Harlots

British television has a knack for doing more with less, and Harlots is a prime example. It is currently available in Australia on Stan, and in the US on Hulu, so there is no reason to keep putting it off. A 7/10 rating means the audience agrees — and those who disagree tend to be in a clear minority. The production does not waste your time: every episode earns its place in the run, and the pacing is calibrated to keep you watching rather than checking how much time is left. The run length is exactly right for the story being told. Alfie Allen is the anchor, but the depth of the supporting cast is what elevates it. Start it tonight and see for yourself why the ratings are where they are.

Character-driven storytelling at its most effective — Harlots earns every emotional beat it goes for. Brothel owner, Margaret Wells, struggles to raise her daughters in London during the 18th century. Alfie Allen and Danny Sapani lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. The series ran for 3 seasons (2017–2019), building a story that gave its audience time to invest properly. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages. The writing trusts the audience to sit with ambiguity rather than wrapping every episode in a tidy conclusion — it is the approach that separates good drama from great.

If you are looking for television that takes its characters seriously and rewards patient viewing, Harlots is exactly that. The structure gives the show room to develop relationships over time in a way that episodic television rarely manages, and the writers take full advantage of that space. Fans of The Buccaneers will find the same commitment to character here, with its own distinct sensibility and setting. Worth starting sooner rather than later — the earlier you get to it, the longer you will have to think about it.