When it comes to period drama, you usually enter them expecting a swoon-worthy romance between a man and woman in a prettified version of England that occasionally touches on gender politics or class divides. In 2019, HBO quietly released a show that reminds us that people of different sexual orientations certainly existed back then, proving its point by basing the series on the real diaries of Anne Lister, dubbed the “first modern lesbian” of the 19th century. Titled after the cruel nickname passerbys would give her, Gentleman Jack sheds light on this oft-forgotten part of history while delivering all the charm, scandals, and steaminess you would desire from a period drama.
Gentleman Jack, which has a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, begins in 1832, when Lister (Suranne Jones) returns to her ancestral home, Shibden Hall, and is searching for a wife (or companion, a term given to two unwed women living together), which would come in the form of Ann Walker (Sophie Rundle). However, she has been burned in the past as her former lover, Mariana (Lydia Leonard), refused to defy social expectations alongside her and decided to marry a man. As such, Lister is on a mission to convince Walker’s family that she is incapable of living by herself, determined to gain access to the family’s wealth through Walker’s heart.
HBO’s ‘Gentleman Jack’ Uncovers a Forgotten Part of History Beautifully
Lister’s words have been brought to the screen in a 2010 BBC TV movie and a 2022 documentary, but none have brought the diaries to life quite like HBO has with Gentleman Jack. It’s certainly a surprise, since Lister’s diaries are brimming with drama and love, as a woman defiantly trudging through a time when the term “lesbian” hadn’t even been coined yet, and sexual relationships between women led to psychiatric hospitalizations. She wrote around five million words, a sixth of which were written in code, chronicling her sexual exploits with women in dizzying detail, as well as how others treated her, demeaning her masculine appearance. It’s the height of lesbian joy and grief.
Gentleman Jack is an adaptation that honors its source material, not necessarily by sticking to every tiny detail (naturally, some creative liberties are taken), but by embracing the realities of Lister’s life. Just because she is considered a pioneer for women-loving women, doesn’t mean she should be romanticized. HBO’s Lister is ardently in love with women, cunning in her pursuit of wealth, and devastated by heartbreak caused by someone who understandably couldn’t defy the status quo when the risk was so costly. Meanwhile, Jones plays Lister with the ferocity, wiliness, and power evoked by the words of the real diarist, making her an incredible lead we would follow anywhere — even if we question her decisions sometimes. On top of this, Gentleman Jack nods to the diary format whenever Jones breaks the fourth wall, as if reciting from the journal itself.
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It frames Lister’s vibrant story around recognizable period drama beats, making it easier for us to appreciate her struggle. Lister’s sleek black dress and top hat stand out among the pastel gowns, and her vagabond confidence is unlike the demure ladies around her. But there are still the same aghast gasps whenever scandals arise, or that familiar emphasis on marriage and propriety. The atmosphere is imbued with salacious intentions, subtle power plays, and palpable pining, all ready to sweep you off your feet.
‘Gentleman Jack’ Is a Balanced Portrayal of Homosexuality in the 19th Century
Gentleman Jack’s true beauty lies in its disruption to the fantasy of a 19th-century Britain where men and women go to balls and pair up in steamy love affairs. It is loud in its proclamation that homosexual women did indeed exist back then. There’s a beautiful celebration of love, tucked away behind doors or disguised as mere companionship, but undeniable in its presence. Yet, it doesn’t shy away from the bitter realities, especially around the polarizing relationship between Lister and Mariana. With a brazen and admirable confidence, Lister condemns Mariana for not believing she could provide for her and for not believing in true love. But how can we blame Mariana for not being able to envision an unprecedented life, one deemed impossible? It’s a harsh portrayal that undercuts love with doom due to a society that simply doesn’t understand.
The entire show tackles both the highs and lows of same-sex relationships during this era, relying on the words of a diarist who was lost to time. It tastefully and confidently brings Lister’s story to the screen, embracing her multi-faceted personality and packaging it in a swoony period drama that would delight fans of the genre. Gentleman Jack pulls no punches when adapting this story, and it deserves an audience for all its temptation and power.
