TV REVIEW: The Paradise - Episodes Four & Five

A couple of distinctly mid-series episodes from The Paradise in the form of Episodes 4 and 5, but with a few surprises and dramatic twists, too.

Episode 4 saw a spot of background and character development for both new girls Susy (Katie Moore) and Mrytle (Lisa Millett). Susy’s alcoholic and estranged mother showed up at the store, looking to be reunited with the daughter she gave away. Susy, however, is less than thrilled about this, resulting in her letting her emotions out on young Flora Weston, an action which subequently leads to her dismissal. It is then up to new HOD Denise (Joanna Vanderham) to use her new position and skills of diplomacy to somehow get Susy re-instated. Meanwhile, a tea party is being organised in the very same ladieswear, with foul mouthed cook (this is now her official epithet as far as I'm concerned) Myrtle desperate to be a part of it, more specifically, desperate to be allowed out of the kitchen to wait on the guests.This storyline allowed us to see a more touching, accessible side of Myrtle’s character, as she so desperately wants to be like the other girls. Whilst all this is going on, Moray (Emun Elliot) learns of Tom Weston’s (Ben Daniels) plan to buy out the entire street, making The Paradise the biggest department store in the country, and begins to plot against this development with Weston’s own chief investor, using some rather shady, very personal means.      

Bridging the gap between the first and latter halves of the series, Episode 5 was considerably more complicated, and considerably less rosy than its predecessor, and indeed almost any Paradise episode we've seen before. On the more innocent side of things, and in more traditional Paradise fare, the store opens a new watch department to rival Weston’s new food hall, with the ever amicable Sam (Stephen Wight) placed in charge. Moray, as an another attempt to come between Katherine Weston (Elaine Cassidy) and her husband (more on this later) persuades her to donate her father’s watch to the store as a centrepiece. However, it later transpires that the watch has hypnotic powers- naturally leading to both hilarious and alarming consequences aplenty in the form of the impressiobaly young Susy.

But back indeed to the more sinister side of the episode. The watch itself was both centrepiece to the display and indeed to the entire episode story arc, as it turned out it should have been handed to the man Katherine married, i.e Moray in the first instance, and then Tom Weston seeing as that didn’t entirely work out. (In that he left her at the alter for a younger, blonder alternative). Katherine, however, hasn’t given it to Tom, suggesting that she, shock, horror, still has a soft spot for old flame Moray. Nobody saw that one coming...This is a soft spot Moray has no choice to exploit if he is to thwart the Westons’ investment plans. Denise and Moray, meanwhile, continue to look more and more like a cuter, less murderous version of the Macbeths, sitting on a chaise lounge in the store discussing the day it will all belong to them. This happy self-satisfaction is short lived, however, as Tom Weston plays his own hand, manipulating Denise and suggesting she take an inspirational trip to explore the fashions of Paris.

Whilst Episode 4 was still rather small-town in feeling, with Episode 5 we could almost feel ourselves hurtling towards the end of the series, with next week’s preview looking nothing short of explosive in terms of the progressively more complicated relationships between the show’s two central couples. All this darkness and plotting frankly makes me rather nervous. On the one hand this is because I don’t want the comfortable illusion of the show to be shattered, thus losing its escapist genius much beloved by, I hope, not just me. On the other I'm nervous for the creatives, because if things continue in this veine then the show’s habit of wrapping each storyline up tidily by the end of the hour just isn’t going to cut it anymore. Anything could happen!

Many questions also need answering. Was Moray happier when Denise was still just his ‘little champion’? Merely an adorably enthusiastic young shop girl rather than a ‘formidable’ equal? Who on earth is Tom Weston, and how scared should we be? Which personality will Katherine be sporting next week? The caring, put upon old flame left behind with a borderline abusive husband, or manipulative, powerful woman about town hell bent on ruining any life she can? Who knows?!? All this and more, will presumably be answered tonight, at 9pm.

If I can stand to watch, that is. Perhaps I should dig out some archive episodes of Heartbeat instead.

The Paradise is next on tonight, 8pm, BBC One.

Jen

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TV REVIEW: The Paradise - Episode One

Just over a year since it first premiered on BBC One, with all its lovely frocks, beards and mix of Scottish and North East accents, finally, FINALLY The Paradise is back. I know, I know, they kept us (me) waiting far too long. (Alright, it hasn't actually been all that long, but I'm still very excited).

As we re-join John Moray (Emun Elliot)’s lavish department store around a year later in real time, the man himself is distinctly absent, having been banished from the country by his now deceased landlord, Lord Glendenning (Patrick Malahide). Old flame Katherine Glendenning has inherited the shop, co-owning it with her new husband Tom Weston (Ben Daniels), leaving Miss Audrey (Sarah Lancashire) and Mr Dudley (Matthew McNulty) to run the show in their boss’ absence. Denise (Joanna Vanderham) is missing Moray rather a lot, but isn’t too sure where their relationship could be headed. In the meantime, she and old rival Clara (Sonya Cassidy) have become firm friends, and have been joined by new characters Susy (Katie Moore) and Myrtle (Lisa Millett), the foul mouthed new cook. Peter Wight’s Edmund Lovett, Denise’ uncle, still runs the little clothes shop across the road, and is still very much in love with Miss Audrey. Also in love are new kids on the block Susy and Fenton (Adrian Scarborough), but is he all he seems?

With so many new characters, not to mention the rose tinted setting of The Past, the nostalgia levels are as high as ever in The Paradise Series Two. There are elements of mild peril as already shady seeming character Tom Weston has plans to sell the shop to the highest bidder, and Katherine is being suspiciously, well, “nice”, as Denise aptly puts it. What are the two up to? How much does Katherine really know about her new husband’s plans? Only the rest of the series will tell. Again, as ever though, the levels of peril are only ever mild, as in swoops Moray in the nick of time, full of enough ideas and good old fashioned showmanship to save the day. His return means some rather sweet and 100% PG, if not U rated reunion scenes with his adorable bright spark, Denise, with Elliot and Vanderham playing the innocence and cutsey-ness for all it’s worth.

Clara, meanwhile, is just as canny as in Series One, although it’s surprisingly pleasing to watch her blossoming new friendship with Denise, as the two roll their eyes behind Miss Audrey’s back, and share suspicions about Katherine.  Ben Daniels is a fabulously sneaky addition as Mr Weston a man with what seems to be rather a dark past, and Susy is a charming, if not altogether satisfactory replacement for good old Pauline (Ruby Bentall), whose friendship with Sam (Stephen Wight) will be sorely missed. Myrtle, the impertinent new kitchen worker, however, is a less welcome new character, as, despite being a new enemy for Miss Audrey to spar against, doesn’t really add anything too the show besides something of an irritation factor.

Despite a few gripes, though, it really is lovely to be back in The Paradise. Like Heartbeat before it, it goes perfectly with a Sunday night, a hot chocolate and an early night.

Next on, tonight, BBC One, 8pm.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00vhpsv

Jen

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FEATURE: The Paradise vs Mr Selfridge: Battle of the Department Store Dramas

It’s been a few weeks now since ITV’s Mr Selfridge ended, and longer still since the final episode of The Paradise over on the BBC. Suffering department store drama withdrawal symptoms as I am, I have decided, selflessly, to give us all one last dose, in a form I feel department store owners the world over, fictional or otherwise, would wholeheartedly approve of. So, in the spirit of friendly competition, I am going to attempt to decide, once and for all, using a totally non-scientific list of comparison points entirely made up by me: which is better, The Paradise or Mr Selfridge?

1.   Overall Premise

Kicking things off with arguably the main contrasting point between the two shows, the overall premise refers to the primary concept behind the show, the bit they’ll have pitched to the TV bosses – each show’s unique selling point. For Mr Selfridge this is the fact that the storylines are based on true events, and upon a real life figure who actually lived and breathed, a man who’s shop still stands on Oxford Street, and indeed on city streets across the nation today. In short, the fact that it is a true story. The Paradise, on the other hand is based on a book by one of the greatest novelists of all time, Emile Zola. A naturalist (not naturist, just in case there was any confusion) giant with acutely cutting observations about the human condition, if anyone was going to accurately comment on ambition, consumerism and the rise, rise, and rise again of shopping for pleasure, it was going to be Zola. And blooming good job of it he did too.

Winner: The Paradise – you can’t argue with Zola’s. It’s one thing to look back on a historical event and dramatize it, but to be far ahead of your time with your thinking deserves a win as far as I’m concerned.

Paradise 1 : Selfridge 0

2.   The Big Boss

Closely linked to the category of ‘overall premise’ in importance, comes the idea of The Big Boss. This battle, then, lies between Harry Selfridge and John Moray. Harry Selfridge is powerful, ambitious, American and, again, actually a real person. John Moray, with his ridiculously-Anglicised-for-TV-audiences-name, shares many of the same traits, but is entirely fictional. Both have dark, tortured streaks not too far under the surface, both have dark hair and beards, both have eyes ranging in the brown to hazel area,  and neither is especially tall. Harry, however, is a womaniser, conducting numerous affairs with progressively more irritating women, if Ellen Love is anything to go by. Moray, on the other hand, simply yo-yos between two women, whilst diligently mourning his dead wife. He also doesn’t nearly kill himself by going out a drunken speeding spree in a motor car, which is a plus.

Winner: The Paradise’s John Moray. He’s just better. And sexier.

Paradise 2 : Selfridge 0

3.   Posh Totty

Ah the posh totty. Both shows had strong contenders in this category, but there was a clear winner from the off. The Paradise offered Katherine Glendenning, Moray’s fiancée, and haughty money-bags Lady about town. She wears some nice frocks, has quite nice hair, and a good eye for fashion, but throws a strop and runs to Daddy every time she doesn’t quite get her own way. Mr Selfridge, on the other hand, provided us with I think one of my favourite TV characters in recent months- Lady Mae Loxley, played superbly by Katherine Kelly . I have no idea whether or not she’s based on a real person, but I hope to God she is. Married to Lord Loxley , but managing to only actually be in the same room as him two or three times a year, if she’s feeling generous,  Lady Mae does whatever she likes, whenever she likes. With a string of much younger lovers, wise investments all over town, a sharp tongue as well as the wealth and wit to back it all up, there’s never a dull moment when she’s around, or indeed when she’s on screen. A thoroughly modern woman, she even runs a branch of the Suffragette movement, holding meetings within the store even when forbidden to do so.  She’s also just a little bit nasty when she wants to be. And she has huge hair.

Winner: Advantage Selfridge.  No contest, really.

Paradise 2: Selfridge 1.

4.   Central Female Lead

Another element both shows have in common is their young female lead character focus. The Paradise has Denise, a cute young woman from the countryside who comes to town to make some money for her family, discovering whilst there that she has a real talent for retail, and falling in love with the brains behind The Paradise at the same time. Mr Selfridge gives us Agnes, a brunette to Denise’s blonde, Agnes serves Mr Selfridge in a shop she’s working in, subsequently losing her job as a result of the exchange. Later, falling on hard times, she appeals to Mr Selfridge for a job in his store, and, what do you know, she too has a talent for shop-keeping. They’re both a little sickly sweet, but mean well and care about their family and friends. Denise’s story is far more central to the plot of The Paradise than Agnes’ is to Mr Selfridge, but Agnes is more ambitious than Denise, always prioritising herself and her career before any male advances.

Winner: It’s a draw on this one, as I can’t decide.

 Paradise 3 : Selfridge 2

5.   Mid Management Matriarch

Aside from the overall boss of the store, both Denise and Agnes work under the watchful eyes of their immediate departmental managers. For Agnes over at Mr Selfridge , this departmental manager is Miss Mardle, played by Amanda Abbington. Downtrodden and treated badly by her secret lover, chief of staff Mr Grove (Tom Goodman-Hill) Josie Mardle is initially quite grumpy, without many friends or ideas of her own. Things get a bit better when she befriends Miss Ravillious a new addition to the store and later Agnes’ second manager when she switches departments, and we start to see some lovely character development as she develops a bit of confidence. And  a bit of a back bone. And learns how to smile. Which is nice. There is certainly no lack of back bone in her counterpart over at The Paradise, however. The formidable Miss Audrey has ringlets to die for, a sharp tongue and is a career woman to the last. Sure, she can be a bit ridiculous, totally oblivious to the large amount of eye rolling going on whenever she is on her high horse and begins one of her speeches, but she ultimately means well. Ish. Anyway regardless of all that, she’s played by Sarah Lancashire, in precisely the sort of role she was born to play, so that should settle that, I think.

Winner: The Paradise. Why? Sarah Lancashire, that’s why.

Paradise 4 : Selfridge 2

6.   Male Support

No pretty young female lead or power hungry higher level professional lady would be complete without a little help from the boys. Well, they probably would, but I needed a Segway. Anyway, as you have doubtless come to expect by now, both shows have worthy contenders in the category of male support. A couple from each, in fact, The Paradise gave us Mr Dudley, Moray’s right hand man. Clean shaven, clever and just a little bit sarcastic, Dudley is an all-round nice bloke who keeps the madcap Moray’s feet on the ground, providing emotional support and love life advice to boot. Even if it isn’t heeded. We also have Sam (Stephen Wight) a well-meaning, slightly dozy lad about town. With a cheeky glint in his eye and a pithy comment never far from his lips, he develops a teensy crush on Denise. Sam’s equivalent in Mr Selfridge is a good looking bloke called Victor Colleano. Briefly a lover of Lady Mae (mind you, who hasn’t been?), Victor is a waiter in the store restaurant, with dreams of being the head Chef in his own establishment one day. He also has a not so terribly well hidden crush on Agnes. Finally, the Mr Dudley’s Oxford Street counterpart can be found in the form of Henri Leclair. French, creative and dashingly good looking, Agnes falls for Henri for a time, enjoying a brief affair with him before he vanishes off to a better job in New York, leaving Agnes to wander back to the slightly cocky Victor in her own good time.

Winner: Mr Selfridge, just for Henri, really. His name is fun to say in an over done French accent. 

Paradise 4 : Selfridge 3

7.   Guest Stars

Finally, ladies and gentlemen, we come to tonight’s final category. Guest stars. In theory, Mr Selfridge should be steaming ahead here, as the show’s different storyline every week but essentially leading to the same end point anyway premise provided an endless conveyor belt of guest starts. Fair enough I hear you cry, but The Paradise simply has to win this category for one reason only, and one guest star in particular. Playing the sleazy, desperately ambitious Bradley Burrows, and proving yet again that you can place him squarely in the shoes of any character and he’ll transform seamlessly into them- Arthur Darvill takes this win for the BBC’s department store offering. Even though he’s only in one or two episodes, and winds up in the river at the end of it.

Winner: Arthur Darvill. Er, sorry. I mean The Paradise.

Which makes the overall winning show The Paradise, with 5 points to Mr Selfridge’s 3. So there you are. In this instance, fictional BBC escapism wins out over slightly grittier ITV sort of historical drama.

I think I can live with that myself, but which was your favourite? Let us know!


- Jen 



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SERIES REVIEW: The Paradise

It only ended  a few days ago, and I already miss it.

I’m talking, of course, about The Paradise, product of the BBC’s latest rummage through the period drama cupboard. Based on an Emile Zola novel and with Sarah Lancashire amongst the corset bearing cast – it was always going to be good.

The storyline follows Denise, a young shop girl from Peebles as she embarks on a new life in the city, as well as a new job in local department store, The Paradise. The shop is run, naturally, by a devilishly handsome, clever man named Moray who, naturally, she falls wholeheartedly in love with rather quickly. The enigmatic Moray, however, is, naturally, engaged to manipulative neighbourhood gentry type Katherine Glendenning (Elaine Cassidy), who, hell bent on making Moray love her back no matter what the cost, will stop at nothing to get her way. Throw in a fantastic supporting cast of other shop workers, including the aforementioned Ms Lancashire, Stephen Wight and period drama veteran Ruby Bentall, and a guest appearance from Arthur Darvill for good measure, and you’ve got the makings, it would seem, of a very good show.

And lo, it was indeed good. Emun Elliott is brilliant as the seductive, charming Moray, perfectly capturing the torment of a man caught between respectability, success and his own feelings with none of the usual maudlin stiff upper lip, sense of responsibility frequently bestowed upon us by dramas of the genre. The man never stops smiling, or winking, or generally looking rather animated for longer than ten seconds throughout the entire series. At worst, he gets a bit angry – a welcome change from, in my view anyway, the expressionless men of BBC2’s Parade’s End of a few months back. Joanna Vanderham is adorable as Denise, refreshingly clever for a period female lead, whilst remaining a caring, kind and ultimately three dimensional person. Again, and I can't say the word enough it seems, all very refreshing.

The older characters and generally formal dialogue, however, keep it safely the other side of the comforting ‘in another time’ line, making the series, I found, perfect cosy night or lazy Saturday viewing. It’s also oddly engrossing, possibly because of the team like, homely atmosphere of the department store, as well as the engaging nature of the characters’ relationships with each other. The, albeit brief, appearance of the insanely versatile and ever talented Arthur Darvill didn’t hurt either.

My only real criticism of the show, and I seem to find myself saying this rather a lot about dramas, so apologies for the repetition, is the ending. Having led us by the hand into this interesting, poignant and sweetly funny world, the production team seemed to suddenly let go and disappear off into the night at the last moment, credits rolling behind them. Happy and again, very safe, though the ending was, it came about all too quickly and gave no real sense of resolution or character depth. Which was a huge shame, really, as I haven’t got a bad word to say about the rest of it.

Anyway, ignoring the irritatingly brief, and all too soon ending, The Paradise is well worth a catch on iplayer if you can. If not, the box set would make a lovely Christmas present- even if you do only buy it for me.

-Jen

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