YMMV / Harlots

• Awesome Moment:
  • The Prince gets one when, after being told by multiple women about how Harcourt abused them (and in Isabella's case raped and impregnated her) he finally takes a stand and dismisses Harcourt from court, making it very clear that he himself is displeased with Harcourt. He also says that if ANYTHING happens to the women who have accused him he will make sure Harcourt hangs before coldly ordering Harcourt removed from the premises.
  • In the same scene Harcourt, realizing he's been exposed, tries to bullshit his way out by asking Isabelle "What lies have you told him?" She responds "the truth."
• Ass Pull: The death of Charlotte in season 3 set off a flurry of negative reactions. A lot of fans felt it came of nowhere and that the manner of death (accidentally getting knocked over a balcony) was ridiculous. No one could see the point of killing off such a beloved and important character besides having a dramatic plot twist.
• Base-Breaking Character: Isabella: You either love her backstory and storyline or hate seeing the attention being taken away from the working class leads.
• Complete Monster: Lord Harcourt Fitzwilliam, Marquess of Blayne, is the leader of the Spartans, a rape and murder sex cult. Through the Spartans, Harcourt has young women, especially virgins, provided so he may know the thrill of raping and murdering them. Terrorizing his lonely sister Isabella, Harcourt had raped her at a young age, glorying how he "broke" her, while financially controlling her in the present day. Harcourt abuses and hurts all around him, forcing a failed Spartan to kill himself to keep himself safe, and after suffering a loss against the heroines, he demands the normally unscrupulous brothel keeper Lydia Quigley give him a new victim to rape and murder. Harcourt even has his own daughter with Isabella seduced by a servant to ruin her, just to hurt Isabella more. Finally, Harcourt attempts to rape and murder Lucy Wells, being a living near-embodiment of misogynist sadism.
• Die for Our Ship: Many fans are sour about the fact that Charlotte started sleeping with Isaac, since they mostly ship her with Isabella.
• Ensemble Dark Horse: Elizabeth and Fredo Harvey have gotten a very positive reception.
• Hilarious in Hindsight: This isn't the first time that Jessica Brown Findlay has had a charming Irishman beg her to run away with him.
• Les Yay: Loads of cute subtext in the friendship between Charlotte and Lady Fitz. In the sixth episode, it officially stops being subtext.
• Like You Would Really Do It:
  • Amelia survives her stabbing attack. This show isn't that cruel to invoke Too Good for This Sinful Earth.
  • Margaret manages to avoid being killed off, no surprise as she's a main character. The build-up to her execution does become agonizingly long and suspenseful enough to take away any feelings of safety for her, though...and she was just a second away from death.
• Love to Hate: Lydia Quigley is fun to watch for her ruthless and manipulative nature, as well as for Lesley Manville's incredible performance.
• Rescued from the Scrappy Heap: In season 3, Lucy's storyline with Harveys was very well-received and even won her some fans.
• Romantic Plot Tumor: While it may just be for sex, a lot of fans find it baffling that Charlotte shows any interest in Isaac after all the awful things he did to her and her loved ones. Almost nobody is interested in that relationship.
• The Scrappy:
  • A lot of fans find Lucy Wells rather annoying and boring, especially in the first season. She's often the Vanilla Protagonist of her episodes. This lessens in season 3.
  • Isaac Pincher is disliked due to his violet temper and thuggish behavior. His relationship with Charlotte isn't looked upon well at all.

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