‘Gentleman Jack’ recap: What happened in Season 2 Episode 1?

The long-awaited second season of Gentleman Jack began in the UK tonight!

Adapted from the real life diaries of Anne Lister by Last Tango in Halifax writer Sally Wainwright, the BBC’s hit period drama is set in Halifax, West Yorkshire in 1832.

Suranne Jones (Vigil) and Sophie Rundle (Peaky Blinders) are back as Anne Lister and Ann Walker.

They’re joined by returning cast members Gemma Whelan (Game of Thrones) as Marian Lister, Gemma Jones (Last Tango in Halifax) as Aunt Anne Lister, and Timothy West (EastEnders) as Jeremy Lister.

Newcomers this season include The Larkins star Joanna Scanlan as Anne Lister’s outrageous former lover, Isabella ‘Tib’ Norcliffe.

An official synopsis for the new season reads: “All eyes are on Anne Lister and Ann Walker as they set up home together at Shibden Hall as wife and wife, determined to combine their estates and become a power couple.

“Anne Lister’s entrepreneurial spirit frightens the locals as much as her unconventional love life and, with Halifax on the brink of revolution, her refusal to keep a low profile becomes provocative and dangerous.”

The eight brand new episodes will start airing in the US on HBO and HBO Max later this month.

 

Here’s a plot recap for the first episode of Season 2 – ‘Faith is All’ – which premiered on BBC One at 9pm on Sunday 10th April 2022:

Yorkshire, 1834. A month on from their private marriage ceremony, Ann Walker (Sophie Rundle) remains in York under the care of her doctor while Anne Lister (Suranne Jones), with fresh financial confidence and entrepreneurial vigour, renovates Shibden Hall in preparation for her wife to move in.

Learning of their plan to co-habit, Miss Walker’s protective tribe of relations are increasingly suspicious of Anne Lister’s motives, but can’t find the right words to express their fears about the nature of their relationship.

Anne is keen to strengthen their commitment by changing their wills in each other’s favour, but Ann Walker is nervous of braving public opinion further.

While the couple prepare for a fabulous honeymoon abroad, devastated Mariana Lawton’s (Lydia Leonard) jealousy signals more trouble ahead.

Gentleman Jack is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.