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| Gentleman Jack |
The story is based on the diaries of a real person (Anne Lister), who was outspoken, opinionated and brash. Her style of dress is hardly what you’d call traditional, and her preference for romantic attachments with women was something of an open secret amongst almost everyone that knew her. Her diaries are indeed invaluable resources and rare historical documents of what it meant to be a gay woman living in the 19th century. The more explicit sexual details in the dairy were written in code, which were eventually decoded in 1988.
However, the HBO series focuses on a timeframe in the 1830s dominated by Lister (Suranne Jones) returning to her family home in Yorkshire and setting her sights on nervous heiress Ann Walker (Sophie Rundle) as a companion. After taking tea with an obviously depressed Ann Walker, she resolves to take Ann as her wife. The story moves on to a level of provocative seduction, along with thoughtful discussions about what being intimate to them truly means. Ok...this is where the show backs down from exploring Anne's thoughts, feelings and inner struggles. Instead we are treated to the actress (Suranne Jones), constantly narrating directly to the camera from the dairies. Rest assured, there are no explicit love scenes. (Sorry for those who are hoping for some steamy lovemaking between two women.)
Taken from her writings, Lister is an exceptionally strong woman. She battled against every restriction set upon her by society. Since she was forbidden to attend a university, she decided to pursue her medical studies independently. Described as having a "masculine appearance", she preferably dressed entirely in black. She also took part in many activities that were not perceived as the norm for a gentlewoman of birth.
In theory, Lister’s indomitability makes her the perfect candidate for dramatization. In practice, though, something’s missing from the narrative. Hello HBO...this is the 1800's...she is a lesbian. It's strange that it takes three episodes for someone to openly insult Lister for her appearance and style of dress. Stranger still that everyone feels shocked when it happens. Also, Lister's family seems broadly accepting of her sexual preferences (highly doubtful). Everyday servants are also in acceptance? At least the show remembers Halifax is not London...so they insert some gossipy neighbors, anonymous warnings and judgmental workers who all comment on Lister's lifestyle choices. Yes, she is bold, aggressive and she charges forth to pursue the objects of her desires. However, in reality she was restrained by strict morality of the times. How about the fact she proclaimed homosexuality between males was immoral, but not between females? Lister was a very religious person, so far this has been pretty much overlooked in the series.
Anne Lister's character was made into a modern day HBO heroine transposed into a conventional costume drama. The beautiful scenery, rolling green fields with factory smokestacks and Lister's frock coat, a man's hat, along with a jaunty walk make for an interesting depiction of 19th-century Yorkshire society. Of course, let's not forget the series has all those lovely ladies with loose blonde ringlets wearing silk colorful gowns, withdrawing to sunlit drawing rooms for a spot of tea, in which to enjoy the gossip of the day.
I just might continue to watch for the scenery alone....cheers!🍷
Photo courtesy of HBO