Mr Selfridge (TV Series) Episode #3.1 (2015) User Reviews

Fitting finale; but lots of melodrama

[mgumsley · 8/10 · 31 March 2015]

I don't mind admitting Mr Selfridge is my favourite series of the moment, beating the other Sunday night offerings by a mile, and even the long running Downton Abbey which is after all a work of fiction.

The thing is, this larger than life character actually existed and he lived in a time of gross excesses which were not subject to the politically correct scrutiny of modern times. I absolutely love Jeremy Piven, he is hammy and handsome, but his self belief and strong will is such, you had to love him. No wonder poor Nancy actually fell for him in the long run.

The sub plots were nicely rounded off with Miss Mardle getting decent treatment at long last; the thing that struck me about her is that the unity of the Selfridges staff, at least as conveyed by the hard working and talented cast, makes you realise how much his staff were a big part of the success story that was Selfridges.

Now that we have met the Dolly Sisters, the plot is stretegically set up for the fourth series which of course should make equally compulsive viewing.

I hope Zoe Wanamaker sticks around for the next series. I don't much like her accent, but she is an addictive presence.

I thought it was Harry's wedding.

[gkeith_1 · 10/10 · 6 April 2015]

The promos said a wedding. It turned out to be Rosalie's, not Harry's. Serge de Bolotoff was an aviator in real life, it turns out. Serge is really a mama's boy. Hope Mamma can stay away from meddling in her son's and new daughter-in-law's lives.

I was hoping Harry would get a new wife. Of course, in real life I read that after Rose passes he gets a lively new life of lots of womanizing as a widower. Even the Dolly Sisters as depicted in this show (have they already been on or are they in future episodes?) were way more sleazy in real life, and Harry along with them at the same time. There is a Dolly Sisters movie, but none of this Harry scandal is depicted. The Dolly Sisters were only TWO of his very many female companions for many years.

I do love this show. Piven does a great job. Kudos to this actor and producer. I hope that he is reading this. He portrays Selfridge as heartfelt, caring, enthusiastic, entrepreneurish, interested, outgoing and generous. The real life Harry also had streaks of womanizing and SMH financial bad investments, and I think Piven has portrayed some of this also.

About this show: I really like the music as very lively and upbeat. I like the interiors and laid out merchandise of the department store. I love the costuming. I used to work in a place like that, but sadly now it has since departed from the retail scene, whereas Harry's store still exists. I like the upbeat atmosphere in the Selfridge store.

I feel that this show moves faster than a certain other British drama set out in the countryside of York. The other show is very popular, but seems very ploddy compared to Selfridge. Selfridge is very citified, but the other show is not exactly on the cutting edge of early 20th century sophistication.

Both shows have shown pre-World War One, mid-war and post-war. Both shows have mansionish dinners with servants, in which guests make verbal faux pas. Both shows show changes in fashion clothing, hairstyles and hats. Both shows have the upstairs and downstairs. In Selfridge, there are the sellers, marketers and demonstrators of perfumes and the new lip rouge, plus there are the lower levels where stockpersons and delivery mongers exist. There is also the executive office suite. In the York show, there are the aristocrats upstairs and servants banished to the downstairs, plus there are pig farmers as tenants on the property.

Disappointing....

[ohlabtechguy · 6/10 · 19 April 2015]

Last season's finale was probably the best episode of this show. I've seen three so far this year, and it's getting worse and worse. There are too many archenemies and totally fictitious, caricature characters. This contrasts to "Downton Abbey" where all the characters are believable. The writer doesn't introduce over the top, unlikeable characters that probably don't exist in real life. Every show resorts to made up, totally unreal characters in order to add dramatic tension. Apparently, you can't hold an audience otherwise. Mr. Selfridge is just a caricature of someone pretending to be a strong and successful leader, but it always seems to be an act...and when he needs to be more sensitive and emotional, he falls flat. His new son in law, and mother in law, are perfect caricatures of high class, brazen leeches. Not likable and not believable. His high strung daughter who gets in everyone's face with her loud, annoying American accent is totally unreal. She's made up. How can anyone possibly like her. Agnes is the only actress and character that seems real. She and perhaps Victor are the only ones who seem to be able to carry a scene and make it believable. The scenes with Henre exhibiting post traumatic stress disorder are sometimes laughable. The writing is so bad that the actors can't make the scenes believable. Episode 3's final scene where Mr. Selfridge is making a pass at his new lady friend at her residence is TOTALLY unreal. I didn't buy it for a second. Anyone would have been offended by his words and actions. Yet, the writer makes her succumb to his advances. Yeah...they embrace and kiss. Totally FAKE!!!