I absolutely love this show and its storyline, but Jeremy Piven rakes on my nerves. Piven tends to "over act", and appears to leave a big puddle of ego wherever he is standing. It's really too bad because I think this could have been a ten star show with a better leading man.
shareYeah, too bad they didn't ask for your opinion - the show might have been renewed 3 or 4 times.
Oh, wait...
Harry is supposed to be an animated, energetic, brash, and egotistical character. That's what made Selfridge's succeed when the chips were stacked against him.
shareYou can be all of those without overacting. I've seen it many times with different actors. Anyway while I agree somewhat with the original poster. I do think that JP can overact at times, but other times he's fantastic! I still remember how he told Loxley off when he tried to get Mae to go with him and Harry stopped him from doing it. I loved the way that Harry told him off.
shareI do find it odd how bad the acting is in this series. I'm still in season one, so hoping it calms down. But the more I think of it, the more it's just Jeremy Piven. And it's odd, because he's always been a good actor, and was fantastic as Ari Gold (just finished Entourage). And then in this he's just... bad. Like he's in a local amateur theater troupe.
I think he's also a very modern actor, so maybe just can't project the period 'feel.' I get that he's an American so is meant to seem out of place amongst the Brits. It's just too much. I also feel the same way about Leonardo DiCaprio, and he unfortunately is in a LOT of period pieces.
I want to like him and his character so much, but it's so hard. I'm still liking the series fine, though.
It's a little difficult to separate what I know of Piven as a person outside of his characters. He's... a difficult person to like in most of his interviews and the anecdotes do build up over the years.
Still, I think he embodies the character well. I have been far more engrossed in the plots of other characters like Agnes, Lady Mae and Miss Mardle though, so it's not been a problem for me (well, until season 3 episode 5...)
The supposed faults you mention of Piven are what make him perfect for the role both in terms of the real man and the fictional character
shareI logged in to see if anyone else noticed his acting issues. I couldn't quite put my finger on the issue at first. It seems like he's memorized his lines and over eager to deliver them without the proper/any emotion. I don't really feel like it's over-acting. It seems bland and I'm distracted by how I'm always aware he's acting. So much so i'm having a hard time getting into the story. I'm only on season 1, tho, so I'm hopeful it gets better. So far, the show very much reminds me of The Paradise.
shareThe finger must be pointed at the director for allowing this to go on…however Piven is a producer of some sorts so maybe he over rules any director.
With that said, the supporting cast is truly wonderful.
In complete agreement with you on that…I also could not stand francis o’conner.
Piven is a fine comedic actor, capable of playing a good frat boy and /or amiable wise guy…..but boy, is he all wrong for this.
I see his name on the credits as a producer, so, he has allowed himself to over act and make faces at will.
Still, there are 30-odd guys that might have pulled off this with a whole lot less grandstanding….perhaps portrayed the flamboyant Selfridge with a subtle facade that made for some great drama….
I think Selfridge is supposed to be portrayed that way, always putting on a show, for his employees, for his customers, for his social guests. Kind of like P.T. Barnum. That's why it looks overdone and insincere.
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