Gentleman Jack Review: I Can Be as a Meteor in Your Life (Season 2 Episode 6)

After the high stakes developments of the previous two episodes, Gentleman Jack Season 2 Episode 6, “I Can Be as a Meteor in Your Life,” slows things down with a quieter outing that also happens to be one of the season’s best.

Narratively not much happens on “I Can Be as a Meteor in Your Life.” The plot does move forward, of course, but compared to the previous two episodes, “I Can Be as a Meteor in Your Life” is much more low-key — at least until the final scene.

Instead, the episode is a character-driven one. It lets viewers spend time with the characters and focus on their relationships with each other. 

This only works because of the show’s strengths, its pacing, dialogue, and pitch-perfect performances. It’s a credit to the show’s craft that it is at its best when it just brings viewers into its world.

Little in the way of plot needs to happen, and it is as compelling as any of the series’ most dramatic scenes.

Nothing makes this point more than the welcomed return of the coal pit intrigue. The scenes of Anne going back and forth between Hinscliffe and Holt are great. It’s so much fun to see Anne try to figure out how to play her hand.

We don’t see Anne perplexed often, and Suranne Jones does a superb job expressing her exasperation and uncertainty. 

Of course, the episode’s most important scenes are the ones between Miss Lister and Miss Walker. On “I Can Be As a Meteor in Your Life,” we get to see a full range of interactions between the two, and every one of them is worth rewatching. 

The two big arguments that Miss Lister and Miss Walker have are interesting because, without context, both women seem to overreact to the situations.

Yet, with context, we understand they are doing that because each situation hits squarely on some of their own insecurities.

For Ann, while her annoyance with Miss Lister’s letter is played with adorable petulance by Sophie Rundle, it gets at Ann’s growing frustration with being passed over and underestimated. 

As mentioned in my review of Gentleman Jack Season 2 Episode 3, “Tripe All Over the Place, Presumably,” the fact that Miss Walker is even upset about being underestimated or dismissed shows how much her journey with Anne has changed her.

That she even has the confidence to be annoyed is growth. Still, it is introducing new tension into their relationship. Ann is currently contending with her family in Halifax and her brother-in-law as she tries to get her estate divided.

Add in some of the comments Anne’s friends made to her earlier in the season, and she is primed to be sensitive to anything she perceives as patronizing.

Plus, she’s not wrong. As good as her intentions may be, Anne’s confidence can cross into arrogance, and she does have a habit of being dismissive of people. Both traits would understandably rub an already irritated Miss Walker the wrong way.

For Anne’s part, at least twice in her life, women she cared about deeply have been unable to commit themselves to her because they went down a more traditional path. Anne has been left before, whether they did it by choice or because of circumstance. 

Miss Walker’s comment about children comes across as off-handed musing regarding her estate. She doesn’t seem to mean anything by it. Still, it’s easy to understand why Anne reacts the way she does.

It’s unlikely either of these conflicts are over. The episode ends with both Miss Walker’s and Miss Lister’s feelings unresolved. It’s hard to imagine they won’t show up again, whether it’s this season or during a potential Season 3.

The episode’s best scene is the one the morning after Miss Walker and Miss Lister’s first fight when Anne finds Miss Walker crying by the fireplace. 

The tenderness of that scene is lovely. Every time we think Anne is taking Miss Walker for granted, she reminds up that she does see Miss Walker. She sees a part of Ann that most people don’t, and it reminds us why we love these two together so much. 

Miss Walker makes Miss Lister softer, and Miss Lister makes Miss Walker braver. They bring out sides of each other that are sometimes hidden. They make each other better. 

Sometimes amid a show’s twists and turns, it’s nice to pause and spend time with the characters we love. That is exactly what we get on “I Can Be as a Meteor in Your Life.”

With only two episodes left this season, the moment to breathe before the looming drama hits is perfectly placed and most welcomed. 

Stray Thoughts

• It is always a treat to see Mrs. Rawlson make an appearance.
• The comic timing of this show is absolutely perfect and frankly better than half of the comedies currently on TV.
• I enjoyed seeing more of the relationship between Anne and her father. We don’t see that often and I’d love to see that relationship explored more.
• I knew Ann sensed something was off after Anne returned from her trip to visit Mariana. Ann Walker notices everything.
• Captian Sutherland continues to be the absolute worst. It seems as though the series is once again setting him up to be the main villain, and I cannot wait to see him get his comeuppance. 

What did you think of this episode of Gentleman Jack? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

Gentleman Jack airs Mondays at 10/9c on HBO.

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

20 Characters from TV Dramas Who Gave Us All the Feels in 2019