It was party time for Mr Selfridge as the series continued (Picture: ITV)

Having foisted several enticing plot threads upon us in the first episode of the second series, Mr Selfridge continued to dangle drama a-plenty under our noses in episode two.

With last week’s instalment ending as the world teetered on the brink of war, this week’s saw the staff faced with ‘uncertain times’ (they mentioned that quite a lot, actually) as they balanced both the threat of global conflict with their own issues closer to home – something which wasn’t helped when trade unionists showed up on the doorstep, attempting to convince them that the second war broke out Mr Selfridge would be off back to America and you wouldn’t see him for dust.



It was all too much to take in until the man himself – having assured the staff he wasn’t going anywhere – decided they really needed was a spot of morale-boosting fun.

What this meant in episode terms was Miss Towler being tasked with putting on some kind of ‘pride of Britain’ display in the store (and her spending much of the time looking rather uncertain about what it was she was meant to do, exactly) and the staff being cheered up thoroughly with a party which went from a small affair in the Palm Court to a big, bold, office night out at Delphine’s, complete with tango dancers.


Meanwhile the trade unionists refused to give up, attempting to entice some of the staff into a rebellion of sorts while everybody else was off enjoying themselves at the party. Their efforts were quickly thwarted by both the workers themselves and by Gordon, showing up in a last minute heroic act of ‘don’t you talk about my father like that’-style proportions, but you get the distinct impression they’ll be back before long.

Mr Grove confided his sleep deprivation troubles to Mr Crabb (Picture: ITV)

No fun and games for Mr Grove

Having dropped hints in last week’s episode that having three children under five wasn’t exactly doing much for his ability to sleep, cracks began to appear in Mr Grove’s veneer when he firstly showed up late for work looking slightly exhausted and later when he knocked back far too much of the complimentary booze at the staff party. The fact he also confessed to his wife having a fourth child on the way suggests this one is going to run and run.

MORE: Mr Selfridge series two episode one – new arrivals, old faces and a slightly creepy statue as wartime looms

And someone else who was far from happy was Lady Mae, whose attempts to escape Lord Loxley by heading to their country residence took an unexpected turn when he announced that a Dutch lodger had moved in. Seemingly stuck in London with her unpleasant spouse, their trip to the Selfridge party ended in disaster – and in Loxley showing a decidedly darker side to his character.

Loxley shows a darker side (Picture: ITV)

Rose’s reunion causes trouble



Harry’s marital problems reared their head once more as he told Rose that he wanted them to be closer once more (with impeccable timing, no less, as she trundled off to her separate bedroom at the end of an entertaining evening).

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Not that this was helped by her paying a secret visit to Henri Leclair, who had clearly fallen on hard times since resigning from the store.

Not that Harry was at all pleased when he found out that Rose had seen him. Could those attempts at rekindling their romantic spark be over before they even began? Still, she always has her new friendship with Delphine to fall back on – and from the looks of it, it may not be long before her husband also falls for the novelist’s charms.