Mr. Selfridge: Season 3 Blu-ray Review
Reviewed by Brian Orndorf, May 4, 2015
What began life as a "Downton Abbey" knockoff has built a home of its own. ITV's "Mr. Selfridge" graduates to its third season, with the mission for this year becoming one of separation. Initially conceived as a drama about the inner workings of the world's most famous department store, the series has decided to jump ahead five years (avoiding expensive World War I recreation demands), branching out with established characters, most not even involved with the business anymore. In short: there's little store in the show about a store. It's a bold creative leap for what's been a punishingly mediocre effort for two seasons, trying to stimulate ratings by changing the view. New supporting players add some spice to the bland concoction, but "Season 3" doesn't reveal a level of ambition necessary to take the program seriously. In fact, it indulges a soap opera atmosphere with renewed determination, keeping "Mr. Selfridge" simple, overcooked, and, at times, dismally performed.
The show leaps to 1919, with England struggling to make sense of its influx of veterans, most broken by combat, with no home to return to. It's a period of change that seems ripe for dramatic exploration, but "Season 3" only scratches the surface, only tending to the basics of PTSD and alcoholism before returning to the comfort of forbidden love and financial betrayals involving wealthy men. The best parts of "Mr. Selfridge" remain on the sales floor, watching the staff gossip, flirt, and unite as their boss struggles to maintain his position as the face of a brand name. Sadly, the store doesn't factor into "Season 3" with any level of importance, regulated to the background as the writing heads outside to catch up with characters who've moved on. The attempt to widen dramatic scope is laudable, but subplots are tedious and unfulfilling, touching on troubled business ventures, domestic betrayals, and street violence. At this point, an episode devoted to inventory would be more interesting than the deflated detours the writers conjure for the new year.
While "Mr. Selfridge" has never been an especially smart show, the titular character has been lobotomized for "Season 3." Once the picture of business savvy and emotional awareness, Harry Selfridge has been reduced to an idiot to ease screenwriting needs. For example, "Season 3" pits Harry against his arch nemesis, Lord Loxley, watching prickly but reserved men scrap through business deals and stock warfare. For the new episodes, Harry is magically unaware of obviously toxic financial matters, which conveniently keeps him exposed to Lord Loxley's nostril-flaring schemes. That is, until the production needs the villain to lose his cool at an opportune time, making him vulnerable to return fire. Laziness routinely creeps into the series, finding bright personalities handcuffed by unnecessary decorum and ludicrously demanding romantic lives, but the transformation of Harry Selfridge into Lloyd Christmas is the most dispiriting.
As always, tech credits are spot-on, creating a distinct world for "Mr. Selfridge," from store events and administrative offices to homes of all economic standards. Production effort to make the show gorgeous is always available for study, and they pull off a few new achievements for "Season 3," venturing into the outdoors with the help of passable greenscreen. Performances are aided by new faces such as Zoe Wanamaker (playing a Russian princess), Kelly Adams (as Selfridge's new love interest), and Amy Morgan (as a store associate in love with Selfridge's son). And enduring work is provided by Ron Cook, who wakes up every scene as Crabb, the suffering but diligent right-hand man. To be fair, direction is overwrought, pushing the cast to react to everything as a cancer diagnosis, and, once again, Piven is way out of his league here, resembling a confused pug with his habitual head-tilts and rolling eyes, decimating the tone of the show with his thespian overkill. Keeping close behind is Aidan McArdle as Lord Loxley, who portrays refined evil in a distinctly cartoon manner, imagining subtlety but achieving absurdity. It's amazing there's a character around who trusts such an obviously wretched man.
Episodes
Disc 1
"Episode 1" (46:07)
The year is 1919 and World War I has ended. To keep up with the changing times and to ignore his aching heart after the death of his wife, Harry Selfridge (Jeremy Piven) has decided to plunge into his business in full, expanding to 12 stores and planning to sponsor the construction of an aerodrome. Harry also marries off daughter Rosalie (Kara Tointon) to Serge (Leon Ockenden), an aviator with plans to expand his legacy using Selfridge money. Henri (Gregory Fitoussi) returns from war, quickly wedding longtime love, Agnes (Aisling Loftus). And Victor (Trystan Gravelle) tries his hand at nightclub ownership, only to find himself in deep with local gangsters.
"Episode 2" (46:11)
Hoping to celebrate his late wife's philanthropic interests, Harry elects to acquire a great deal of money to purchase an empty tract of land, with plans to build houses for veterans. Female employees once in service in the loading dock area at Selfridges have been reassigned to the sales floor, wreaking havoc with the seasoned crew. Lord Loxley (Aidan McArdle) returns from America to exact revenge on Harry, investing in Serge's dreams of an aerodrome. Violette (Hannah Tointon), frustrated at home, takes an opportunity to show her leadership skills to Harry. And Crabb (Ron Cook), frustrated with Harry's inattentiveness and financial recklessness, is forced to share news of monetary woes facing the company, trying to stop Harry's interest in the charitable housing project.
"Episode 3" (46:09)
Securing his high-interest loan, Harry is set to purchase the land at auction, only to be met with competition from Lord Loxley. Henri, destroyed by PTSD, is lost to alcoholism and nightmarish visions, forcing Agnes to come to Victor for answers. Edwards (Samuel West) is feeling the burn at home when wife Kitty's (Amy Beth Hayes) sister, Connie (Sacha Parkinson), proves to be a handful. And Edward finds inspiration for a book on post-war life after witnessing a street scam.
Disc 2
"Episode 4" (47:38)
Looking for a little excitement, Violette tempts Victor into an affair. Harry selects Nancy (Kelly Adams) to help manage the upcoming housing project, slowly falling for the confident woman, reigniting passions long though dead. Kitty is assaulted near the store by ex-servicemen, with the scars, both physical and psychological, dimming her spirit. Serge's dreams are put on hold by Lord Loxley's self-serving ways, leaving Rosalie to wonder how to care for her new husband, confiding in his mother, Princess Marie (Zoe Wanamaker), who's enjoying her own scam spending copious amounts of Harry's money. And Anges, frustrated with Henri's reluctance to depend on her for emotional support, decides to quit Selfridges, moving out of England with her ailing husband.
"Episode 5" (47:11)
The position of store deputy opens at Selfridges, with Mardle (Amanda Abbington) considering an application, especially when Grove (Tom Goodman-Hill) objects to her ideas of advancement. Kitty is humiliated when a story about her assault shows up in the paper, sourced by her very own sister. Lois (Kika Markham), sensing something strange about Princess Marie, does a background check, confronting the possible scam artist with her findings. And Lord Loxley, trying to outdo Harry once again, establishes a charitable organization to help veterans.
"Episode 6" (46:55)
Joining Selfridges as the window display designer, Pierre Longchamp (Edward Akrout) causes some disturbance with his unorthodox ways, forcing Gordon (Greg Austin) to step in and test his leadership skills. Trying to keep Violette out of trouble with Victor, Harry pushes her on Nancy to help with fundraising duties, sparking her interest in the creation of a party. And Kitty, realizing that she's been put into the line of fire in the war between Harry and Lord Loxley, confronts her attacker.
"Episode 7" (46:32)
Victor makes a deal to protect his club, though it's one that brings illegal gambling to the establishment, causing new headaches. Grove is flattened by the death of his wife, lost in sorrow as her secretive life slowly comes into view. As Harry grows closer to Nancy, his head for business is blurred, obsessed with completing the building project. And Lord Loxley acquires enough stock to take a place on the company's board of directors, with Serge's stupidity triggering the shift in power.
Disc 3
"Episode 8" (46:57)
Nancy, feeling overwhelmed by her relationship with Harry, decides to back away to concentrate on her work. Grove has trouble dealing with his new domestic reality, making enemies with Mardle and resisting Crabb's efforts to help. Aviator Vicomte De Sibour visits the store, with a raffle giving away an airplane ride helping to fund the housing project. And Gordon's romance with employee Grace (Amy Morgan) is stressed by its secretive nature, forcing the pair to come to a painful reality.
"Episode 9" (46:47)
To keep up with shareholder demands, Harry masterminds the "Sale of the Century," looking to make big profits in a short amount of time, but his provocative advertising angers the public and enrages the competition. Princess Marie retrieves her fortune in jewels from Russia, with plans to fund Serge's dreams of flight. Victor alters the focus of his jazz club, giving into the lure of gambling to placate his demanding backer. And Lord Loxley, furious that his ex-wife is remarrying, targets Harry's seemingly reckless business practices.
"Episode 10" (48:03)
Lord Loxley aims to take control of Selfridges, working with the board of directors to remove him from power. Princess Marie takes a look at the housing project, discovering a few troubling inconsistencies that cast doubt on the legitimacy of the plan. Gordon shares news of his relationship with Grace with Harry, who rejects the unprofessional union. Mardle quits the store, while her plans to leave London rattle Grove to his core. Going against family wishes, Violette pursues a romance with Victor. And Nancy's past is exposed in full, forcing Harry to reconsider his future with his love.
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