Mr Selfridge gains real steam this week as the drama focuses on the show’s couples and develops them in some interesting ways with dramatic consequences.
For one couple, the doors of Selfridges appear to be closing for now.
Relationships, both in their development and breakdown, are the key theme of tonight’s episode – especially for Frank (Samuel West) and Kitty (Amy Beth Hayes) in the aftermath of her attack, which has some major ramifications for the couple.
Kitty’s discovery that the drunken men who attacked her were fed drink by Frank is a brilliant reveal. Hayes in particular is phenomenal here, putting in a stunning yet subtle performance as the broken Kitty, shaken by her encounter but even more so at her husband’s involvement and betrayal. That he stuggles to tell the truth about it also adds weight to her despair, yet West evokes a sympathy in us too, to an extent, and we can’t help but feel for the conflicted Frank.
Inevitably, Loxley betrays Sergei in this episode, bringing that relationship to an abrupt end.
“I’m out!” he says bluntly, to a shocked Sergei, in relation to his aerodrome project. “You’re not an aviator, you’re a playboy… Goodbye, Mr De Bolotoff.”
It is gratifying to see Sergei (Leon Ockenden) brought down a peg or two and realising he was a pawn in Loxley’s game, but it’s still irritating that Loxley appears to be gaining ground on Harry.
I did love how Rosalie (Kara Tointon) stood up against Loxley, when paying off Sergei’s gambling debts. He mocks her, but she stands up to him.
“That’s what wives do, Lord Loxley…if they love their husbands,” harking back to Lady Mae and the Loxley’s failed marriage. Tointon is very good here, standing firm when needed, but displaying a vulnerability with her husband and their troubled marriage.
The relationship between Agnes and Henri is dealt with, ending their Selfridges story. Aisling Loftus continues to be wonderful, as she confides in Harry her concerns for her husband’s health and their marriage.
“He’s so different from the man that he was,” Agnes explains, before Harry encourages her to fight. And fight she does, allowing Loftus and Gregory Fitoussi’s Henri some wonderful scenes as they decide to leave for France.
Their decision to leave makes sense, yet it is jarring. Loftus and Fitoussi have been with the show since it began and their relationship has always felt like the show’s central love story. The Le Clair’s Selfridge’s journey may be closing but at least they get a satisfying ending. A happy ending, to a degree, but certainly a hopeful one.
This is a beautifully produced episode with a lovely, witty script by Kate Brooke and some stunning direction from Robert Del Maestro, such as the close up as Kitty’s wound is sewn up, the sunlit park scene and the dark, canal scenes as Kitty identifies her attacker.
The most encouraging development is Harry’s infatuation with Nancy Webb gaining ground. When he inquires about her never marrying, she says “The right man hasn’t come along. I’d rather be alone than compromise.”
“I admire you. I’m not much good on my own,” Harry replies. Despite her protestations, Nancy gives in to her feeings, helped along by a wonderful speech from Harry (once again, Jeremy Piven endears) and it’ll be interesting to see where this new relationship goes.
At we reach the middle of the season, Mr Selfridge is at the fortunate point of keeping us hooked on existing stories (the De Bolotoff’s, Colleano’s criminal involvements) and displaying the beginnings of new ones (Harry and Nancy’s romance, Victor and Violette). If the second half of Season 3 maintains this drive, I can’t wait to tune back in next week.
Aired at 9pm on Sunday 15 February 2015 on ITV.
> Order Season 3 on DVD on Amazon.
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