Fans of period dramas such as Downton Abbey and The Gilded Age are in for a real treat, as there’s an underrated, little-known gem just waiting to be discovered and devoured.
Described as “sensual”, “playful”, and “brilliant”, the series regularly draws comparisons to Downton Abbey – but with considerably more passion. Furthermore, it’s rooted in the life of a real individual.
Gentleman Jack is a British historical drama crafted for television by the extraordinarily talented Sally Wainwright (Happy Valley, Scott and Bailey), and stands as a joint venture between BBC One and HBO.
It made its UK television debut in 2019, with a follow-up series landing in 2022. However, that very same year HBO confirmed they would not be commissioning a third series, while the BBC indicated that although they were keen to push forward with a third season, they would need to find entirely new production partners to make it happen.
View 4 ImagesBoth seasons of the series are available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer(Image: BBC/Lookout Point/HBO/James Stack)
Headlining the show is the outstanding Suranne Jones alongside the accomplished Sophie Rundle, with both actresses – Jones in particular – garnering widespread acclaim for their extraordinary performances across the series, reports the Liverpool Echo.
They are supported by Joe Armstrong, Amelia Bullmore, Rosie Cavaliero, Gemma Jones, Gemma Whelan, and Timothy West, comprising what is a remarkably talented ensemble cast.
Both series are available to watch at no cost on BBC iPlayer, and the show’s official synopsis states: “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.”
View 4 ImagesSuranne Jones stars alongside Sophie Rundle as the series’ lead pair(Image: BBC/Lookout Point/Jay Brooks)
The real Anne Lister’s fascinating life was documented in her personal diaries, with the most private aspects brought to life throughout the series.
Boasting an impressive 92% average rating across both seasons on Rotten Tomatoes, Gentleman Jack has earned widespread acclaim, with one critic writing: “Lively, tongue-in-cheek at times and enormously playful, Gentleman Jack is an utter gem of British drama. You can’t take your eyes off the central character, and you’re drawn into her world and her heart with exquisite ease.”
Meanwhile, another critic described the programme as “exuberant, it’s fun, it’s playful. It just makes you feel good”, while a third reviewer branded it “[A] buoyant, utterly seductive drama.”
Another admiring criticadded: “Gentleman Jack is disrupting the conventions of one of our most fiercely loved dramatic forms, at a time when we most need them disrupted. It is a masterpiece.”
One critic wrote: “Representative, daring, cerebral, and romantic, GENTLEMAN JACK remains one of the most original and refreshing series on television. Suranne Jones once again knocks it out of the park, balancing a complex character’s strength and vulnerability.”
View 4 ImagesThe little-known show boasts an incredible rating(Image: BBC)
The acclaim doesn’t end there, with one critic describing the programme as “a rare and genuine treat”, adding: “It’s a full-blooded, full-bodied period piece with a vibrant and authentic inner life that is fully relatable yet true to its own time.”
Audience reactions for Gentleman Jack are just as glowing, with one IMDB user saying: “Enjoying every minute of this outstanding series. I rarely give a 10 star rating but this one captures a top rating from me. Highly worth your time.”
Another enthusiast commented on IMDB: “There are no words that can describe my excitement and anticipation for each episode, love for the entirety of this show, and how much I absolutely adore Surranne Jones’s character, Anne Lister.
“Her ability to embody such a emboldened, sexy, masculine female, with beautiful feminine undertones leaves me in a giddy stupor.”
Meanwhile, one audience review on Rotten Tomatoes said: “Everything about this show is absolutely brilliant. I re-watched the entire first season before starting in on the second and thoroughly re-enjoyed it. Surrane Jones performance is intoxicating and in fact every role has been cast with the perfect actor for the part.
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“The production values are as good as anything I’ve seen and I’ve seen many, many period shows in my time. Sally Wainwright’s writing, as with all her shows, is just the best.”
While one viewer branded it the “best show that ever is or was. Suranne Jones and Sally Wainwright nailed it,” another simply said: “Best show. Period. Better does simply not exist.”
One fan wrote: “This show is an absolute delight. It’s a fascinating look into history through the true diaries if a woman who dared to live as she desired. There is so much to enjoy from a tv show, drama, love, humour, beauty and it’s historical. I am very disappointed that HBO has cancelled Season 3.”