Harlots - BBC2 - wednesdays

[stumbledin]

I am sure this has been shown elsewhere some time ago but I didn't watch.

But tuned in for lack of anything else.

Wasn't really convinced by any of it, and the background music was so loud it was more foreground.

Wonder if it started the trend for turning history into a pop video style story telling.

And similarly showing that somehow although women were being exploited by men somehow they were pulling the strings.

Like you I watched it for the first time last night for lack of anything else to watch, and yes, it has been on before.

Pretty unrealistic I imagine. Particularly the fuss that was made about the one woman who died from what I assume was syphilis.

Most women earning their living by prostitution at that time must have been riddle with venereal diseases and likewise their clients.

However, not these women; it was all very sanitised and up market. Beautiful, consenting, women - apart from the one who was looking for work as a maid - with healthy clear skin dressed in gorgeous gowns.

As you say not convincing, although I found it watchable nonetheless.

Yes, the power thing was a bit silly tbh, given women's lack of power generally at that time.

Or maybe that was the point, that men are powerless when they're at the mercy of women who know how to exploit them sexually.

I rather suspect it wasn't meant to be taken too seriously.

I've seen it before so didn't bother watching again.
However I was watching a history documentary the other day, and it said that at that time, 1 in 5 women in London were involved in the sex trade.

I lasted about 10 minutes before turning it off. I thought I'd love it but it really annoyed me. Far too prettified and looked like a modern fancy dress party with lots of shagging.

OK, I fancy Hacksby

It reminded me a bit of Moll Flanders.

Tongue-in-cheek, almost comedy, but not quite.

And I would happily watch Lesley Manville in anything ❤

Loved the Alex Kingston version of Moll Flanders (shows age).

That's the version I had in mind, RedStreetMonument

It's basically eastenders isn't it. But it's a bit of easy watching for the costumes etc. And the actress who was in Mum is superb.

I'm enjoying it. I don't think it shows women in charge the further in you get the more you see how fragile their positions are.
I'm episode 7 of series one and I think it's improved a lot. It's never going to be as gritty as life was back then but some stories are similar to what might have occurred. Except for the ending of Howard.

Based on Harris's List of prostitutes in Covent Garden which were reviews of working girls. It was a publication that ran for many years. It listed their specialisms and rated their looks. Nice.I was brought up in that area and recently read a book about it. I had no idea that the area, which after all used to be a convent's garden, became so synonymous with prostitution later.

I think there is a website (or maybe many websites) where you can leave trip advisor reviews for prostitutes you have used.

Nice to see we haven't moved on much.

I must be the only one enjoying it 🙈 and I think it's all 'glitzy' and more 'pop starry' because it was made by the BBC in conjunction with an American company- probably to corner the American market.

Ps. I know it's not realistic but it's the first drama I've watched since having a baby two years ago- it's light relief!

I know its trashy but i have to say I've enjoyed it

Certainly thought last night's two episodes exposed the awfulness of the women's situation.

The kidnapping of the young girls for the perverts was just vile.

And yes punternet does still exist. I thought it had been closed but according to google it is still there.

Do we know when season 2 is available?

I bought season 2 on amazon prime and it’s better than season 1!

Trashy, but I enjoyed it.
It's great to have a series with so many female leads.
Looking forward to Series 2!

Does anyone know when series 2 will be on iplayer?

I liked the storylines in it and getting to know the characters: can't decide who my favouite character is but possibly Charlotte. Who does everyone else like best?

this press release says series 1 and 2 will be shown back to back, series 3 at a later date. So hopefully series 2 soon!

www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2020/bbc-two-announces-harlots

Thanks Colouringindoors, looking forward to the second series soon then!

As an aside, do you like colouring indoors, or colouring in doors? I'm imagining a colouring in book of different types of door

SunIn when i dont have to work, i paint - semi abstract skies and landscapes in oils. Haven't done anything this year though, so its gonnected to that snd the fact that i have a Geography degree which friends have joked is a lot of colouring in I don't even do those mindfulness colouring in books.

Great username: Fabulous song

I watched the first series and really wanted to like it but Samanatha Morton's ample bosoms and the jarring music put me off.

I watched the 2 episodes broadcast last night and certainly found it less like a pop video and getting quite depressing.

I suspect it is quite toned down in terms of violence as from my shakey memory of history Georgian times weren't great for women, at any level.

I dont really understand or quite believe that Samantha Morton's character, who is meant to empathise more with the women who end up being prostituted seems to be so out of touch with her own daughters. Surely even is through whatever personal history was bought and sold why would she do this to her own daughter(s) and not consider for a moment they might not agree!

Also why did she betray to Mrs Quigley where Emily (I'm hopeless at remembering characters names so hope I have got that right) was hiding?

Was it just to get her to go away because of dealing with the stabbing, later murder?

(re struggling with remembering characters names if any knows of an on line family tree - with images - like the BBC has down for a suitable boy please let me know. So far have only found this which is a bit limited www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/harlots