Mr Selfridge

I'm a late arrival to this true gem of a series, giving me the distinct benefit and joy of watching back-to-back episodes in a binge viewing. Frankly, my initial reaction was "what could be interesting about a department store?" I'm glad I went with a friend's recommendation and had a view.

Mr. Selfridge is a finely handled period piece which continues the tradition of exceptional British drama. Jeremy Piven is an inspired choice for Mr. Selfridge, showing his dramatic chops once again in a difficult and demanding role. I've often thought Mr. Piven had more to show us, and this series gives him the opportunity.

As well, the rest of the cast is strong and well-defined. It didn't take long to get hooked into the varied tribulations, trials and triumphs of the characters.

As a confirmed Downton Abbey fan, I thought this series would be a pale copy. I was wrong. It holds it's own very well. The challenge of balancing the factual aspects of Selfridge's history with the fictional, yet realistically painted accounts of the people behind the store, has been very capably managed by the writers. The drive, innovation, quality and forward thinking of the actual Selfridge has been captured here in a way that makes the viewer see how astonishing and astute Selfridge the businessman was.

Kudos to everyone involved. And the theme music for the series is truly inspired. Every time I hear it, I want to shop.

As the old saying goes.. What the previous bad reviewers of this series are watching or expect, god alone knows!! This really is an excellent series! Brilliant acting, well scripted and directed and a great story to boot! Also, regarding Jeremy Priven, I personally think he is perfect playing the roll of the flamboyant American entrepreneur in a rather stayed post Edwardian London. Bearing all this in mind,Please don't allow the tiny number of pathetic, sad, need a life, armchair critics on here sway you from watching it. As you can certainly see yourself from the amount of people who truly don't agree their comments,they are definitely in the minority on this one!

As a Downton Abbey fan, completely out of episodes to watch, I was grateful to have Mr. Selfridge to turn to. With a week of completely free-form time on my hands I wanted the great luxury of spending a decadent number of consecutive hours consuming an entire season of shows in one sitting, night after night. Mr. Selfridge filled the bill beautifully. Oh, it is pretty light and with a few dropped threads, but no matter, I was happy from the opening score. The characters are easy to develop an affection for, especially Mr. Harry Selfridge. Over the course of the three seasons you witness a man rising to the top of his game, operating a large department store in turn of the 20th century London. Typical birth-life-death situations, plus the extraordinary game changer of World War One, unfold in the lives of Harry, his family and selected employees. Throughout it all, important lessons are learned, while the bad actors ultimately get their comeuppance. One unexpected dimension was the historical look at the development of department store marketing. While not presented in- depth, there was sufficient homage paid to innovations risked by Mr. Selfridge to give a good insight into the evolution of retailing. Window dressers in particular will love the series!

I admit that I'm surprised and puzzled by the number of negative reviews of Mr. Selfridge on this site. I'm actually wondering if I'm watching a completely different show from the one many reviewers describe! Beginning with the dazzling opening credits and stylish musical score, this show is an absolute joy every week. I fail to understand how anyone can possibly be unimpressed by the gorgeous period costumes and sets and the fine, subtle performances of most of the cast. If there's a weakness to be found, it's with Jeremy Piven's acting, though I admit that even he's starting to grow on me as his character begins to acquire a little more dimension. But there's so much else that's wonderful about this series, including engaging story lines, that Piven can almost be overlooked. Overall, it's a light, frothy confection that charms and delights in an easy way that few shows ever manage. But I suppose charm is out of fashion. And please, let's stop comparing it to Downton Abbey, which it's not even attempting to replicate, and judge it on its own merits, which are considerable.

Once this show got the done-to-death-unnecessary-sex-scene box checked it became original and compelling.