Gentleman Jack

[unique1986]

BBC 1 9pm

Well well well

I know that earlier on I was saying I thought the production was too much of a romp and wanted some more substance.

Well I think the episode this evening was very strong is showing the very real difficulties for women in that time who became aware that they were lesbian. And for someone like Ann Walker who on one hand is very conventional but on the other aware of her sexuality.

I found it very moving and then ... like a slap in the face that attack.

And no way would the cousins organise something like that. Has to be the Rawson who maimed the young boy.

And what a reminder when we have had this past week 2 (well at least 2 reported) attacks on lesbians.

I wonder if Anne Lister had every experienced anything like that before and whether it will dent what seems to be her boundless bravado.

(Have to add I am so disappointed her sister Marian's potential husband should seem obtuse (not sure if that is the right word!). I so wanted him to be someone nice - even if he is in trade!)

I really thought he was going to rape her.

I think he would have, if she hadn't fought him off.

What went wrong for Mr Ambrose in his interview? Did I miss something? He was very subdued after and didn't think it likely he got the post.

What went wrong for Mr Ambrose in his interview? Did I miss something? He was very subdued after and didn't think it likely he got the post.

He'd had a more than clear warning from Anne that he should get out of Dodge or she would expose him as 'an adulterer & fornicator'... think he realised perhaps best not go for the job!!

That’s what I meant, I was worried she wouldn’t fight him off. I think I need to see watch that last scene. I wasn’t prepared and was quite tired. It was a real shock, as it was meant to be.

I think it was Rawson that sent him, and when he said stay away from Ann Walker it was because Rawson knows that it is her money that will allow her to sink the pit.

(although he also suspects she has her hands somewhere else other than her purse)

I think Ambrose would be to afraid to fight her off as he proved by flunking the interview.

It was a very powerful episode.

I was confused that he was emphasising the word home. I forget exactly what he said, but he seemed to keep pushing about it

It might be that the emphasis on home was I am sure just based on gossip let alone cousins or Rawsons employing anybody would all know how little time she was spening in her own home.

Which of course could mean that the attacker wasn't necessarily instigated by the cousins but was somebody who worked for them and though conversations that servants had heare (as they sort of didnt exist to those they were serving) might have decided to do the family a favour and try and stop Anne's influence on Ann.

Good point Fresta.

Did anyone else notice the 'Fleabag' moment a few episodes ago when Anne caught her winking at the camera after she'd assured her she'd never slept with anyone else? Loved that touch, personally. Who needs another stuffy period drama anyway?!

I've binge watched the first 5 eps. I'm hooked

Great episode - so glad she fought back, just wish she'd killed the bastard!

I am still avidly following this and really love it!
I think Suranne Jones is doing a great job as Anne Lister...I don't want the series to end

I'm definitely still watching and found last week's episode very moving. And wondered whether at that time a family would have got together to try and save someon from being committed. Would be such an opportunity to get hold of her fortune.

In a way the story is really more about Ann Walker grappling with convention and her true feelings (ie Anne Lister is confident in her role as an outsider.)

I didn't post on here as someone started a new thread about why was anyone still watching it and rushed in to defend it.

And still cross with Anne for being so lacking in respect for her sister. Keep hoping Marian will find some way of pricking her conscience.

(So ironic, no sad, that this is a true story about a woman having the courage to be lesbian and over on feminist chat a woman has written about how her acceptance of her lesbianism is being attacked by what she thought would be her allies, the trans allies in the LGBT++++++ community ) www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3621239-Being-a-homosexual-female-in-a-community-of-queer-people-transbians-and-penis-inclusionary-lesbians

The other thread is here www.mumsnet.com/Talk/telly_addicts/3620212-gentleman-jack-is-anyone-still-watching

stumbled getting someone committed to a 'private establishment' was a well-known way of parting well-off people from their money, if their family were rapacious enough.

There's a very good (and horrifying) book by Sarah Wise called 'Inconvenient People' on this very subject. Perfectly sane people, or perhaps just slightly eccentric ones, were regularly carted off to asylums on the say-so of relatives. Laws around sectioning that protect the rights of the person concerned are a relatively recent thing.

HildaTablet - not forgeting that even in the last few decades the number of women in their 70s and 80s being discovered in institutions who were totally sane but had been committed by families eg for having an illigitimate child - whereas of course a young man would have been congratulated for sowing his wild oats. And I suspect being lesbian.

Been watching this from the start - really enjoying it. We are torn between being annoyed with Ann Walker’s generalised wet hen attitude and feeling horrendously sad for her mental health problems (as distinct from her overall wetness!)

stumbled yes - exactly so

Last night's episode was great. I am really going to miss this series when it ends!

I LOVE Anne Lister's character

Only time for a quick comment but thought that the script is really good at apparently being quite comedic but can quickly turn to really intense difficult issues.

Also packed in all sorts of references to the situation of women at that time.

Is it ending next week?

Just loved the two sisters saying goodbye to each other. So well done.

Very much enjoyed the argument in the carriage also and that Anne travelled with the massive thermometer.

Going to really miss this when it ends, though do keep getting the theme tune stuck in my head!

Still on episode 2 and loving it.

I wonder if Marian is going to seduce the sexy new groom?

The way she was lasciviously eyeing him up, when he was standing by the dining table, made me chuckle!

She was obviously assessing the size of his impressive 'package' and so was I

Very clever camera shot with just her face and his groin!

How can this possibly be wrapped up in one last episode? There are about five story lines going like a train!

I love that Marian is becoming more sympathetic, I'd love to see her get some action.

Can't wait for next week and beyond.