DISCLAIMER: This recap of the Gentleman Jack season premiere episode “Faith Is All” has spoilers. Proceed at your peril.
Welcome, Anne/Ann fans! After three torturous years, Gentleman Jack finally returns to the small screen. “Faith Is All” bridges the gap between last season’s finale, laying the groundwork for what’s to come in Season 2. Mariana Lawton will probably meddle in Anne and Ann’s marriage, attempting to ruffle feathers and disrupt their marital bliss.
“Faith Is All” is beautifully shot with ethereal production values and stunning costumes. Performance-wise, everyone is firing on all cylinders. However, plot-wise, the episode falls flat. I like that the Powers That Be show us an unsavory side to Anne Lister. We see her short temper in action as she talks down to servants and even Ann Walker. Her stubbornness rears its head, and I believe it’ll cause drama for our lovebirds.
I don’t particularly appreciate how everyone treats Ann like she’s incapable of making sound decisions. Perhaps this indicates how little folks understood mental health and mental illness in the 19th century, but it still rubs me wrong.
Ready to dig deep into “Faith Is All”? Let’s get to it.
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We open with Anne Lister (Suranne Jones) visiting Aunt Walker (Stephanie Cole) to provide an update regarding Ann. Anne breaks the fourth wall in typical Gentleman Jack fashion and addresses the audience before entering the lion’s den.
Anne informs Aunt Walker that Ann’s doctor believes she’d recover more quickly in York instead of returning home. Aunt Walker is furious that a perceived outsider would exercise control over Ann without considering her family. While Anne doesn’t outright tell Aunt Walker that Ann’s her wife, it’s heavily implied.
Next, Anne returns to Shibden, briskly striding about the estate while overseeing her landowning business. There’s a lot of walking and scolding. Marian (Gemma Whelan) reveals she’s traveling to Halifax, so Anne decides to join her sister.
Then, Anne meets with George Costigan (James Holt), who’s blatantly honest with her. Anne must resolve her debt situation — she’s borrowing more money than she can pay off. He suggests Anne sell her uncle’s house. However, Anne doesn’t look keen on accepting Costigan’s advice.
Anne reads a letter from Mariana Lawton (Lydia Leonard), who professes her undying love for our protagonist. Too little, too late!
Later, Anne arrives in York to spend quality time with her wife. We see Ann Walker (Sophie Rundle) is busying creating exquisite art when Anne’s carriage rolls to a stop. Once they’re alone in a room together, they passionately kiss.
While having dinner, Ann asks if she can have a pony at Shibden, which Anne vows to fulfill. Anne gushes about their trip to Paris before they move in together and offers to help Ann look over her will. Dessert consists of steamy hot sex!
After visiting with Ann’s doctor and filling him in on their Shibden move, Anne interviews new grooms. Most of them fall short of the prerequisites, but one man seems to fit the bill.
Next, Anne watches from afar while her wife sketches some ruins. The cinematography is nothing short of stunning here.
Then, Anne and Ann have dinner with the Norcliffes. Anne confides in Charlotte Norcliffe (Jenna Russell) behind closed doors regarding her relationship with Ann and their upcoming move. She discloses Ann’s pure, unadulterated love for her, yet she hesitates to confess her love in kind. Charlotte picks up on this reluctance.
Meanwhile, Mr. Washington (Joe Armstrong) questions various workers at Shibden about Sam Sowden’s pigsty murder. Ah, we’re revisiting this storyline. Interesting.
Anne urges Ann to write to her sister, asking for a formal division of their estate. She also believes Ann should let her childhood home, Crow Nest, to a tenant. However, Ann seems reluctant to do both of those things.
Later, Marian sews the sleeve of Anne’s blouse. Anne goes into full-on doctor mode upon hearing Marian’s lingering cough. Thankfully, it’s not consumption, so she’ll live.
Finally, Anne tells Aunt Lister (Gemma Jones) about the nature of her commitment to Ann. Despite donning a wedding band for weeks, Aunt Lister just now notices it. There’s an initial shock, but she accepts her niece’s new marital status.
Next, Anne chats with Aunt Walker and William (Peter Davison) and Eliza Priestley (Amelia Bullmore) about Ann’s official move to Shibden Hall, much to everyone’s dismay. Anne divulges that Captain Sutherland talked Ann out of substantial money. Aunt Walker vehemently protests this, but what’s done is done.
After Anne and Ann exchange thoughtful gifts, Anne suggests that Mr. Washington move into the servant’s quarters in Crow Nest for the interim. Her wife doesn’t seem to like Anne’s suggestions, though.
Ann arrives at Shibden, where the Lister clan warmly greets her. While Anne chats with Costigan about selling her uncle’s estate, Aunt Walker rips Ann a new one. She condemns Anne Lister as Ann sits in terrified silence. When Ann returns to Shibden, she yells at her wife for revealing confidential details to Aunt Walker.
Anne promptly rebukes Ann for speaking to her in that tone in front of the servants. Oof. I’m not too fond of Anne in this episode.
Thankfully, the lovebirds quickly mend fences. Anne asks her wife about a man who visited her in Scotland, but Ann reassures her that she turned him away.
Later, Anne writes to Mariana, revealing she’s happy with Ann Walker. She sets firm boundaries, but who knows if Mariana will honor them. We see Mariana sob uncontrollably upon reading Anne’s letter.
Meanwhile, Anne fires the groom she hired after he mouths off to her. After Marian reveals that the workers are frightened of her, Anne makes a valiant effort to reel in her intensity.
Mariana responds, insisting her love for Anne is true. She peers into the camera, appearing to break the fourth wall like our protagonist.
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“Faith Is All” tests the faith of our couple, hurling a few obstacles that impede their path to eternal bliss at Shibden. I think we’ll see Anne experience a reckoning of sorts regarding the recklessness and boldness with which she runs her business. Her arrogance will bite her in the bum. I still love Anne with a burning passion, but this episode proves she’s not perfect.
Do you think the show will explore more of the pigsty murder? Will Mariana cause trouble for Anne and Ann? Will Aunt Walker stick her nose in their business? Join me next time while I recap Gentleman Jack, only on Geek Girl Authority.
Gentleman Jack streams Mondays at 10 pm on HBO Max.
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
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