Fix: Fluffy Period Piece
Platforms: Prime Video, BritBox, Hoopla, Acorn TV
Netflix Summary:
A small-town girl with big ideas moves to the city and takes a job at The Paradise—the nation’s first-ever department store.
FYA Summary:
Denise is a girl on a mission—and that’s to make a way for herself in London. But when her uncle doesn’t have enough work in his dress shop for them both, Denise is forced to turn elsewhere for a living. And in this case, elsewhere is right across the street—at The Paradise, the first department store in London, and Denise’s uncle’s direct competition.
Familiar Faces:
Matthew McNulty as Dudley
I know Matthew from Misfits, where he played a kind of sketchy guy with a secret. Dudley’s quite different; he’s a family man with a good head for business.
Elaine Cassidy as Katherine Glendenning
I know I’ve seen Elaine before, but none of her roles really stand out to me. She plays a spoiled, rich, high-society woman (i.e., Katherine) nicely, though.
Peter Wight as Edmund Lovett
It’s the bartender from Hot Fuzz! (Is it sad that I only know Peter from this?)
Patrick Malahide as Lord Glendenning
It’s Balon Greyjoy! (Again, I apparently need to watch more British TV.)
Couch-Sharing Capability: Low
The Paradise is a sweet, quiet show. There’s not a whole lot of action, nor are there a lot of “holy crap” moments of revelation to talk about. Also, the series is eight episodes long, so unless your friends and family enjoy binge-watching as much as you do, you might want to go this one alone.
Recommended Level of Inebriation: Sipping Suggested
This isn’t the kind of show during which one needs to go on a bender. This is the kind of show that’s made for fancy cocktails or a good vintage. And a cheese plate.
Use of Your Netflix Subscription: Good
Currently, Netflix only has the first season of The Paradise available for streaming. The season ends on a good note, however, and not a massive cliffhanger, which makes it easier when it ends. I’ve had this show on my “to watch” list for a while, and I’m glad I finally gave it a chance. It was a great show to watch in the background while working on other projects, and before I knew it I found myself wanting to continue rather than just letting Netflix keep going because I wasn’t paying attention.
