The episode opens with Mary Hardacre (Claire Cooper) telling Sam Hardacre (Liam McMahon) about her dream. Maggie (Ella Maria Carmen) barges in and sees Sam on top of Mary. He hurriedly assumes his position on the bed. They snigger under the cover while Maggie lights the fire. An elated Liza Hardacre (Shannon Lavelle) hits a sleeping Joe Hardacre (Adam Little) with a pillow. Harry Hardacre (Zak Ford-Williams) teases him about being afraid to sleep alone. Joe claims it was the best sleep ever with them not around. She and Harry explore their new mansion. Mary and Sam stare at a painting of the previous owners. He questions if Maddie ever saw his bare backside. Mrs. Dryden (Ingrid Craigie) identifies the man as Sir William Cavendish IV who contracted TB and died. Mary agrees to discuss the running of the mansion after breakfast. Sam embraces her and says it is their home. She vows to never let anyone treat them poorly ever again. Beesley (Mark Doherty) reads off the breakfast menu. Sam asks if they are serving Hardacre herring before saying it is a joke. Ma (Julie Graham) is having breakfast in bed. Liza burps at the dining table. Mary invites them to join her to discuss the running of the mansion. Sam has a full schedule with the fish auction and shops. She reminds him that gentlemen don’t work in fish shops. He says herring is all he knows. She suggests he talk to Callum Saunders (Taheen Modak) about getting involved in their finances. He reluctantly agrees. She orders Joe to go with Sam.

Callum offers to explain the ins and outs of the stock market and the Hardacre portfolio. Sam stresses the need to find someone reliable to oversee the day-to-day operation. He asks Callum if he would like to be the manager of Hardacre Herring. Callum accepts his offer and they shake on it. Sam and Callum will exchange their knowledge of the operation and stocks. Dryden is surprised to find Mary in her office. She says the lady of the house never ventures below stairs. She offers to continue overseeing the ledgers but Mary insists on having a look. Looking at the supply list, Mary suggests it is for a month. Dryden says it is laid out weekly to accommodate seven meals and tea time. Mary insists on a simpler meal plan.

At the docks, Sam acquires herring fresh off the boat from Fred Holdsworth (Conor Deane). He informs Lena Temple (Siobhan O’Kelly) and Fred that he is stepping away from the shops. Mr. Shaw (David Pearse) orders them to get back to work and threatens to dock their pay if their quotas are down. Sam offers Fred a job at one of his shops. Fred declines his offer unless he can hire all of the fish workers and urges him to stop worrying about them. Later, Mary shows Liza a dress in a brochure. Focusing on her hand, Eliza sneers at it and asks what the life of a lady means. Mary says beautiful dresses, balls, and dashing men. Harry teases Eliza about the men dashing from her and places his cards on the table. Mary assures her that she had a much easier childhood than her. Ma sarcastically says she did okay for herself before placing her card on top of the stack. Smiling, Liza calls her a cheating old crone.

Joe and Sam are discussing stocks when they encounter Lord George Fitzherbert (Owen Roe) searching for his wife’s Russian wolfhound, Maharani. Ma and Liza are calling Tinny when they arrive. Learning Maharani is in heat, they agree to have a look around. Sam introduces George to Harry and Mary. Dryden offers George refreshments. Looking at his watch, he says it is nearly tea time. She informs him that the Hardacres don’t serve afternoon tea. Sam looks at Mary who shrugs her shoulders. George settles for Madeira and asks Harry why he isn’t in school. Mary tells him that they have been looking for a school. He recommends Barlow’s boarding school before quoting its motto. Mary asks if he missed his family while attending Barlow’s. He says no and explains the three Rs – Roughhousing, Rowing, and Ruddy Good Chaps. Harry is impressed. Upon finding Tinny and Maharani, Ma and Liza find themselves being held at gunpoint. Victor Ward (Connor Byrne) boasts of having the authority to shoot poachers. Ma reminds him that the law requires poachers to be armed to legally be shot. She warns him that Tinny will rip out his throat by the time he cocks his 12-barrel shotgun. He frees them to leave. Stepping forward, Ma informs him that her daughter is the landowner and he works for her. He apologizes. She assures him that she is no lady before walking away.

Sam explains how they made their fortune selling fried herring. George asks if he is still dealing in fish. Mary claims Sam oversees their fiancés. George informs them of his plan to establish England’s first vineyard on his estate. Harry asks if Yorkshire is suitable for growing grapes. George says under the right conditions when Ma and Eliza return with Tinny and Maharani. Mary invites him to dinner. He says Saturday will be great. Reading from a book, Harry learns George married Emma Hansen who is related to the Danish royal family. Mary appoints Liza as her helper in preparing for dinner guests. Disappointed, Liza asks why Joe can’t help her. Mary says he is busy learning stocks and bonds before making smuggling a forbidden dinner topic.

Lady Emma Fitzherbert (Cathy Belton) claims the Hardcares are richer than the Saltmarshes. Lady Adella Fitzherbert (Holly Sturton) says the eldest son is supposedly handsome. George tells them that the Hardacres were interested in his wine business. Emma points out that he doesn’t have a wine business. He assures her that it could happen if Sam would be willing to invest in his idea. She is appalled by the thought of him begging from the Hardacres. He asks how else he will afford the upkeep of their manor and Adella’s dowry. She reluctantly agrees to go to the dinner.

Dryden describes Emma as being elegant and beautiful. She says Adella is the most eligible debutante in the country. She shows Mary and Liza where the silver and China are stored. Mary asks for her help in preparing for the dinner. After refusing to help with the dinner, Dryden orders Mrs. Henderson (Paula Wolfenden) to follow Mary’s instructions for Saturday’s dinner and no input. Sam asks Beesley to explain a gentleman’s day. Beesley the first thing is to read the newspapers, respond to letters, and oversee the estate management which is Victor’s job. He offers to apply for membership on his behalf at Cavendish’s club. Sam assures him that he and Cavendish have different interests. Mary is considering a royal roast for Saturday’s dinner. She informs Sam that tailors and dressmakers will be there tomorrow morning. He asks why. She says the dinner is their introduction into society and he needs something appropriate to wear.

The dressmakers and tailors arrive with a collection of readymade dresses and suits. The Hardcares pose in their attire. Fred claims Shaw fired him because he allowed a sick worker to leave early. Sam and Mary readily agree to find him work at one of their shops. Fred denies knowing anything but working at the docks. Sam insists on speaking with Shaw. Mary reminds him of their previous squabble and asks if he is looking for a reason to return to the docks. He denies the accusation and complains about gentlemen readying and discussing newspapers all day. She expresses her desire for the two of them to move forward together. The next day, Sam barges into Shaw’s office and calls him a fool. Shaw says, “A monkey in a suit is still a monkey.” Sam threatens to ruin him if he doesn’t sell to him. Later, Mary is decorating the dining table when Sam arrives home. He tries to tell her about what happened, but she rushes him off to get dressed.

Emma scolds George for not telling him that Sam is Irish. Mary greets the Fitzherberts with a curtsy. Emma assures her that it isn’t necessary. Mary introduces her family. Sam tells them that they were dockworkers and lived in the village. When dinner is served, Emma reminds Beesley that the first course is soup. He says there will be no fish or soup course. Mary says they have put the docks behind them. Emma and George’s son, Crispin is on an exploration expedition in West Africa. Emma expresses her desire for Adella to wed Lord Bathurst, the heir of the Charlton estate. Adella blurts out that Bathurst has not proposed yet and they have barely met. Liza says it isn’t her style to prance about for a load of silly boys. Bread and butter pudding is served. Sam tells them that it is his favorite. Emma asks if Dryden is still working for them. After dinner, George invites Sam to go grouse hunting with him. Ma boasts of her shooting skills. Sam informs them of his recent purchase, Shaw’s Fish Merchants. Upset, Mary orders Joe to show Adella around. Emma insists on a chaperone. Mary orders Liza and Harry to accompany them. Emma is shocked when Ma joins Sam and George for a brandy. Looking at the liquor, Adella suggests they have some fun. Sam tells George that he plans to fix up the fish market. Adella and Joe pressure Harry into drinking a full glass of alcohol. Liza tries to stop him but gulps it down. While playing cards, Ma ups the stakes by convincing George to bet on his fancy watch. Adella calls Harry a horrible boy for vomiting on her dress. Liza says it was her stupid idea. Harry apologizes. Joe takes the blame and claims to have tried to stop Harry from drinking. Liza calls him a liar. Irate, Mary sends them to bed. Sam demands Sam accompany him to the docks tomorrow.

Ma offers to speak with Dryden but Mary insists it should be her. On the lower level, Mary overhears Maggie saying Emma’s face much have been a picture. Dryden says they are going ruin the standing of this house. Beesley says she played her part. Henderson questions what Dryden has against the hardacres. Dryden calls the children animals, Ma a criminal, Sam a simpleton, and Mary a common fishwife. Mary returns to her room. Sam tells her that he approved of Harry going to Barlow’s. She says he makes another decision without consulting her first. He asks if she is happy there. She claims it is everything she ever wanted. The episode ends.

 

The Westacres Review

The series is one big insult to poor people. The writers insinuate poor people don’t have intellect, manners, or instinct. Money doesn’t make a person but it can help them advance into society much smoother. It’s already shown that Mary is a strong-minded woman who doesn’t back down to a challenge. So, why not discipline or terminate her ungrateful, rude, uppity servants? Having asked this, it irked me to the point of distraction. I must admit, if this was for entertainment purposes, I would have turned it off and not looked back.

The writing is lame, repulsive, and laughable. An irritating rags-to-riches story with little entertainment value. The episode deserves a 4.5 out of 10.

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