Whom You Know Celebrates Our 16,000th Post with BBC Home Entertainment: The Paradise Earns Whom You Know's Highest Recommendation! Our Coverage Sponsored by Maine Woolens
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Nothing beats Paradise! I wasn’t so sure about this at first, but my skepticism lasted all of about three minutes before I was completely hooked. You can’t help but root for sweet, yet enterprising Denise (played by Joanna Vanderham) from the moment she appears on screen! Denise looks for a position as a shop assistant in Mr. Moray’s department store, The Paradise in the late 1800’s. All you want through the entire series is for Denise and Moray to succeed. Of course, you want them to end up together and succeed TOGETHER, but that seems almost to be a bonus to just seeing them both overcome their obstacles. The other workers at the shop (Jonas, Dudley, Miss Audrey, Pauline , Clara, Sam and Arthur) are almost like family, with all the love, but extra helpings of interlinking, back stories and cunning. Elaine Cassidy does a fantastic job as rich and loathsome (but you don’t really want her to be loathsome) Katherine, Moray’s fiancée. It’s a tough balance to pull off, and she does it perfectly. Denise steals the show and ultimately, Moray’s interest. I couldn’t get enough of this show and can’t wait for the next season! It's a must watch!
Whenever I receive a DVD from BBC Home Entertainment, I know I'm in for a treat. Marked by stellar acting performance, terrific writing, and authentic scenery and costumes, BBC simply knows how to get things right. Therefore, I was delighted to immerse myself in The Paradise, an engrossing series revolving around the first department store in Britain. Set in northern England in the 1870s, The Paradise stars Joanna Vanderham as Denise Lovett, a newly-arrived young woman whose uncle, Edmund, is an independent shopkeeper struggling to survive in the presence of the new, much more elegant department store, The Paradise. Denise is offered a job at the new, glamorous shop, which she accepts, much to the dismay of her uncle. The proprietor of The Paradise is a very slick and charming man, John Moray. Mr. Moray immediately sees the potential of the young and beautiful Denise, and what ensues is a fascinating soap opera of a tale as Denise learns to navigate her way in this exciting and exotic world. Full of romance, intrigue, and suspense, this captivating series simply blew me away. The acting performances are, as expected, truly top-notch, and the Victorian costumes and scenery are simply breathtaking. Highly recommended by this panelist!
Stepping into Paradise may be the best thing you do for yourself. Run, don't walk, and get a copy of the first season of this intensive course in commerce, and its foundation laid during the Victorian Era. With the "store wars" happening (there's currently another series along the same lines-we won't mention their name here), BBC Home Entertainment brings us into the land of the vapid consumer in the days when women were just starting to be allowed to venture far from the homestead alone. Women as consumers rates high on anyones reality check list, but in the Victorian heyday of "get", the goods were more luxurious, the market less accessible, and the shopper uneducated, as we are today. Leaving the other worldly reality aside, this is a love story as well, and you may very well recognize the hero, young Scottish heart throb, Emun Elliot. He's a man with a purpose in life, and a staff and a partner that he easily manages. In this world he has built, there is a level of fantasy that we can relate to: the magic of the exotic. After all, most British "consumers" hadn't been exposed to goods this rarified outside of London. The Paradise is located in the North, situated on a quaint street of local vendors, whom we get to know. Joanna Vanderham, also a Scottish actress, brings the central character to life in a plausible yet mystifying way. Her innocence beguiles, while her intelligence shines forth. You can see the ideas crackling in her brain as she transforms from country mouse to town beauty. The story line leaps along through the first season, and we can't wait to see Season Two. And we truly hope there will be a Season Three, given the content and wonderful acting by a cast of honed professionals.
The Paradise is another fabulous series from the BBC. Like many of their popular series lately, you cannot wait for the next episode to air. But now you don’t need to with the release of The Paradise on DVD. This three disc set will provide you with hours of entertainment. Set in Victorian times, follow the trials and tribulations of leading character Denise, a young woman who turns a desolate situation into a life filled with romance, modern conveniences and success. She is witty and brave and driven to change the situation she was born into. There are so many characters that are creatively developed and so weave their way into the story. The costumes are spectacular and really transport you into the era. The sets are elaborate and true to their time. I can only imagine the lengths they went to to create the setting as well as all of the props needed to really outfit the store and homes as well as they are executed here. So if you are ready for your next addiction, sit by the fire this winter with a bottle of wine and spend the day in “Paradise”.
If you love period pieces you will love The Paradise from BBC Home Entertainment. This lovely series is based on Britain's first department store, The Paradise. Set in the 19th century in Northern England, we are introduced to a time when shopping at a store was a production in itself. We meet Denise, a country girl looking for work as a shopgirl, who becomes memorized by The Paradise. Little does she know the world she will soon be emerged in: it may not be as it appears. Secrets, drama, romance and mystery soon unfold in the inter workings of the store and those who frequent it. As Denise tries to navigate through the ranks at the store many unexpected secrets soon reveal themselves. The Paradise is a lovely show with beautiful sets and costumes. As you are watching you find yourself envisioning how you would have faired in this Victorian era. I found The Paradise very entertaining and I am sure you will as well.
The Paradise has earned Whom You Know's Highest Recommendation.
THE PARADISE
Length: Approx. 471mins + bonus material/ 3-disc set (DVD)/ 2-disc set (Blu-ray)
Set amidst the Victorian splendor of Britain's first department store, The Paradise is a rags-to-riches story of a young girl who falls in love with the intoxicating charms of the modern world. As Denise (Joanna Vanderham, Dancing on the Edge, What Maisie Knew) finds her feet as a lowly shopgirl, she must navigate her way through power struggles, intrigues and affairs. When the shop's dashing and reckless owner, John Moray (Emun Elliot, Game of Thrones, Prometheus) spots her talents, she knows she can use this opportunity to rise to great things. In a world as colorful and captivating as the silks on display in the store, The Paradise is a love story with a mysterious, dark secret at its heart. Bonus feature Behind the Doors of Paradise includes a tour of The Paradise set, cast interviews and a visit to the show’s costume department.
