The fairy tale of The Hardacres is entertaining. From the creators of All Creatures Great and Small (2020), the trailer begins. Despite being set in a different time, The Hardacres' atmosphere is indeed comparable. A straightforward story, yet often quite challenging. The result is a delightfully lighthearted series focused primarily on entertainment, rather than on serious undertones.
The Hardacres centers on a working-class family working at the docks. Life is hard and the working conditions are harsh. When Sam Hardacre (Liam McMahon) has an accident at work, the family is threatened with even greater poverty. His wife, Mary (Claire Cooper), refuses to let things go and tries to earn some extra money. When her boss at the docks treats her unfairly, she decides to start her own business. However, it doesn't work out that way.
From the makers of All Creatures Great and Small
The resident mother, simply called Ma (Julie Graham), wants to return to her old job. She's eager to teach her granddaughter Liza (Shannon Lavelle) the tricks of the smuggling trade. Sam and Mary's sons are thus pursuing their own paths. The disabled and intelligent Harry (Zak Ford-Williams) goes with his mother. Joe (Adam Little) continues working at the docks.
After a few setbacks, things suddenly take a turn for the better. Thanks to the profits from selling fried herring and some good investments, The Hardacres suddenly become very wealthy. Out of nowhere, they find themselves among the nouveau riche. This gives them a completely different life. Their impoverished existence and the small, somewhat dilapidated house are exchanged for a more relaxed lifestyle and a large country estate. Yet, the family doesn't completely leave their old ways behind. This creates not only appreciation but also unexpected tensions.
Mary, moreover, appears to be completely absorbed in the world of the (old) rich. She does everything she can to fit in. The rest of the family reluctantly allows themselves to be drawn into a world that clearly doesn't suit them. The required etiquette is foreign to them. Ma, in particular, waltzes like a bull through the (well-stocked) china shop. The elite are not exactly fond of the Hardacres. Yet, the family manages to win the hearts of several of them. However, trust proves fragile, and the Hardacres remain outsiders, not only among the elite but also among their old friends.
The Hardacres has everything a period drama should be. Wealth comes to the family so quickly and easily, a far cry from the harsh realities of that era. The series clearly wants to explore the difference between the newly wealthy working class and the old, historically built-up affluent. This results in engaging stories that are sometimes delightfully abrasive. The strict rules are thoroughly tested, and the Hardacres family also faces a tough challenge. It sounds more serious than it actually is, as the series remains largely lighthearted without lapsing into overly corny jokes.
Wonderful series to binge-watch.
The Hardacres is a fun series. It's easy to watch. The transition from poor to rich moves a bit too quickly, in my opinion. There could have been more story there than is currently shown. On the other hand, this gives ample opportunity to magnify the gap between rich and poor. The awkward situations between these two worlds make for infectiously entertaining television. Moreover, the creators still manage to effectively depict the hard life of the working class in several episodes, if only because the family regularly returns to their roots. A wonderful series for binge-watching.
About the writer, Karzal
Mike (1995) has been a member of MySeries since 2016 and is mainly active on the English version of the site. Since 2018, he has been actively translating news articles, columns, reviews and basically everything that ends up on the Dutch site. The original articles, columns and reviews were actually written by others. During the week Mike can be found at IKEA, where he is a national systems specialist and occasionally also in the classroom to teach an English lesson. In addition, Mike logically enjoys watching series and has actually been spoon-fed this from an early age. The genre doesn't matter, there is a place for everything in the otherwise busy life.
