It’s the end of the line for period drama Harlots at Hulu. The streamer has canceled the series after three seasons.
Harlots was set against the backdrop of 18th century Georgian London and offered a new take on the city’s most valuable commercial activity – sex. The series, based on the stories of real women, followed Margaret Wells (Samantha Morton) and her daughters, as she struggles to reconcile her roles as mother and brothel owner. When her business comes under attack from Lydia Quigley (Leslie Manville), a rival madam with a ruthless streak, Margaret will fight back, even if it means putting her family at risk. Jessica Brown Findlay starred as Charlotte, Margaret’s eldest daughter, and the city’s most coveted courtesan who begins to grapple with her position in both society and her immediate family.
Harlots wrapped its third season back in August and like most streamers, Hulu doesn’t release viewership stats so it’s a little unclear what led to the cancellation. Hulu has added multiple original series as part of its FX on Hulu hub, with originals including Mrs. America, Devs, and the upcoming The Old Man and A Teacher, so maybe Harlots didn’t align with where they wanted to be headed. The show was well-received, however, scoring an impressive 97 percent and 92 percent rating among critics and viewers, respectively, on aggregate site RottenTomatoes.com.
