Mr Selfridge

If you want a drama that takes its characters as seriously as its plot, Mr Selfridge is available in Australia on ABC iview, and in the US on PBS and Thirteen right now. The 4-season run is exactly the right length for what it is doing. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Watch it for Jeremy Piven — one of the stronger performances out there right now. Available now on ABC iview — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Mr Selfridge is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. Mr Selfridge takes its time building the world its characters inhabit, and the patience pays off. Mr. Selfridge recounts the real life story of the flamboyant and visionary American founder of Selfridge's, London's lavish department store. Set in 1909 London, when women were reveling in a new sense of freedom and modernity, it follows Harry Gordon Selfridge ('Mile a Minute Harry'), a man with a mission to make shopping as thrilling as sex. Jeremy Piven and Ron Cook lead a cast that treats the material with real seriousness. The series ran for 4 seasons (2013–2016), building a story that gave its audience time to invest properly. The writing trusts the audience to sit with ambiguity rather than wrapping everything up in a tidy conclusion — it is the approach that separates good drama from great. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Drama fans who appreciate slow-burn storytelling will feel right at home with Mr Selfridge. The tonal similarities to Little Dorrit are real, though Mr Selfridge carves out its own identity quickly. Short enough to finish in a weekend, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Jeremy Piven is the centre of it, and it is one of their strongest performances on record. The patience it asks of you early on is paid back with interest.

Mr Selfridge wrapped up in 2016, created by Andrew Davies — and 4 seasons are available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.