Gentlemen Jack

HBO TV Series Review: “Gentleman Jack”. Critics gave it an 87% users a 93%. Rated: TV-MA with Series 1 having eight 1hr episodes and an IMDb of 8.0/10. Cast: Suranne Jones, Sophie Rundle, Joe Armstrong, Amelia Bullmore, Rosie Cavaliero, Gemma Whelan, Gemma Jones, Timothy West & Tom Lewis

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.

Gentleman Jack is a British-American historical drama television series created by Sally Wainwright. The series is based on the collected diaries of Lister, which contain over 4 million words and are written largely in secret code, documenting a lifetime of lesbian relationships.  Gentleman Jack premiered on 22 April 2019 on HBO in the United States and on BBC One in the United Kingdom on 19 May 2019.  The series was renewed for a second season by BBC One on 23 May 2019 and is currently not showing in the US yet.

HBO hit it out of the park with this. Stellar cast, stellar script & story based on the real Anne Lister who refused to be left behind in her time nor conform to what proper society thought a lady should be or do. Leaves one to wonder how many other brave women stepped up like she did, but didn't leave a diary behind or no one cared enough to save it for prosperity’s sake.

Gentleman Jack is by far, one of the best offerings on HBO in a while. It is an amazing period piece, historically appropriate to the era and consistently presents amazing attention to detail. Ann Lister was a woman who was not willing to sit out life to conform to 19th Century expectations of women. The characters are realistic and the lend themselves to a fast moving series. Being a lover of women does not make Ann Lister popular with her family and local associates, but it is hardly an impediment to stop her.

This is a refreshing series aptly presented as Ms Lister bounces along the her many endeavors throughout Northern England who goes about her life at break neck speed.

This is a series definitely worth seeing! It’s currently only on HBO, HBO On-Demand and HBO GO