Created and written by Sally Wainwright (Happy Valley, The Last Tango in Halifax) and starring BAFTA award-winner Suranne Jones (Doctor Foster, Save Me, Vanity Fair), Gentleman Jack is back with its sophomore season. Season 2’s premiere episode, “Faith is All”, picks up not far from where the Season 1 finale episode left us: with industrialist, landowner, writer, and lesbian champion Anne Lister (Suranne Jones) having recently exchanged vows with Ann Walker (Sophie Rundle) at an intimate, secret wedding in York. Now that they have married, Anne and Ann have their families to face along with a few loose ends to tie up before their commitment to one another is finalized.
A Visit to Crow’s Nest | Anne, dressed down in dapper black with a top hat and cane, struts her way to the front door of Crow’s Nest, Ann Walker’s home, with that unmistakable “Anne Lister” walk. She is paying Aunt Ann Walker (Stephanie Cole) a visit to inform her of Captain George Sutherland’s (Derek Riddell) scandal, namely that Ann was coerced into giving £1,000 to Sutherland while he also plotted to marry her off to his debt-ridden nephew. To Aunt Ann’s continued dismay, Anne further discloses that Miss Walker will remain under the care of Dr. Belcombe (Michael Xavier) to overcome her mental health challenges and that she has made Anne the executor of her will. Aunt Ann leaves Anne with a firm warning that she is meddling with family affairs that don’t involve her and has “bit off more than [she] can chew”.
Matters of Business | Back at Shibden Hall, Anne is faced with concerning matters of business. First, she learns that her coal steward, James Holt (George Costigan), has been entirely too busy drinking himself under the table rather than attending to his responsibility to sink a drift in the Lister mine as planned. “Sort yourself out,” Anne demands of James.
The second affair to straighten out involves one of Anne’s rental properties. A tenant has broken his lease early, leaving Anne in a bit of a quandary. Anne’s land steward Sam Washington (Joe Armstrong) advises her to sell the property and use the capital to pay off debt. After not receiving an offer worth taking for the home, Anne ponders converting it into a hotel to spite the Rawson brothers who are stealing her coal.
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Cold Feet | During Anne’s visit in York, Ann expresses concern over braving the opinion of her family and others on the matter of pursuing a public division of her estate with her sister Elizabeth Walker (actress). She must divide her estate in order for Anne and her to change their wills and make a lasting commitment to one another. Once again proving herself to be far beyond her time, Anne explains that their intentions should be made clear to all with the single statement: “We first and foremost must respect ourselves and each other and what we want.” Still, Ann will not be moved to write her sister anytime soon it seems. Is Ann getting cold feet over their union? This question looms over Anne’s head when they part.
Tug-of-War | Returning home to Shibden Hall, Anne receives a letter from her former lover Mariana Lawton (Lydia Leonard), who urges her to tread love lightly with Ann. This advice is sharply coupled with Mariana expressing her undying love, complicating Anne’s uncertainty about Ann and the future of their relationship. Anne’s sister Marian (Gemma Whelan) reminds her that Mariana’s game of tug-of-war involving Anne’s heart is an unhealthy pattern of behavior that always leads to heartache. Ann, on the other hand, has committed herself to Anne with a sincerity that Mariana has never provided.
Honeymoon in Paris | With some thought, Ann agrees to write her sister Elizabeth to divide their estate after their honeymoon trip and the newlyweds make their way to Paris, France. Anne, having previously stated that she was “delighted with [Ann]”, she finds herself cultivating a love for Ann that provides her with the warmth and passion that she had once possessed in her previous relationship. Anne’s revelation of love seemingly breaks Mariana’s spell, prompting her to write Mariana and inform her that their love affair is over.
Hey there, PopWire Fans! It’s great to have Jack back, and now that she’s Paris again, a city riddled with memories of her affair with Mariana and others, what on Earth could go wrong?! Give me your Season 2 predictions in the comment section below!
Gentleman Jack airs on Monday night at 10 PM on HBO and HBO Max in the US, or catch it on Sunday evenings at 9 pm on BBC One and iPlayer in the UK.
