Gentleman Jack review: Absence makes the heart grow fonder

As HBO’s Gentleman Jack continues, Anne and Ann are figuring out what their lives look like without one another, and things aren’t exactly going well.

For the first time this season, Gentleman Jack offers an episode in which its two main characters don’t interact at all. In fact, they’re not even in the same country. Given that this is the penultimate episode of the season, this would be a lot more concerning if we didn’t know that the show would be returning for another run next year. But, as we do know that, “Why’ve you brought this?” largely manages to feel like a welcome respite from all the uber-intense relationship drama.

(Except for the ending, of course. That is…entirely too intense, if you ask me.)

Not that Ann and Anne’s love story isn’t still a major piece of this installment, though. It is. We see Lister basically pushing herself to run away – from Halifax, from London, from England itself – to try to distract herself from their breakup. She throws herself into parties, dinners, and an old love affair to try to stop thinking about Ann, and sometimes, it seems to work.

Yet, Lister is grasping so desperately at anything to fill the immense void of loneliness at the center of her life that it’s honestly heartbreaking. She begs her old flame Marianna to rekindle their relationship, urging her to leave her (admittedly, terrible) husband for her at last so they can run around Europe together. She even offers her a more permanent place and life at Shibden Hall, which seems more pathetic than romantic at this point. (How many more women will she offer her home and heart on a plate to, simply to feel that someone wants her?)

And in Marianna’s refusal, we see one of the show’s first glimpses at what it must be like for the women who find themselves on the other side of Lister’s affections. Sure, Ann is a fascinating figure, bold and loud and opinionated and utterly singular. But she’s also so very odd in the midst of a society that doesn’t appreciate or want much in the way of difference or individuality.

Gentleman Jack – Episode 2 – Vincent Franklin, Suranne Jones. Photo: Matt Squire/HBO

This is not to say, of course, that Anne ever should have been anything other than exactly who she is. In fact, her dedication to being herself at all costs is pretty admirable. But it’s at least worth thinking about how difficult things might have been for the women standing next to her, who obviously had to face their own public shame, questioning and ridicule for being with her. Especially since it’s obviously something that Anne herself gives no thought to.

It’s obviously not possible, but watching Gentleman Jack in the wake of the news that it’s going to be back for a second season feels as though the show has completely shifted its storytelling tone. Suddenly, things feel much more languid, and secondary storylines and characters beyond the Lister/Walker romance bubble to the fore a bit more regularly. It feels as though the whole show has taken a moment to breathe, and things feel more balanced for it. Last week’s meditation on grief was the sort of heavy episode that still resonates well past its actual airdate, and it honestly feels like a relief to have other stories to focus on, even if everything’s still tangentially connected to Ann.

It’s also fun to watch Lister finally engage in an open verbal brawl with the reprehensible Rawson, as well as get the chance to stick up for her sister for once. It’s honestly disgusting to realize how much he likely gets away with simply because he is a man of means, if his reaction to Lister’s refusal to back down to him is any indication. I can’t say that I care too much about the state of the Lister family mines, but since this whole coal plot has been lurking in the background of things all season it’s a relief to finally get some movement on this score. Anne certainly believes herself to be an astute and capable businesswoman, so here’s hoping we get the chance to see her actually pull that off. (Although the ominous decision to put the deeds to the Shibden estate up as collateral indicates that something…not great may happen.)

As for Ann Walker, well, she’s off in northern Scotland with her relatives, suffering beautifully from whatever nineteenth century nervous malaise seems to have her firmly in its grasp. Unfortunately, her sister’s husband, Captain Sunderland, seems more interested in dangling her – and her considerable fortune – in front of a random penniless cousin than he is in really helping her. (A fact that we know for certain given that he’s already denying her medical care.)

Gentleman Jack – Episode 2 – Vincent Franklin. Photo: Matt Squire/HBO

Ann seems to be doing her best day-to-day, though since she’s still staring into mirrors and crying over Lister, that’s not exactly that great. Sophie Rundle deserves credit for managing to convey Ann’s general state of emotional turmoil even though she’s not given a lot to work with on the subject this week. Yet, despite the lack of Anne’s direct voice this week, her sudden suicide attempt doesn’t come out of nowhere. After all, we’ve seen her struggling for weeks now, and her own family is busily ignoring the fact that she’s been hearing voices and engaging in religious obsession on the regular.

As for Lister, despite a momentary wobble – and Suranne Jones’ choked delivery of that word that almost turned out to be Scotland was a real gut punch – she’s heading to Paris, to try to put more distance between herself and her messy love life. But she’s also going in precisely the wrong direction at a time when Anne needs her more than ever. Will she find out what’s happened in time to make a difference.

Gentleman Jack’s first season concludes next Monday on HBO.