User reviews

After the previous reviewer's tirade about including black people as just being PC and pandering, I was curious and did a little research of my own. According to an historian's article on the history of black people in Britain (which is near the top of google results for "black people in 1700's England) it seems the portrayal in Harlots is spot on. Everything from interracial couples in the lower classes to servants in aristocratic households and a lot of other interesting things I had no idea about.

So while I think his review has no value as a review of the show, it did inspire me to learn something new.

I just wanted to say that this programme is so much better than I thought it would be. I actually care about the characters. I don't usually like full on sex scenes, but because of the subject matter it doesn't seem gratuitous. It's actually a very fascinating insight into 18th Century England, and seems that it was a very complicated lifestyle to live in a brothel as well as dangerous. I'm enjoying it. Give it a go.

I don't like shows full of fake pretty Hollywood actors. This series has beautiful women and men, maybe not in the fake Hollywood standards, which gives it so much more realness. The characters are complex in their different personalities without going overboard in their acting.

Though the show is about prostitues, there isn't an over-abundance of sex. It shows that sex is not the only thing that defines these women.

The story line is captivating, with intrigue and gossip, but it's not frivolous and hits on serious topics like race, sexuality, religion and motherhood.

I hope they continue this series.

Surprisingly addicting. Game of Throne-esque betrayal, alliances, bribery, coercion, corruption, politics, sex, and revenge.

Harlots surprisingly inspires empathy for the plights of the heroines - the brothel madam and her youngest daughter. You really root for the madam's struggle to keep her girls from harm and rise up through the ranks of brothels to move up in station and compete with the Queen of Whores.

Harlots touches on racial and class issues and even features the occasional gigolo, during a time in which one if five women in old London make their livings as whores. It shows how religious zealots, the law, and the masses can be manipulated as pawns in the political, carnal, racial, and socioeconomic power struggle that is the Game of Brothels...

Indulge yourself and watch this series!!! The rating doesn't do it any justice! I found that I became further enthralled as the show progressed. Brilliant acting, with a fabulous cast. A very well written series indeed.

Sex. Drinking. Swearing. Romance. Comedy. Tear-inducing drama. I'm totally in love with this series. Chock full of throughly loveable characters and equally detestable characters. The whole cast are outstanding from the household names like Samantha Morton, Lesley Manville Dorothy Atkinson & Liv Tyler to the lesser known but just as superb Hollie Dempsie, Eloise Smyth & Jessica Brown Findlay. I've recommended this to many friends & family and every single one of them has thanked me for it. I urge everyone to guve this a go. I guarantee you will be hooked after the first episode. I'm holding out for series 4 to be commissioned by a major network soon!

I started watching this, as I had no other series lined up, saw a trailer and quite like Samantha Morton as an actress. The first episode left me a little nonplussed, as I thought it seemed a little more lightweight than I was expecting. Perhaps even gratuitous and shallow. But I stuck with it, and by episode three was hooked. Easily as good as Peaky Blinders, which is high praise indeed from an avid watcher. The characters seem to develop well and the casting is excellent. The portrayal of the Bawds from both Samantha Morton and Lesley Manville are magnificent, and a superb supporting cast brings the piece to life. It seems odd that ITV in the UK have hidden this gem away as I can only assume that it is an expensive series to produce. A mainstream channel release is surely overdue, and a budget increase for the second series must be imminent.

Superficially, one might think that this show is a bawdy romp in Georgian England (18th century), but it is so much more. Written and directed by women, this show depicts the harsh realities for women during the 18th century, when they had few options but to be a man's property. Refreshingly, this show features women at center stage of the entire show, with men being the side characters that support the stellar female cast.

Rival whorehouses battle each other out to be the top house in London, with plenty of sharp tongued-lines, none-too-romantic depictions of sex, and here and there, hints of humor that break up this fierce drama. Sex is portrayed similarly as it is in HBO's "Girls": in all of its awkward and unromantic glory.

What will keep you watching is the secrets and twists, strong family ties, and heart-wrenching decisions that the women in this show have to make to survive. We are constantly reminded that no matter what, if women join men in marriage, they become legal property rather than human beings (strikingly similar message as found in The Handmaid's Tale, if I do say so). You sympathize with the characters who chose the path of harlotry as a bit of freedom and coin rather than be owned and controlled for the rest of their short lives. Overall, well-written, gritty, dark, but suspenseful and entertaining with a hint of humor.

Edit: That review was for season one, where they hinted a deeper romance between two women characters among other great storylines. Season two was great, but dropped the same-sex romance suddenly and inexplicably. Can't help but notice that sex scenes between men and women are graphic and plenty, but they shy away from showing more than women kissing each other as if we aren't allowed to see two women have sex because it's too risqué in 2019. Not fitting with the theme of the show AT ALL and makes me think there's some double standard there. Women's romantic relationships with each other are teased, never fleshed out. Wish they'd rethought that approach.

What also made me drop my review 3 stars is that in season 3, suddenly men are at the center of everything (two brothers who are new in town), and Charlotte, a feminist, empowered, bisexual, free woman gets hot and bothered for one of them, a man who treats women like property and is basically a misogynist, which makes no sense at all. The writers bombed this season hard, likely because they felt they needed to amp up the tension and drama and ran out of ideas. Also, a major character ends up leaving the show so they have to abruptly write that in. It was poorly done, and we didn't have enough of a powerful frontrunner to replace this character, so the rest of the season felt empty. I can understand why the show ended after season 3. Honestly, they should've ended it on a high note after season two rather than crashing and burning on the way out.

SO far I have only watched 3 episodes but they were all watched in a row as I first just started watching to see if it was any good. Well 3 later and I am hooked. I think Harlots has some good writing and is not at all gratuitous in any way for a show about prostitution. People on here that are trashing it are probably holy rollers that are so uncomfortable with their own sexuality that they cant bother to see it done by others. Other than that I really started watching because of Jessica Brown Findlay. I really enjoyed her in Downton Abbey and was excited to see her in another television series. Well she has not disappointed. Neither has the rest of the cast. I will enjoy the rest of the season and future seasons to come. Very worth your time!!

The costumes and context are gloriously detailed and accurate, from the filthiness of 18th century life in general to the cosmopolitan societies of port cities like London. The costumes and settings are based on 18th century 'real' examples, which for me gives the series a hallmark of quality. The dilemma of how people would have spoken and behaved is avoided by giving the characters 21st century reactions to 18th century situations. So you can choose to be a geeky historian, and look for the bits to criticise, or just sit back and enjoy it. The screenplay seems to slip rather in series three which involved so many doors being knocked on in one episode that I got dizzy.

This series burst out of the gate with a tangle of limbs, questionable intentions and plenty of raunch. Unfortunately writers have taken this in the direction of treachery, and it has become a boring parade of sneers. Too many characters dying, too many mean spirited characters.

By the end of the fifth episode, HARLOTS has become mired in its confectionery wigs and dresses. Two houses full of characters and yet so few stories to tell. It feels like many wasted opportunities.

I watched this first season 3 times so far. It's so good! The actors & actresses are actually good-looking (sorry but this is sometimes a big factor for me when I watch british shows). And the acting is great. The music is not genre-direct but still works well. The show is created a bit edgy, which I like. The best part for me is the writing! The writing is just amazing. The writer really knows how to illustrate both sleazy & holy, with varying degrees of comedy & wholeheartedness. Honestly, this is the closest I have ever heard of in a show where the writing and acting mimics the older generation of my female relatives when they talk amongst their own gender in a sexual-direct comedy form but, of course, this is boosted sexually 10xs. (I am not american-born, by the way- I am afghan born, uzbek ancestry, american raised) Great job, all you guys!

The writing, acting, sets, costume, and makeup are terrific. The music is time inappropriate. Terrible music.

This would easily have a 9 if not for the modern, out of place music. Everytime it starts I want to find the idiot who made the decision and slap some sense into them.

..it's an interesting show.. part period piece.. part soft-core sex-soap.. but pretty much so far.. total fun.. and the cast across the board is pretty darn good, and with some very noteworthy leads.. the couple really jump out are Samantha Morton and Jessica Brown Findlay.. they both are just outstanding.. Morton has been around well before in numerous productions, always doing top-notch work.. as for JBF, this is a breakout role.. she is perfect and makes the absolute most of her character.. in today's world she'd be one of the highest paid, and most sought after hi-end escorts in the business.. after the first episode was not so sure how things would go.. but now seeing four parts, it's can't hardly wait for more.. to stay fresh they will need to remain very creative.. really hope they are up to the task.. it might be the worlds oldest profession, but throughout TV land, it's been one of the most difficult story-line genres to keep alive long term

When this series started, I really enjoyed the bawdy, campy fun and the over the top acting performances, but now we are well into Series 2 the obsession of these two brothel owners,, i.e. Lesley Manville and Samantha Morton, is beginning to wear a little thin. Don't get me wrong. The idea is great, showing a warts and all London full of too many bored rich men spending time and money with women of loose morals. There is nothing new about that, and the actors are great throughout, especially Manville and Morton. The series has also been interesting for the way it depicts the exploitation of women at the time and how ruthless men were. Actually in this series, the men are not really memorable at all, except for the black men, who are more kind hearted, and Lesley Manville's son who has an absolute ball romping with the prostitutes at both borothels. Beautiful costumes, lovely sets and wonderful period detail has kept my interest so far, but 'Killing Eve' somehow always lurks in the shadows when I watch this series.

Amazing, the story, the casting, the writing, aesthetics were stunning. Acting direction, set decoration, cinematography, editing were breathtaking. The costumes are above Oscar caliber. Sheer perfection from every department.

I sat down around 10 am on a Sunday morning to check out one episode, sounded interesting. I sat riveted to the screen for all eight episodes. Just could not stop. The story is full of interesting and dynamic characters, the multiple, interwoven plot lines are full of deliciously Machiavellian deception and intrigue.

This is real adult, intelligent fare. If you read a review that is less than an eight, the author is a moron. Fabulous film, worth an eight-hour session.

Best film I have seen since I can remember, and I found it by accident on a streaming site. Must see!

'Harlots' is more modern, empowering, and progressive than many other shows that scream feminism excessively. The title can be uncomfortable to some, but 'Harlots' clearly draws the line between women's choice and coercion throughout the show. Compared to many shows that exploit sex scenes just to hook the audience, sex scenes in 'Harlots' are surprisingly short and minimal without any frills such as cheesy background music or any close-ups. Historical drama has limits for female roles, so they talk of birthrights, freedom, and autonomy through lines. Many times I end up frustrated because there's no action, thus making all efforts look like mere complaints from women not fight and challenge. Girls in 'Harlots' are in charge of their own destiny and TAKE ACTION and punch back to men or society. They do not have birthrights but at least achieve freedom and monetary independence.

In Season 1, it shows that sex exploitation in hidden curtains among riches and the powerful is more toxic and dangerous than overt sex business. In season 2, it criticizes how absurd the inheritance system was in old England. In season 3, it also talks about how history has diagnosed women with emotion and opinion as mental disease patients. 'Harlots' demonstrates feminism in every moment rather than says it in one line.

I love that 'Harlots' is not a typical, traditional historical series. Music is trendy, hip, and modern, matching women's empowerment. Editing is fast-paced, and compartmentalization of narratives are neat and effective in each episode, captivating the audience throughout the whole series. I especially want to compliment editing team. Simultaneous storylines are naturally linked by doors; when one door closes; another door opens. So are the stories. Also, Charlotte choking Lydia and Maggie on the gallow... Boxing scenes and Pincher brothers fighting... It's such a great idea to cross-edit two similar and simultaneous sequence, creating more tension and speed.

HOWEVER, please stop at season 2. It keeps bringing in new characters without deeper analysis of each one, complicating matters.

Over the top and obvious in every way. Zero subtlety, weak caricatures and crudely modern sensibility in supposedly historical drama/farce/whatever. It's as if Deadwood had been written for and by 12-year-olds. Seeing Samantha Morton reduced to such pap is disheartening.