work as a prostitute for Mrs. Wells’ plans for reasons beyond simple, cutthroat competitiveness as a young girl, Mrs. Running one such high-class establishment, Lydia Quigley (Lesley Manville) hopes to sabotage Mrs. Samantha Morton anchors the action as Margaret Wells, a bawdy and unapologetic madam who has her sights set on moving her business to Greek Street in Soho, where the richer clientele frequent. The central conflict of the season revolves around two rival brothels. Other critics cite jarringly modern music or being more ambitious than the show has room to explore. I would have scored this show 5/5 but we peg this category to traditional reviews to minimize bias, compromising with Metacritic (74) and Rotten Tomatoes (7/10 average, despite the 97% Fresh rating), which brings our score down by one point. But that’s not to say that Harlots isn’t fun: it’s filled with all the delicious scheming and fraught romance that one would expect from a good melodrama. As such, rape and violence against women do figure into the storylines, so watch with care. The first episode opens by proclaiming that in 1793, “1 out of 5 women makes a living selling sex.” Far from glamorizing this history, the show does not shy away from the grim realities of the characters who struggle to survive in an era when women had little rights, were often regarded as property, and had few means to becoming financially independent. While plenty of cleavage and rustling skirts abound, what really sold me on Harlots is the show’s unflinching portrayal of sex work. When I first learned about that Hulu had picked up this series, I thought, “Yes!” A drama about fallen women in 18th century London? Yes, gimme! Created, directed, and written by all women? Yes, PLEASE! A trailer that prominently features Black actors with speaking roles? YES! YES! YES! This is welcome, but I still preferred it when the men in Harlots were little more than cockstands.Creators: Moira Buffini □□□□ and Alison Newman □□□□ĭirectors: Coky Giedroyc □□□□ (3 eps), China Moo-Young □□□□ (3 eps), and Jill Robertson □□□□ (2 eps) The turf war is on and for once it’s not between women. Isaac, played with not nearly enough menace by Alfie Allen, implausibly gets under Charlotte’s skin, taking a cut of her girls’ earnings and setting fire to her house. “It’s a hanging offence,” Fredo replies with Fleabaggish knowingness, “so double.” For the first time in Harlots, men are more central to the plot and a new threat is provided by brothers Isaac and Hal Pincher, determined to become Soho’s richest pimps. “How does it pay?” asks Lucy Wells, who has a share in Golden Square. Golden Square, the prestigious address out of which Lydia Quigley trafficked her “princesses” to lords and justices, is now in the hands of a cartoonish mother-and-son power couple from Bristol, Elizabeth and Fredo Harper, who intend to run it as a molly house (a brothel for men seeking sex with men). This is a series created, directed and written by women. Plus its commitment to diversity and top-notch writing. What saves Harlots from falling down the ancient traps of objectification, fetishisation, and sexist tropes of “tarts with hearts” and hookers who secretly love it is its solidly female gaze. But at its best the discomfort is the point. There is a jarring clash between the grim subject matter and the relentlessly ribald sew-pearls-in-your-muff-hair tone. “Whoever licks that bald man’s head first gets me!” she laughs through gritted teeth. One minute a rape, the next a fruity challenge thrown down by Lucy Wells, London’s most coveted harlot, for buffoonish culls to chase her around Soho. Not unlike this review, the tone of Harlots continues to be … disconcerting.
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