Harlots is the tale of two rival brothels in Georgian-era London. It's campy, it's empowering, and it's one of the best television shows that I've seen in awhile. While there's plenty of scandal, backstabbing, actual stabbing, and general drama, the weight of this show falls on the shoulders of the relationships between the characters.
*DISCLAIMER: This show is most definitely intended for "mature audiences". If you don't like True Blood and how graphic it can be, Harlots is not the show for you*
1. The Costumes
I'm a sucker for a good period piece, and Harlots is super well done. The costumes are accurate, vibrant, and fun. And they even have a masquerade scene. What's not to love?
2. The Accents
Dear God, I love me a man with a lilting Irish accent. And this show is abounding with them. Plus, all the accents are authentic since it's produced out of the UK anyway. You won't find any of that Demi Moore in The Scarlet Letter nonsense here.
3. The Humor
God, the humor of this show is GOLD. It's underhanded, it's subtle, and it's just plain perfect. Where else can you find a nobleman claiming that his mistress is comparable to a pineapple?
Trust me when I say that he declares this with utmost sincerity.
6. The Rockin' Soundtrack
A lot of people are totally against period dramas using non-period music as the soundtrack, but those people don't know how to have fun. As much as I love the Pride & Prejudice soundtrack, I'm a sucker for period dramas with modern music. Maybe I started watching Baz Luhrmann movies too young, but if this is wrong, I don't wanna be right. The Harlots soundtrack is crazy good, and honestly, as modern as it is, it doesn't sound a bit out of place. And they've done this really cool thing where they take folk songs from the period and revitalized them into modern pieces. Get me this tracklist on vinyl. It's that good.
5. The Cinematography
As any film buff knows, the portrayal of the scene is sometimes more important than anything, and Harlots knows exactly what it's doing here. Rather than force the audience to another setting with sepia-toned shots, Harlots makes the audience feel at one with Georgian-era London with vibrant colors and brilliant depth. Think Sophia
6. Girl Power
Not only is the cast primarily made up of women, Harlots is one of the few shows that is entirely directed, produced, etc. by women. Talk about woman empowerment. Now, don't misconstrue this as misandry or anything. This is a show that strives to articulate a woman's perspective, and that's just what it does.
7. It's relevant AF.
So, you'd think that a show set in Georgian-era London would have very little relevance to the struggles of women in modern-day America. You'd think that it couldn't possibly be relatable because "women have come so far". But you'd be wrong. The issues that Harlots tackles--bodily autonomy, women's rights, the blurred lines of sex within relationships--are still some of the most prevalent issues of modern American politics.
So do yourself a favor, and go watch this gem of a television series. Season 1 is available to stream on Hulu
