Anyone watching this 8 episode series? It was picked up for second season, too. I love British shows.

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It's 1832 in West Yorkshire, England -- the cradle of the evolving Industrial Revolution -- where landowner Anne Lister is determined to save her faded ancestral home, Shibden Hall, even if it means bucking society's expectations. In addition to reopening the coal mines, a part of Lister's plan to help her family is to marry well. But the charismatic, single-minded Lister -- who dresses head-to-toe in black and charms her way into high society -- has no intention of marrying a man. "Gentleman Jack" examines Lister's relationships with her family, servants, tenants and industrial rivals, and would-be wife. The real-life Anne Lister's story was recorded in her diaries, and the most intimate details of her life are revealed for the series.

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I've started looking at the diaries online. This is amazing.

I fell into it almost by chance, and have now watched all the episodes. I never heard of the real Anne Lister.

It is very well acted and well written. Leaving aside the lesbian angle for a moment, it offers a good look into how vulnerable women were in this time period.

The woman who played Greyjoy's sister on Game of Thrones is Lister's sister; she does an excellent job, and what a different role!

I do not find Lister very appealing as a main character. She is too in the face of everyone; she wants to marry the other Ann for her money (at least initially); she risks the family property to start her coal mine. I suppose that the nicest thing we can say is that at least the writers are not showing her to be completely innocent, though it is not clear how much the writers want us to see her faults.

The scene in the final episode in which she throttles the doctor for his incorrect, as it turns out, diagnosis, puts Lister in a very bad light, in my mind.

I found the ending of this last episode interesting: sort of a Godfather-like parallel scenes of two weddings. I wonder if the writers were suggesting that Christian viewers who might be offended at the two Anns pledging themselves to each other in church are hypocrites, because the guy who murdered his father (with good cause!) is also making a travesty of the wedding ceremony.

All that said, I find the show very well done.

Nm. I took the story that she impersonated a man, but I guess that's not the case.

I don't why, but I loved Ann Listers personality. She's not demur, which I find incredibly refreshing. Imagine how controversial that was in the 19th century. I loved that her wife finally found her backbone and is doing what keeps her sane and not what is expected.

I can't wait to see the next series.

There is no doubt that Lister's acerbic personality is her response to the alienation she feels from society's expectations of her as a woman. I am sure life was very hard on her, much harder than it was hard on women in general.

I'm sure you noticed how the writers have her literally constantly rushing everywhere, galumphing along like a misplaced elephant, graceless and frenetic. I remember one of the earlier episodes that showed Anne's peers, men and women alike, as constantly napping, dozing, motionless, still, while she goes charging through the landscape and the drawing rooms. In this last episode, she is bounding out of her carriage long before her servant can help her exit, and she even opens the door in his face once. The bouncy musical score echoes that frenetic quality. All that is meant by the writers to symbolize her energy and will to power in a century that denies women those qualities.

She is also a sexual predator, which I do not like either in men or in women. Just my taste. I like subtlety.

I think all of that is well done. The actress who plays her is just fantastic, as are all the actors in this series. But Jane Austen created some powerful female characters too, without making them so simultaneously obnoxious.

I have never seen anything like this, and as I said, I do find it well done. I initially did not much like the two subplots about the mine and the patricidal Thomas, but I enjoy all the actors involved so those weaker subplots have grown on me.

I'm very glad you started this thread. I am enjoying putting some things down in writing about this series. I don't know anyone else who is watching it.

Yes, I've noticed how they've made her character very forceful in everything. (walking/speech). I've been absolutely impressed with how she's able to speak her mind to people trying to muscle her into a decision. I struggle with being direct (and I'm female) while being polite as well. She usually goes over the line into rudeness, but I love that she doesn't back down.

I agree, she is a sexual predator, but not in the sense that she'd ever force herself upon someone. I think she sees what she wants and pursues it, which I whole heartedly support. I don't think subtly is wrong, like you said you prefer, but it didn't appear to be her style and it's not mine.

You know what I couldn't stand? Eugenia's sub-plot. She's kind of annoying and I'm glad (that sounds awful) she lost the baby. She didn't deserve George. I love that Listers maid told the new groom to steer clear of her. BOOYAH, ya Frenchie!

And I think she was forceful with the doctor out of fear that she might not have made it to her aunt before her death and also because, as she said, she risked her own life crossing turbulent seas only to find her aunt recovered.

I bet Anne's sister and her kids come to live with her.

I was disappointed with Thomas' uncle coming to visit. It seems like they're trying to play up the fathers death more than necessary. They should have just left it with Lister giving Thomas the lease and be done with it.

I agree with you about the maid. Not interested.

I also agree about the murder subplot. Thomas' new father-in-law (can't remember his name) is clearly suspicious since he has detected the lie that the newly arrived uncle supposedly wrote to Thomas and family, etc. Not interested.

I will add that I really enjoyed the father-in-law's facial reactions to Thomas' proposal, etc. Well done.