Gentleman Jack, a very unique and different show which I have enjoyed watching all 8 episodes in this series. This show was created by Sally Wainwright and uses a section of the real Anne Lister's dairy entries.
Gentleman Jack tells the story of a Victorian landowner who writes everything down in her dairies, Anne Lister. Anne is described as the first modern lesbian. This first series is a true account of Anne's life as a woman of high social standing due to the large estate she inherited from her father and her relationship which she detailed in her diary.
In this first series, Anne Lister has returned to Shibden Hall after another failed romance with a woman who ended up marrying a man. Therefore, she has returned home and set her sights on the coal industry and Ann Walker.
We get the finale and ending we have all been waiting for since this show began. This final series episode is all about love and the romance that many people may hope to have. This show is all about finding love, no matter who you are and who you love. This show deals with serious issues that we are dealing with now like mental health and acceptance of LGBT+ community in society. In the era this show was set it was very difficult for anyone who didn’t follow societies norms to be accepted and live a peaceful life. Anne Lister was exactly this, she knew the life she led wasn’t easy, but she did it and she was being truthful to herself and the kind of person she wanted to be.
Ann Walker and Anne Lister become friends and partners. Unfortualty, Walker suffers some mental health issues revolving around who she and Lister are. Her family have told her stories about two men who were hung because they were together. This drives Walker almost insane; she begins to overthink which in the end she starts to hear voices which she believes to be sprits. Eventually Walker and Lister are separated which causes so much heart break for them both. It is clear they both love each other yet other factors stop them being together. Mainly, it wasn’t right, back when this was set, for two women or men to be together. This is in a time when religion was still extremely important in society and meant only a man and a woman could be together and get married. It was seen as unholy for any other arrangement to take place. However, today in 2019 we have gay marriage, which is a step in the right direction and more people are becoming more accepting. Not everywhere is as accepting about gay marriage or relations yet it is starting for more countries and nations to accept it.
What Gentleman Jack does is show us two sides Lister's family is very supporting of her and the decisions she makes as they don’t want her to end up alone. On the other side, Walker's family aren’t as accepting. We see that Lister and Walker are meant to be with each other.
In the final episode of this series, we get what we have been waiting for since these two met. They have battled through many challenges separately and together and in the end, they have figured out what they want and that is to be with each other for the rest of their lives. It is a really sweet and emotional scene to watch when Lister and Walker confess their feelings on a hilltop and embrace. This is the thing we have been waiting for from the first moment these two characters met. Also, it is interesting to see the change in Ann Walker, she started off a timid and nervous woman and now she is strong.
Only a small amount of the dairy entries was used for this first series yet so much happened. It is interesting that everything that happened really happened. Life won't be easy for Lister and Walker, but we get to see them negotiate life in another series which will air this time next year. This show is similar to Killing Eve, in the sense this show focuses on two women who are the main characters.
I have enjoyed every episode in this series. The story-lines were always interesting to watch, never lost interest when watching. We have become attached to our couple and only want the best for them. Hopefully, the next season Anna Walker and Anne Lister will stay strong together.
