Lightweight Charm And Over-The-Top Performances Highlight This 10-Part British Soap Opera
The new British soap opera "Mr. Selfridge" has a certain frothy charm that will likely appeal to many viewers looking for something a bit more lighthearted from the Masterpiece Classic mantle. Ironically (or strangely) enough, "Mr. Selfridge" is the second series set in the world of retail to arrive on British airwaves this season following the popular "The Paradise." The show, which runs for 10 episodes (not 8 as are currently listed in the product description), is centered around the formation of Selfridge's Department Store in London after the turn of the century. Although the idea of the show is based in fact, I'm not entirely sure I would even call this a historical drama. It adheres more to the lines of a classic soap opera, with an ensemble of characters engaging in the expected romantic subplots and looking resplendent in period finery. The hat budget alone must surely be frightening (as are some of Mrs. Selfridge's hats)! It never digs particularly deep into complex...
Why expect Downton Abby?That would be boring!
Well,I happen to like Mr. Selfridge. The acting is stupendous and the characters are exquisitely dressed.
The sets are top notched. To try and compare this drama to Downton Abby is like trying to compare Are you being served? to Mr. Bean.
Both are delightful alone but use completely different type of Britsh humor.
Even-though the time-frame of Mr.Selfridge and Downton overlap,their stories are completely different.
One can enjoy both,differently.
Historical Drama
I stumbled across this series by accident one Sunday night on ITV and became fascinated. As the reviewers above have discussed in detail there is some unevenness in the story and character development and to be expected the acting and it's hard to know why but despite these flaws - or maybe because of them - since the series is based on a real character and events which are by definition flawed - you are captivated and just want to see and learn more about Mr. Selfridge and his time in London. I became fascinated by his story through this series and desperately wanted to learn more about him. I've now ordered the book the series is based on as well as the book Mr. Selfridge wrote himself in the '30s - "The Romance of Capitalism". I learnt that many things we consider 'normal' in retail today were introduced by Mr. Selfridge - "There are only 'x' more shopping Days 'till Christmas"; the customer is always right; special events to get people into a store; getting shoppers into a store...
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