Saving Gentleman Jack
How Anne Lister and Ann Walker have touched fans from around the world, and why they think the show deserves to live on
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When it was announced a couple of weeks ago that HBO would not be renewing the beloved lesbian period piece Gentleman Jack, fans were understandably devastated. It’s not surprising that the series was canceled – it is an explicitly, unapologetically lesbian series, and a historically accurate period piece at a time when frothy anachronisms are all the rage, after all. Season 2 of the series was wildly brilliant, but it asked a lot from viewers, adding depth and complexity to Anne Lister’s character in ways that didn’t always make her more likable. But does that mean we will never hear that jaunty music again?
Recently, fans were given a bit of hope when creator Sally Wainwright revealed that she was still in talks with the BBC regarding the show’s future and that there may be a chance they could find another streaming partner in HBO’s absence. “We were ready to go again, the BBC certainly [is] up for going again,” Wainwright explained.
In the meantime, fans of Gentleman Jack have been taking to social media to share how much the show means to them and why they think it deserves to be renewed, using the hashtag #SaveGentlemanJack to spread the word on Twitter. It’s not hyperbolic to say that the show has literally changed people’s lives, which is why it was so disappointing to many that it may end after only two seasons. While the show’s impact on viewers has already been well-chronicled – the BBC even made a documentary about it – I thought that now might be a good time to reiterate how important it is to fans. From flash mobs to petitions and posters, there have already been numerous efforts to save the show from cancellation, and I decided to speak to these fans to get a better understanding of why the show is so meaningful to them and why they are so passionate about keeping it around.
Though every fan I spoke to had their own unique relationship with the show, there were some common themes that emerged during our conversations. Everyone I spoke with noted how the show brought a renewed sense of confidence and empowerment to their lives. Christine Santos, a 24-year-old from Brazil, told me she was struggling to decide what to do with her life when the show first came out, and that “the story of Anne and Ann gave [her] a sparkle of life and hope.” The confidence with which Anne Lister lived her life rubbed off on many fans in positive ways. Cath, a 23-year-old from Portugal, told me that the show “definitely helped me become more confident and less tormented in my own mind about myself and my sexuality.”
While every fan I chatted with was coming from a different place (literally and figuratively), they were all able to find ways to work the messages of the show into their own lives. Azariah Journey, a scholar of Anne Lister living in North Carolina, told me she began studying Anne Lister while she was “going through some very scary medical issues.” She found that all the male doctors she spoke to would ignore her concerns or undervalue her opinions, and Anne Lister inspired her to “live authentically, speak with courage and conviction and really be an advocate for myself.” Nik, who is 47 and lives near Leeds, England, echoed these sentiments, noting that “Anne's lust for life and insistence that we "Have some courage" can work wonders.”
Though Anne Lister may be the driving force of the series and its namesake, many fans I spoke to told me they connected with Lister’s wife, Ann Walker, as well. Christine told me that she deeply relates to Ann Walker because of her struggles with religion and the quiet strength she had in choosing to live out her truth. (Christine calls Walker her “idol,” and even has a tattoo of the character.) Ethan, a 21-year-old from the UK, told me that while he was inspired by Anne Lister’s confidence in her gender presentation, it was Ann Walker who he felt connected to on an emotional level. “When the show started I was shy and timid and as Anne helped Ann find her confidence, she also helped me find mine,” Ethan explained, noting that he found himself growing as a person alongside Ann. Sharmane Tan, a writer living in Singapore, told me that one of the most compelling things about the show is how the strength of both characters is portrayed. “The contrast between Lister's brazenness with regards to her sexuality & Walker's shame over hers is so delicately done (since some media like to blame the "closeted" one in such relationships),” she pointed out.
While the reality that Gentleman Jack is a period piece might make it a hard sell for some viewers who are looking for something more modern, the fact that it’s a historical narrative is actually one of the things fans love most about the show. So many of the ideas discussed in the series still feel very relevant today, and the notion that viewers are able to connect with these characters from two centuries ago makes watching the show an invigorating experience. Bella, a 20-year-old from Sweden, told me about how this historical element plays into her enjoyment of the show. “to me it's so mind blowing how two lesbians from 200 years ago had some of the same struggles i have today, it really has helped me come to terms with them,” she explained. Azariah mentioned how exciting it was to study Lister, pointing out that “We’ve always had pioneers to pave the path for us, and knowing that we weren’t alone at any point because we had queer ancestors before us, was a breath of fresh air.” The historical nature of the story is so compelling that some fans have even made the pilgrimage to Shibden Hall (where the upcoming flash mob is taking place) to see where the Ann(e)s really lived.
When representations of queerness on screen are discussed, the focus is often on sexual orientation. What tends to fall by the wayside is how gender factors into all of this. When it comes to lesbians, butch, masculine-of-center, and gender nonconforming characters are still rarely seen on television, which means a huge portion of our community remains unseen and undervalued. One of the most groundbreaking elements of Gentleman Jack is its portrayal of a proud butch lesbian. The fact that Anne Lister was able to live out her butchness in the 1800s is all the more exhilarating and inspiring to watch.
Ethan, a trans man, told me that while he relates to Ann Walker in many ways, it was Anne Lister who first got his attention. “It's allowed me to see that being unique in the way you dress has been happening for centuries,” he said. Ethan explained that he felt especially connected to Anne Lister’s assertion that nature had played a “challenging trick” on her by putting her in the body of a woman, as he also struggled growing up with people’s assumptions about what he should be wearing. Anne Lister’s gender presentation was also hugely impactful for Nik, who noted that the show is “the first time I've seen a masculine lesbian front and centre on prime time television. I finally felt seen, and understood,” Nik went on to say.
Though Anne Lister and Ann Walker’s story may seem very much grounded in their own unique context, Gentleman Jack has meant that their lives have touched people from all walks of life. Young people just starting out and trying to decide what to do with their lives have been inspired by Anne Lister’s confidence and audacity, while folks in their 40s, 50s, and 60s have found themselves finally feeling at home in their identities. One of the people featured in the Gentleman Jack Changed My Life documentary is a woman in her sixties named Yvonne who came out to her family after watching the show. On the other hand, young adults like Christine and Cath spoke to me about how the show inspired them to pursue their dreams and explore their paths in life.
The international nature of the fandom is also significant. Sharmane, who lives in Singapore, where gay marriage is still banned, told me that the issues Anne and Ann face regarding the (il)legality of their relationship still feel very relevant considering her own legal and social context. “As a closeted lesbian, Anne Lister's belief in her God-given right to be a lesbian without visible representation is very inspiring to me & brings me a lot of joy because I don't see or know anyone like that,” Sharmane explained. Though the fandom is indeed very global in nature, the relationships that have developed within it haven’t been any less profound. “It's such a relief to now be part of a community where I don't have to explain various aspects of myself, because we all understand each other,” Nik told me.
Every fan I spoke to expressed their passion for the show and their ardent belief that it deserves to live on. Many of these fans have taken to Twitter, using the #SaveGentlemanJack hashtag to share their favorite moments from the series and why it's so important to them personally. Certainly, this is not the first time fans have rallied together to save a show from cancellation, and it likely won’t be the last. But what feels especially devastating about this loss, if the show is indeed over for good, is how unique Gentleman Jack is within the television landscape and the obvious impact it has had on people’s lives.
HBO’s choice to cancel the show is especially troubling when you consider what that might mean for lesbian and queer content in the future. If a show as brilliant and groundbreaking as Gentleman Jack couldn’t hack it, who's to say anything remotely as interesting will come around any time soon? In a time where the idea of representation in media is being painted in the broadest strokes possible – wherein metrics of diversity seem to be overtaking a desire for compelling narratives – it’s worrying that a show that eschews such derivative box-checking hasn’t been considered a rallying success.
Nonetheless, Gentleman Jack’s passionate fan base has proven time and time again that there is an audience for a dynamic, complex series such as this, and it seems that Sally Wainwright and The BBC agree. If the series does get picked up by another streaming platform, it will be in large part thanks to these fans, who are unwilling to let the show be forgotten. But, if two seasons are all we will ever get, that doesn’t erase the impact the show has had on people’s lives, nor the friends that have been made along the way.
Absolutely loved being apart of this! The k you for sharing this with us🧡