Dating : Gentleman Jack Stacks Its Love Story Up With Greats

Corsets Galore

When Gentleman Jack has everything I have ever wanted in a show: lesbians, corsets, the 1800s, and the English countryside. The show gave me everything I could have wished for before I even saw it. Christmas had come early. So yes, even if the show stunk I still would have watched every episode inches away from the screen, but lucky for me it was good, really fucking good. It’s a queer show that isn’t about explaining or sexualizing queerness for straight people.

I was raised at the teet of Jane Austin, and I’ve spent my whole life queer life dreaming of women in corsets, sitting in drawing rooms, painting portraits, the afternoon light illuminating their ennui. Did I mention Christmas had come early?

A Full-blown Obsession

Perpetually dreamy, Surrane Jones walks at a clip across the screen and all I wanted to do was sprint beside her for the rest of eternity. The loving support and care of Anne Lister’s aunt proves true humanity and familial love. The grinding opposition to Anne Lister’s stalwart quest for marriage to a woman she loved stirs us. It reminds us of the pains we are capable of withstanding in the name of a noble pursuit. There are a million things I would love to praise about this show but what moved me deep to the core, so much so that I am shamelessly sharing my full-blown obsession with the world, was the depiction of the epic joy possible in a queer love story.

The nature of the show, the Englishness of it all, allows for moments of quietness. This made room for a tiny but mighty scene. In this scene, Anne Lister’s new conquest, Miss Walker is standing by the window, holding a bloodied handkerchief, given to her by Anne Lister, between her fingers. Within the wistful look through the windowpane, the first prickles of a smile appear on her face. This is the smile of someone, experiencing the initial inkling of love. It was at this moment that I felt the deep validation this show was providing me. What I saw in front of me was the pure joy I have felt in my life at falling in love with a woman for the first time. It’s a tiny moment but I feel like it was left there for me.

I started writing this before the final episode of season one aired… So sorry, I just had to take a deep breath, there is a slight chance I am still crying from that finale.

SPOILERS BELOW:

We need to talk about the completely breathtaking, sob-inducing, scene on top of the hill where Miss Walker returns to Anne Lister. The wild and open declarations of love and deliciously cinematic kiss with a view gave me what I didn’t think I would ever get to see on television. Two women as the central love story of a mainstream period drama that wasn’t marred with tragedy (yet). All those Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcys, and the Jack and Roses, and the Noah and Allies, I have seen in my lifetime of romanticism, and not one of them has reflected the grand and sweeping queer love I have known and dreamed of.

Gentleman Jack stacks its love story up with greats and the larger implication of that offers queer women everywhere the opportunity to not just be refected on television but to be seen, to be honored.