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Current Season - Anyone feel the same? SPOILERS

posted 10 years ago by fidgette
25 replies | jump to latest

Please know that I will be posting things about the current season, so spoiler alert!

I'm having difficulty watching the current season for some reason. It's just not enjoyable? Perhaps it's the fact that 4 central characters are not on the show (Rose, Agnes, Henri & Lady Mae) which is causing the issue for me. However, I don't think that's the only problem I'm having.

The Selfridge daughters are completely unlikable, and maybe they're meant to be that way. And I know the show is ending after series 4, so maybe the writing is so bleak because they're showing us the path to Henry Selfridges ultimate demise. But it makes it so hard to watch, because you like the characters. So seeing this slow burn is hard to stomach.

In past seasons, you'd have a protagonist, but you knew that in the end, things would turn around. Now it's just a never-ending spiral down, so maybe that's the hard part for me to watch.

I hope they start showing less of the kids and less of the Russians. Really the supporting cast is what I watch for, not so much the Selfridge family itself.

And is anyone else disinterested in Viktor's bar?

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] fidgette 10 years ago

Well I guess Lord Loxley is there as another catalyst that will bring about the downfall of Henry.

I basically just watch now for Miss. Mardle, the rest of the people I'm ambivalent about at this point. I am in agreement with you about Sergi, I really hate him and hope something horrible happens to him. He just sits and pouts about not getting his way.

[–] TheDuchessofM 10 years ago

I was devastated by Agnes and Henri, but I enjoyed the most recent episode. I think I did (and think Mr Selfridge gets better and better) because I feel the focus isn't about Harry and his downfall. Halfway through s1 the women characters took precedence and the writing has been marvelous in exploring gender relations in this time period.

This thing with Kitty is so compelling because it still happens today (women need to get out of male spaces and back into the kitchen!). And I'm gripped by how it's revealed cracks in her marriage to Frank. She seems to have obtained the shop girls dream, but Frank is the calculating, self-involved person he was in s1.

I like Victor's bar because it reminds me of the nightclub storyline in The House of Eliot lol. I hope they do more with his bartender and with George.

[–] stefan-79-235442 10 years ago

I think this season is boring, depressing

[–] fidgette 10 years ago

I enjoy the other scenes with other characters. Henry and his family has always been my least favourite aspect of this show. It'd be nice if they just continued the show and focused on the people in the store, rather than the Selfridges.

I do like Kitty's current storyline, and always love Miss. Mardle, but there is just something utterly depressing about this season. From the Russian in-laws, to the Selfridge kids and grandmother. There is no Lady Mae, so no sassy remarks that I really do miss.

And now that Agnes is gone, her brother is basically just there with barely any lines. Viktor's bar seems to disjointed from the show itself.

[–] stefan-79-235442 10 years ago

ITS also predictable, we know from moment one the Son in law was up to no good, that Harry wil fall in love, Victor wil be in trouble, etc

And iTS so much slow paced drama

[–] TheDuchessofM 10 years ago

I think it's supposed to be depressing. England in 1919 was still under the cloud of WWI. Downton Abbey could jump back into the elegant way of life because they're in the country. London had visible evidence of the war, ranging from unemployment to no housing (which we see). I'm glad Mr Selfridge is tackling this neglected period.

[–] fidgette 10 years ago

No I get that part, again I don't mind the depressing portions of the lives of the other characters. But with the focus being on Harry, his wife's death, these new horrible in-laws, horrible children and on top of that Lord whatever his name is trying to cause havoc. That and this new woman who is apparently using him too

There are so many cogs that seem to be taking over the show and are depressing in that way. If they showed more of the other characters, I think I wouldn't feel the dreariness as much.

[–] TheDuchessofM 10 years ago

That's true.

The dreariness is probably the result of Aisling and Gregory leaving the show, and Katherine Kelly being unavailable. Those three were vital parts of Harry's story, the store, and in their own right. Now Harry is cast adrift personally and scriptwise, which impacts everything about this series.

[–] Rlx25 10 years ago

I think I'll really miss Agnes Towler with her Art Nouveau outfits most of all. Yes, that was a reference to The Wizard of Oz (1939).

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] Rlx25 10 years ago

I was devastated by Agnes and Henri, but I enjoyed the most recent episode. I think I did (and think Mr Selfridge gets better and better) because I feel the focus isn't about Harry and his downfall. Halfway through s1 the women characters took precedence and the writing has been marvelous in exploring gender relations in this time period.

This thing with Kitty is so compelling because it still happens today (women need to get out of male spaces and back into the kitchen!). And I'm gripped by how it's revealed cracks in her marriage to Frank. She seems to have obtained the shop girls dream, but Frank is the calculating, self-involved person he was in s1.

I'm caught up now and I've enjoyed this show very much.  I agree with you that the loss of Henri and Agnes is a big blow to the show. However I do like how they've been exploring contemporary issues like the problems of returning veterans, the fight over women's workplace rights, and even anonymous hate within the context of a post WWI society.

[–] paulandstephy 10 years ago

I love this show, this season is not as good as the other two though I will agree with you there. I think it lost its spark. I actually like the Harry storylines alot. The store in the other episodes was always doing cool new events and it was pushing the story along really well, this one is much slower paced and the writing hasn't been as good. Oh well I sill enjoy it and hope it picks up.

[–] Grimm-Grimm 10 years ago

I agree. It definitely lost it's spark. I watched episode 7 and it was so bland. The ups and downs used to be exiting. Now it's like Downton Abbey. In Downtown Abbey Ethidth has a baby and hides it and it's as if anyone in the know, is afraid of a huge shock with fear. Then an episodes airs with Her father, Robert, and he basically ends up figuring it out and saying, no big deal it's ok. Same thing with Lord Loxely and the Harry Selfridge's Son in law selling the shares without telling anyone. It's a shock to Harry at first, then everything is ok. It's lost it's excitement.

[–] backofthevan 10 years ago

I agree it's quite tedious and depressing with a lot of unpleasant characters. Couldn't care less about the Victor bar scenario, more nastiness with the bent coppers giving him grief.

We lost Rose and Lady Mae and have the dreadful substitutes of the daughters. And the Russians – could definitely do without them! Although Rosalie DID marry Serge in real life, just don't know how realistic the story line is. It seems like everyone is nasty/selfish/scheming/depressing – is anything fun or playful going to happen? Any delights to look forward to?

Lord Loxley – another nasty I could certainly do without. Edwards, proving himself to be a completely self-centred toad, more concerned for his career than the well-being of his wife.

Very unsatisfying so far this season, I'm only on episode 5, but feel it's all very "down" and depressing. I used to enjoy the in-store events, but it seems it's much more outside the store this season and that is not for the better.

I do like the fact that the show is addressing problems faced by women in the work place and returning vets. Social history that is very informative. Other than that, it's mostly depressing!

[–] LovingBooks 9 years ago

If my parents named me "Marigold" (good grief) -- I'd be more than happy to let them hide me away somewhere. All the breeding in the world and they couldn't come up with something a bit less Raised-in-a-cow-Barn-Marigold?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Let's eat Granny!! Let's eat, Granny!!"
Punctuation matters.

[–] Katz35 10 years ago

Yes - I think I'm done. I don't want to watch this man's downfall, and there isn't enough going on with the supporting characters to sustain me. I think I'll have to bid the show a sad farewell. 😞

[–] b73142 10 years ago

People keep saying that Agnes and Henri are gone, but I guess the episodes that I'm watching they're still on. Henry is going to have a downfall? I don't know the story of the real one. I always avoided the documentaries b/c I want to see how the show will play out. With this new woman I was assuming that they would get together and everything would get better for him.

[–] SassMcG 10 years ago

I agree, I am having a hard time watching this season. I haven't even made it through the first episode because it is so dry and boring and I can't stand the way the story has turned. I know the real life story turned for the worse too and when I saw the documentary I thought to myself that I would not want to watch the downfall of Mr. Selfridge after Rose's death.

[–] b73142 10 years ago

Downfall? You mean things don't get better for him after he gets with this new woman?

[–] Nomad310 10 years ago

Downfall? You mean things don't get better for him after he gets with this new woman?

Maybe the show will portray it differently than what actually happened.

One thing I wanted to comment on was how different the 1920s were for Americans compared to how they were for Europeans and the Brits.

In America, we have this image of the free-wheeling, roaring 20s, a time of prosperity and frivolity for so many. We had our own war dead and injured, but we entered WWI very late and it wasn't on our land, so American suffering can't compare with the suffering "over there." I think this different experience is why the dark tone of this season is a little surprising to many American viewers.

This different post war experience was true of WWII, as well. In the US there was great prosperity and growth all through the 1950s, while in Britain they had to ration food for 9 more years, well into 1954.

[–] b73142 10 years ago

What exactly happened to Selfridge? Did he not marry that woman? Last episode he was eye humping her like crazy. I'm surprised that he didn't grab and start making out with her. I remember him doing it with that one showgirl. I think seeing how the war affected people is interesting. I used to work with senior citizens and they would tell me how it was in The Great Depression. So much more interested to hear it from people that actually lived it than reading about it.

[–] b73142 10 years ago

Never mind I just read series 4 spoilers. All I can say is wow! It's going to be interesting when the the Dolly sisters come on.

[–] IanDSmith 9 years ago

Still can't believe Agnes is no longer in the picture. She was the heart and soul of the show.

[–] florentyna1972 9 years ago

In Greece where I live, we just watched the end of season 3, and what I can say is it was different from the first two seasons, but non in any way predictable, to me at least. Infact I found characters changed in ways I didn't expect, son and mother in low seem much worst that they prove to be, Harry seems a very different man with no clear mind to run bussiness or family, Kitty seems so grown up and better a person than I ever hoped to see and George Towler and Victor seem both somehow better and more handsome after the war. I could also feel the sadness knowing things are going to get worst, but to me that is a sign that the show is really good!

Miss Agnes and Henry very much, hope to see them one more time before the end of season 4!

Current Season - Anyone feel the same? **SPOILERS**

Current Season - Anyone feel the same? SPOILERS