Harlots, a period drama that has drawn comparisons to Game of Thrones and boasts a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, is now available to stream for free on U. The series originally aired in 2017 and quickly gained critical acclaim for its portrayal of 18th-century London's brothel culture.
Set in Georgian London, the show follows brothel keeper Margaret Wells, played by Samantha Morton, as she fights to secure a better future for her daughters Charlotte (Jessica Brown Findlay) and Lucy (Eloise Smyth). The plot thickens with religious campaigners seeking to shut down the city's brothels and a bitter rivalry with rival madam Lydia Quigley, portrayed by Lesley Manville.
The three-season drama is inspired by historian Hallie Rubenhold's book The Covent Garden Ladies, which explores the real-life stories behind Harris's List of Covent Garden Ladies, an annual catalogue of sex workers in London between 1760 and 1794. Harlots offers a dramatised look at the lives of these women.
Viewers have praised the series for its depth and character development. One IMDb reviewer called it 'deliciously outstanding' and 'so much more than sex', noting that it is 'a TV show about women to women'. Another fan said it provides 'a very fascinating insight into 18th-century England' and that the sex scenes 'don't seem gratuitous' given the subject matter.
A third viewer described the drama as 'surprisingly addicting', highlighting its 'Game of Throne-esque betrayal, alliances, bribery, coercion, corruption, politics, sex, and revenge'. The series is now streaming for free on U.
