Gentleman Jack

This series moves very quickly amidst the lush northern part of England. Ann Lister is a woman way ahead of her time, who gets what she wants. The characters are realistic and her personality is stunning, as portrayed by Suranne Jones. What a refreshing offering from HBO!

I have spent far to much time watching period pieces, Jane Austin theater and everything on PBS. FINALLY a heroine who doesn't simper, have her value judged in her ability to marry and produce kids, but who is funny and daring and very much alive.

The music is awesome and only enhances her sense of purpose to take life on her defined terms. Can't wait for the next episode.

Everything is awesome - characters, dialog, story, clothes, especially the music, and the scemery. I wish more shows were this good. It has held my attention from the very first minute. Thank you HBO and BBC.

Just finished the last episode which was wonderful. I wish the series could go on forever. Once again everything was perfect - I really enjoyed Miss Lister's time in Copenhagen. The conversation between her and the Queen was priceless. BBC did an absolutely superb job in every department - selecting the actors, writers, musical score and director and the cinematographers and costume designers, (especially the hats.)

Season 2: 8/10. Season 2: 5/10 Gentleman Jack is based on the diaries of Anne Lister, an upper-class lesbian whose mannish clothes and manner perplexed the locals. Season one follows her wooing of the pretty, high-strung Ann Walker as well as her attempts to get into the coal mining business.

With its mines and good and bad nobles and soap operish love story, GJ is reminiscent of Poldark. Both series have a likable but sometimes horribly flawed lead and a bunch of really nice scenery.

Anne Lister is a rather unusual hero because in some ways she's terrible. She admirably flouts societal conventions, but only when it suits her. She doesn't believe in the rules if she doesn't like them, but she's a huge fan of the rules that make her part of the gentry, and while she has sympathy for the lower classes she clearly doesn't feel they should have much in the way of human rights beyond those she gifts them. She is a non-intersectional lesbian, and at times it is hard to like her. But brilliantly played by Suranne Jones, it's equally hard not to be fascinated by her.

Season 1 was well worth watching, but then came season 2.

While the first season had driving momentum, the second season seemed to wander about in aimless confusion. The whole season was basically devoted to an estate division, and when there were lengthy discussions of dividing plots of land it felt like some sort of land surveyor fan service. Plot lines started up and then the writers seemed to just forget about them. The series continued with the parallel lower-class story but at a certain point it just sort of drizzled out and disappeared (not that it was too interesting this season anyway).

It did have its moments. It was interesting to see Ann Walker slowly come into her own, and the final 10 minutes of the final episode was genuinely satisfying, even if it followed the unconvincing, contrived end of the estate nonsense. But I'm honestly not sad at all that it's been cancelled.

Still, great first season.

I watched the first episode not knowing what to expect and i was pleasantly surprised at how wity and entertaining the central character was, And props to Suranne Jones who was able to easily portray the intimate struggles of a queer, strong woman in the 1800s. She played her role wonderfully well. I would recommend especially if you like historical/period drama