Harlots: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 36 Ratings

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5.9

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5.9	Your Score
5.9	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 36 Ratings

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Harlots

Now Playing: Harlots

Season Details & Credits

HULU | Season Premiere Date: March 29, 2017

Summary: Margaret Wells (Samantha Morton) juggles life as an owner of a brothel and the mother of two daughters as a rival (Lesley Manville) seeks to shut her down in this drama set in 1700s London.

Creator: Alison Newman and Moira Buffini

Genre(s): Drama

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E7. Episode 7
Air Date: May 10, 2017
tbd
S1:E5. Episode 5
Air Date: April 26, 2017

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Danette Chavez

Mar 29, 2017

The first two episodes effectively set up the larger conflict that’s brewing, but they also revel in the colorful cast. Read full review

Matthew Gilbert

Mar 28, 2017

It’s a bawdy, funny, gritty, and at times moving drama that flies in the face most of the period costume dramas we’ve seen on TV over the years. Read full review

Melanie McFarland

Mar 29, 2017

Any potential discomfort one may have with the subject is soon overwhelmed by the spirited intelligence and sharp style with which this series is executed. Read full review

Mark A. Perigard

Mar 27, 2017

Forgive the salacious hook for a show that is not so much titillating as it is gripping, surprising, at times humorous and even a bit thought-provoking when it comes to exploring how sex is just as valuable as money or power. Read full review

Gail Pennington

Mar 29, 2017

Shocking and fascinating, Harlots will keep you watching not for the sex and nudity but for the women trying not to sell their souls along with their bodies. Read full review

Caroline Framke

Mar 29, 2017

In spite of its flaws, Harlots is far more addictive and even thoughtful than I initially gave it credit for. It doesn’t shy away from its characters’ more morally horrifying choices, nor the devastating circumstances that led them there. Read full review

Collider Chris Cabin

Mar 29, 2017

There’s a hesitancy to confront the thicket of conflicting emotions that are being hinted at underneath the not-so-charmed life of the Wells girls and the women they work with (or against) but the origins and the precariousness of these feelings never quite explored with any daring or seriousness. ...There is the constant use of the titular term, which rips you out of the action without care whenever it’s hurled about, but that’s not half as annoying as the music. Read full review

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User Reviews

sjdetails

May 9, 2017

I'm usually not a fan of period films or shows but Harlots is my absolute favorite addiction on Hulu right now. Each character has had such a captivating storyline so far, and has been brilliantly acted. There is sex, love, romance, mystery, comedy, drama.. everything one could ask for in aI'm usually not a fan of period films or shows but Harlots is my absolute favorite addiction on Hulu right now. Each character has had such a captivating storyline so far, and has been brilliantly acted. There is sex, love, romance, mystery, comedy, drama.. everything one could ask for in a good series. Cannot wait for Season 2!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JennaRye

May 7, 2017

AMAZING show...salacious, intriguing, and fun. It's not meant to be a stuffy historical drama and does a damn good job delivering gritty action that keeps you hooked!

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

JennetP

Apr 5, 2017

A ripping good period drama that combines the exuberant depravity of 18th-century pornography (remember MEMOIRS OF A WOMAN OF PLEASURE?) with a more sober-sided look at the costs of sex-for-hire. Great casting, especially Lesley Manville and Samantha Morton as rival madams, great sets, greatA ripping good period drama that combines the exuberant depravity of 18th-century pornography (remember MEMOIRS OF A WOMAN OF PLEASURE?) with a more sober-sided look at the costs of sex-for-hire. Great casting, especially Lesley Manville and Samantha Morton as rival madams, great sets, great costumes, hair, and makeup. I wrote a longer review but lost it when I tried to fix a spelling mistake, so let me summarize by giving it a thumbs-up. Or perhaps a #@#$%-up?… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

justinhow

Oct 14, 2018

Great start to a pretty different period drama about the bawdy side of London in the 18th century. An excellent cast and solid writing along with superb sets ensure a gripping series.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

subodai

Sep 4, 2018

Sub-standard, at times awful show.
Acting is poor, music is bad, realism is not there and writing and camera is average at best.
London and its streets are far too clean for the year 1763 but almost every person is trash or "unlearning" to be like trash. It seems that London and itsSub-standard, at times awful show.
Acting is poor, music is bad, realism is not there and writing and camera is average at best.
London and its streets are far too clean for the year 1763 but almost every person is trash or "unlearning" to be like trash. It seems that London and its different classes are the same, apart from wearing different clothing. Few people who actually are educated or well mannered? That is unfair towards most lower and middle class people and towards some upper class people as well considering years after years of lenghty upbringing at the time. The " harlot" parts are there, even numerous, but also fail in their intended effect: a cheap shot or suggestion every few minutes which does not trigger anything. So, if you expect some easy, straight out of its convenience bag snack TV with costumes on, go watch it. For me, I wish I had stopped after episode 1 but I continued to torture myself for 5 episodes more.
Comparing a show like this with perhaps Black Sails (which is set about 40 years earlier, not exactly the same period, but fairly close) can hardly be done. Black Sails laughs at Harlots: much better acting, better music, more realistic and superior camera and writing.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

StanCliffBroad

Apr 19, 2017

Dreadful acting, vacuous script, the clothes are just too clean, the whites are white. The characters faces are clean and clear of disease, along with their hands, even the trash in the street is clean. During this time period decades of dirt built up in the streets and the smell wasDreadful acting, vacuous script, the clothes are just too clean, the whites are white. The characters faces are clean and clear of disease, along with their hands, even the trash in the street is clean. During this time period decades of dirt built up in the streets and the smell was horrendous, all day every day. Pointless faux sex, all over the place and as believable, as the modern day music, out of place and just plain bad. A second season? Don;t make me laugh.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

HonneyNos

Apr 3, 2017

Another show about women where they are either screeching or Victims. Or both. Lots of sex, all of it ugly and distasteful. I can hear the critics glowing about it, even though it's just another melodrama. A soap. With nice costumes stuffed with hackneyed stereotypes. Not anything to see.Another show about women where they are either screeching or Victims. Or both. Lots of sex, all of it ugly and distasteful. I can hear the critics glowing about it, even though it's just another melodrama. A soap. With nice costumes stuffed with hackneyed stereotypes. Not anything to see. Move along.… Expand

2 of 11 users found this helpful29

Seasons & Episodes

73

Series Overview
Season 3

77
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: July 10, 2019
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: July 11, 2018
Season 1

74
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: March 29, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E7. Episode 7
  Air Date: May 10, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E5. Episode 5
  Air Date: April 26, 2017