Gentleman Jack (2019) is set in 1832 Halifax, West Yorkshire, and based on the diaries of Anne Lister (1791-1840), a landowner and industrialist who wrote extensively of her daily life and her same-sex love affairs. It’s airing on HBO in the U.S. and the BBC in the U.K. Check out our interview with the series costume designer Tom Pye. Read all our series recaps here.
Well, here it is, the last episode! My worst fear that we’d get some awful cliffhanger does NOT happen, thankfully, but I have a quibble with the exact way the last scenes played out. But to get there, we saw some spiffy new costumes and a few characters show their better sides. Let’s have at it!
Aunt Lister has received a letter from Anne, written while en route to Copenhagen. Anne is accompanying Madame de Hage’s young niece, Miss Sophie Ferrall.
Sophie is rather perceptive — she can tell Anne has a broken heart and asks is it over a he or a she. Anne is noncommittal.
Back at Lister’s coal pit, a dead horse/mule means they’re going over budget. Mr. Washington wonders if they should contact Miss Lister?
She has arrived in Copenhagen and is met by Lady Harriet De Hagemann (is this Vere’s relation?) and plans to stay through spring and then continue on to Russia.
Anne receives some letters … but not from Miss Walker. It’s been four weeks since she heard from Elizabeth Walker, Ann’s sister.
In Scotland, Ann doesn’t look so good.
Her sister asks Capt. Sutherland if there’s been a letter from Miss Lister, but the dude says newp. Is he diverting the mail? He ‘worries that it’s unhealthy,’ Ann’s obsession with Lister. FUCK THIS GUY.
Elizabeth sticks up for Lister, saying she was the first to visit the Walker sisters when their mother died. But Walker’s shitty husband pushes the idea that Ann will happier via marriage and babies with his cousin. Elizabeth makes pointed comment about having babies not being a cure for what ails ya.
At a fancy dinner in Copenhagen, Lister is having a gay old time, and everyone says she should be presented at court.
Marian reads a letter to her Aunt from Anne, saying ‘Countess Blücher has adopted Lister.’ Aunty is coughing and under a blanket, she’s not feeling so great … Lister wrote another letter, this one all business, to Mr. Washington, which he reads to Dad. Sounds like Anne is maybe kinda sorta asking for more money to work on the coal pit.
Back in Scotland, Walker is giving up again and burns her drawing of Lister. Girl, please!
In Copenhagen, Lister is super excited — she just visited the royal court and curtseyed to the wrong person! So she tells Countess Blücher and a finely dressed friend.
In the Danish court itself, Anne is lookin’ good and seems all confident, but young Queen Marie of Denmark is disarmingly direct.
She asks Anne about turmoil and machinery in England’s north, saying “we must embrace the future.” Conservative Anne is flustered, and even more so when the queen asks why Anne wears black. Lister spills the story of a ‘broken engagement’ in 1816 that caused her to wear black (without saying who or a gender).
The queen again talks of the future and invites Lister to the royal birthday ball where everyone will be in white.
Cut to Lister in a white ballgown, clomping around purposefully and not elegantly. But, damn lady, those feathers!
Lister hits on Sophie asking her to dance, and they do an aggressively frisky dance.
Back in Scotland, Walker is moping, surrounded by squalling infants. She asks her sister if Elizabeth likes being a mother, no really. ‘It’s a lot of work. It’s like having your brains sucked out your…’ HAH.
Ann goes wishy-washy again, about marrying a man and doing what everyone else wants and not what she wants. Elizabeth dishes the dirt on that MacKensie dude saying he’s penniless, abusive, and a waste of space. Elizabeth IS a good sister and confesses that Lister did write and that Ann should GTFO because Capt. Sutherland wants to force Ann to marry. Ann should go find Lister because “sometimes good friendships are better than marriage.”
Ann writes to the Priestlys for help, and they’re kind interested in doing what’s right, but they kinda want to put shit off and they’re still worried about Lister FFS.
Aunt Lister has another letter from Anne saying she’s off to more travels. Marian listens, along with the doctor, DUN DUN DUNNNNN. Doc says Aunt’s health is going downhill fast and writes to Lister for Marian.
Sowden pig farm. CrazyDad’s bro just shows up for no good reason — ‘cept to blow holes in their cover story, ‘natch.
The Priestlys arrive in Scotland — Mr. Priestly and Ann argue about who’ll deal with Capt. Sutherland, lol. “It’s my decision!” Ann declares. You go, girl, finally!
Ann also demands to see Dr. Belcome in York. The Priestlys tell her that Lister plans to travel more abroad, and they’re glad this business with her is over. HAH.
Lister is on a ship home. REUNION HAPPENING IN 3… 2…
Side note: I’m amused that the Priestlys are playing the alphabet game in the carriage home, y’know, like on any road trip.
Llister arrives home at Shibden, and Eugenie barfs at the door — NOT pregnant this time, actually sea and travel-sick. Aunty is so glad to see Anne she gets out of bed. The doctor is shocked, Marian is surprised, but whatever, this was a narrative means to an end (that said, her aunt dies in 1836, and it’s been a year or so elapsed time? hard to tell exactly).
Dad asks where are the deeds to Shibden. He tells her about the problems with the coal pit works so far, and they’ll need more money.
Walker arrives home, she’s pleased about that at least. She thinks things over for about a minute and head out again.
Carriage arrives at Shibden. It’s Miss Walker and only the kitchen maid is available. Walker talks to Marian and Dad and discovers that Lister has come home.
Off at the coal pit, Mr. Washington explains the problems and how money will fix ’em. It’s always money. Anne and her thwarted ambitions in every arena of life come to a head right here — she screams in frustration.
Then Miss Walker shows up at the coal pit! Ann finally understands her sister’s marriage — Sutherland married her for money, and she’s miserable. Ann Walker doesn’t want that.
Walker: “If you asked me to marry you again, I wouldn’t say no.”
Lister: “But would you say yes?”
Walker: “Yes.
Lister: “Would you say yes and stick to it and mean it?”
Walker: “Yes.”
Cut to some wedding cart — oh it’s the Washington family and the Sowden family, I DON’T CARE YOU’RE NOT MY LESBIANS FUCK OFF GO BACK TO LISTER AND WALKER.
Lister and Walker go to York to exchange rings and take the sacrament together. But I don’t fucking need the mirrored wedding scenes between the hets and the queers to make it look ‘right and proper’ or some such bullshit. Just give me Lister and Walker, FFS.
Yes, back at the Sowden wedding, the uncle mentions to Mr. Washington that he didn’t know shit about his bro going to America. Saw that coming a billion miles away, DON’T CARE.
In York, Lister and Walker discuss moving in to Shibden and telling everyone. And cutely bickering, “Are you still talking?” Lister says to her (the title of this episode and the last words for the series!).
Dawwww! I love a happy ending! <3 <3 <3
Season 2 starts filming in 2020 — check our Upcoming Movies page for an air date when we know more.
I was grinning from ear to ear with the pit scene and very very romantic and passionate kiss. I, too, wanted more Anne/Ann and I’m straight. Poor Susannah Sowden nee Washington married to a patricide.
Back to Anne/Ann loved how they cutely bickered about her beauty at end. I feel Ann Walkeris a better match for Anne than conventional mousy Marianne. Ann Walker has daring, courage and backbone – something Marianne didn’t.
Cannot wait to see season 2 and how Mrs Gossipy Priestley reacts to the Walker Lister alliance.
Walker found her courage so beautifully!
Yes. But I think her sister helped her to do it and her seeing what a marriage shouldn’t be helped immensely.
And I would not trust Captain Sutherland to do anything.
I was worried about her sister, but yes, she stepped up. Heck, the Priestlys even did, in a way.
I’m still a bit worried for Ann’s sister. Captain asshole was not at all courteous when he told her to go inside.
Ann Walker rescued herself, Yay! I honestly didn’t think she had it in her.
About those children, shouldn’t they have a nursemaid or two?
Realistically, yeah, the Sutherland household could have afforded some servants, but I think they weren’t showing them to reinforce the idea of Elizabeth’s unhappy marriage. So many kids in such a short time, controlling husband, etc.
Given his remarks that children make a woman better and healthy and whatever, he might also be convinced that a mother should be with her children always. Elizabeth looked positively afraid when she snuck away from her kids to tell Ann about Anne’s letter.
My favorite part, which you screen captured, was when Lister looks into the camera before they go into the church with the huge, thrilled grin. I thought Ann seemed to gain her backbone and self-confidence a little abruptly, but their banter as they left the church at the end was very charming.
Damn, that was such a good moment!
I did a double take with one of the screencaps of Lister at the ball. Between her white glove, a man’s white breeches and the angle of her hand, it looked like she lost a forearm. That would be quite the plot twist :P
Sorry, just a screencap mishap, LOL! It was about 100 degrees at my house last night.
Not to mention Queen Marie seeming armless in her first screencap
I didn’t want it to end. Such wonderful production and acting. Wish they had another season already in the can.
It’s gonna be a long wait!
I giggled at the scene with the queen… of course Anne Lister has chemistry with the Queen of Denmark. The scene where Anne and Ann reunited was just sublimely shot, written, and acted. I couldn’t stop smiling for the last 20 minutes of the episode. Loved your recaps!
Me too, Anne & the queen was great! So many wonderful scenes in this finale — it’ll just have to tide us over for a while.
Oh man, I skipped through the Sowden scenes. Yawn. Gimme fancy cute lesbians in love any day. Did they make them boring on purpose? What’s her name, bride, Washington’s daughter, has had what, two whole lines this season? I’d be surprised if I care at all how their story plays out.
I loved how the idea of Anne being interested in Ann’s health made her realise she wanted Anne to be interested in her. All the introspection in Scotland must have done her some good at least, and I felt that final revelation pushed her that final step. I love the Priestlys for them to go to Scotland just for the purpose of picking Ann up. It’s not all that close and it would have cost them quite some time, and at least a fair bit of money.
I also liked how they’ve shown that since that little mishap in the bank, Marianne (sister, not lover Marianna) and Anne’s relationship has been much better. They show love and not just annoyance. that little affectionate pat on the head, and Marianne’s goofy smile… I just love it. Also, are they hinting that Marianne and useless doctor are a future item?
I was watching the last part with little hearts in my eyes. Can they please just live happily ever after now? No more nonsense, prying relatives or murderous farmers/bankers? That’d be awesome. Just an entire season of Ann & Anne being blissfully happy.
Yanno, I feel sad for the Sowden lad. I feel like eliminating the source of all familial misery was all he could do. Look at writers a century later (Joyce, et al) who wrote about their poor mothers trapped in abusive marriages with drunken louts- what could really, legally be done about men who terrorized their hapless families? I dread the poor end for Sowden that I suspect is inevitable. Also, that story line could be another way people could mess with Anne.
I loved the continuity of the pit scene with the sun on Ann’s face and Anne’s face appropriately shaded. Beautifully done. I loved Elizabeth’s rally of support, and so much else. This is one of my all-time favorite series. Anne is such a vibrant, energetic character that it is quite easy to feel inspired by her.
Yeah, as dull as this storyline is, it did help me finally understand why the temperance movement was such a big deal, and so embraced by feminists of the time.
Yeah, there’s a lot of truth in that re: temperance — as much of a distraction the Sowden storyline is from Lister.
Again, I know the show is likely to only get two seasons, but I enjoy it so much I wish it was a full series. I thought Anne’s chemistry and banter with the young lady who was playing Sophie to be electric, that’s why next season I definitely want to see some of Anne’s earlier dalliances and European adventures. I can’t say Ann Walker/the actress playing her are my favorites, although I absolutely loved their reunion at the coal pit where Anne said “Don’t hurt me”. The wedding scene where Anne was grinning at the camera and she and Ann had that witty banter as they were leaving the church was so adorable. Ann Walker is much more tolerable and fun when she has a backbone. Next season, I want to see more love and romance scenes involving Anne and less about the coal.
I do have to say that I do care about the Sowdens and the maids. I think showing how the entire family was put in jeopardy by a drunkard and how the son ended up banning alcohol in his house and endeavored to be a better, more disciplined man than his household is interesting. And I think it’s important to have some perspective when it comes to the class issues – Anne could have put that family on the street. She had that power. It shows how the Temperance movement and banning alcohol even came about. And loved, loved, loved the Washington daughter’s beautiful wedding dress. The fabric they used for it was gorgeous. You
I just binge watched the entire season of Gentleman Jack and I am so in love with this show. I’m actually in.love.with.this show! The writing, the characters, the actors, it’s just fantastic. I was actually putting off watching it bc Ms. Lister came across as pompus in the preveiws, and a little of that goes a long way. Plus I figured they had a pretty hard core LGBTQ drum to bang, which I appreciate but can’t watch a while season of. The depth that these actors put into Ms. Lister and Ms. Walker is just stunning. The romance/love story is so f relatable. I cried when they cried, i laughed at the every day silliness. I’ve had dreams about this show! This show is absolutely stunning, everyone, everywhere should watch this beautiful tribute to human nature and love. Phew, i just really had to get that out ♡
Lister in her diaries was a lot to take :) She had an attitude, which TBF, also gave her the strength to be true to herself in an era that wanted her to be something entirely different. But she was also politically conservative, very class-conscious, & quite a snob. A complicated character, & I think the TV show did get a bit of that in — without making her insufferable. Between Sally Wainwright’s writing & Surrane Jones’ acting, Lister comes out as charming & incredibly watchable!
Love this show! the acting and the writing is just wonderful, I love Anne & Ann. On a side note I love the plaid/tartan Ann Walker is wearing in Scotland, anyone know any more about it :D thanks
I love your recaps. Insightful, hi-larious, informative. Shared them on the Gentleman Jack FB group. Thanks for the GJ love.
Great recaps of every episode!! I watched them all way too fast and now I just want MORE!!
It was kind of odd for Anne Lister’s family to be so nonchalant about Anne’s many dalliances with women, but I guess they’ve seen it all by now. I would think everyone else in the neighborhood would be used to it by now too, but they don’t live with it every day like Lister’s family does.
Bow, when Anne Lister wants to turn on the charm, she turns it up to eleven, and it’s almost…a little too intense?? I mean, Lister in this characterization never does anything by halves, but her big grin whenever she’s trying to ingratiate herself towards someone can be a bit wolfish. The article you linked to in one of the earlier recaps called Anne Lister’s behavior vis-a-vis Ann Walker “grooming,” and I can’t say I disagree. After being disappointed so many times by women who turn out to be unwilling to take that big leap of actual, real, unconditional and unfettered commitment to her, when anyone expresses even the slightest interest, Lister just pounces!
The church scene between them was just beautiful. Thank goodness for Ann Walker finally finding her own voice and letting everyone know exactly what she wanted.
I’ve just watched the whole series again (I can’t stay away!!) and I think the juxtaposition of the Sowden wedding with Lister and Walker’s is very meaningful. I don’t think of it as, “look, the wedding between the cis/het couple is emphasizing the validity of the queer couple.” I think it’s actually intended to insert some poignancy. Thomas and Susanna get to be married by a priest in front of all their friends, with everyone celebrating their union openly. Lister and Walker can’t actually get married, not legally or in a way that is recognized by the church. They can only do it by stealth, as a secret between themselves, without their friends and family truly supporting them or understanding what they are doing, and it is only sanctified by Anne’s insistence that the commitment be blessed (even if unknowingly!) by the priest and by God. That’s how I see it.
Had to wait til last night to see the final episode and was very happy that they all stopped faffing about and got down to grabbing some happiness! My outfit for World Book Day 2020? Got to be Ann Lister….