Dope Girls has started airing on BBC One (Image: BBC)
BBC One’s latest drama, Dope Girls, debuted on Saturday, 21 February, amidst a flurry of anticipation generated by its association with the iconic Peaky Blinders. Yet, despite the hype and the star-studded cast led by Eliza Scanlen, Umi Myers, and Julianne Nicholson, viewers were left unimpressed.
Dope Girls promised to deliver a gripping narrative, tracing the ascent of a working-class wife to become London’s most formidable underworld figure post-World War One.
It was with great expectation that audiences tuned in for Saturday’s premiere, given that Dope Girls had been touted as the “spiritual successor to Peaky Blinders” upon its initial announcement. The reality post-broadcast, however, painted a different picture as social media became abuzz with less-than-flattering reviews from disappointed fans.
A particularly disgruntled viewer took to Twitter venting their frustration: “How on Earth can you put this drivel in the same breath as Peaky Blinders? …always a sign that it’s garbage by trying to link it with another.”
The six-part series has landed on BBC iPlayer (Image: (Image: BBC))
Meanwhile, another viewer said: “I can’t work out if this show is really good or awful? But also can’t stop watching #DOPEGIRLS,” and somebody else said: “#DOPEGIRLS what a pile of s*** Is this really prime time Saturday night telly?”
Another viewer expressed their dissatisfaction, adding: “Think they were stoned when they made #DopeGirls. It’s all over the place.”
Clearly, Dope Girls has left viewers divided, and not quite ready to fill the shoes of the much-missed Shelby family saga, reports .
Dope Girls is set to “bring the Soho streets of 1918 vividly to life” in a series that draws inspiration from a forgotten era. The cast boasts big names such as Michael Duke, Ian Bonar, Dustin Demri-Burns and Geraldine James.
Dope Girls didn’t impress TV viewers (Image: (Image: BBC))
The official synopsis reveals: “It is the end of World War One. As Britain celebrates the Armistice on the streets of London men return from the front expecting to rejoin society and pick up where they left off, but a newly empowered generation of women are loath to simply return to the kitchen.
“Using Soho’s burgeoning illicit underground clubland scene as their playground women explore previously unimaginable opportunities on either side of the law. Dope Girls depicts in visceral, delicious detail the birth of the modern nightlife industry guided and gilded by hard fought female endeavour.”
Dope Girls airs on Saturdays at 9pm on One. All episodes are available to stream via iPlayer