I want to preface this recap by sharing the enormity of my love for Suranne Jones as Anne Lister. I have watched Season 1 more times than I can remember. Head over heels for the whole damn thing, am I. But what the hell has happened to Anne? Lately, we are seeing some rottenness — a side of her character that had not existed until now. I don’t like it. (Gain more insight from Ep.4’s Recap, here.)
Anne is extremely dismissive of Mr. Abbott (Marian’s suitor.) He seems like a likable enough fellow but Anne is disinterested entirely. We’ll get more into that later in the episode.
Ann’s sister writes back, not to Ann, but to the employed head of household who’s minding her estate. She is directing evictions on tenants in their properties, so that division of their joint property can progress orderly. It is discussed that many tenants have fallen in arrears. Mr. Washington is heartbroken to be given the task of evicting good families, whom I presume are part of his working class community. Tension is building between the classes, and a vein of political unrest is edging the storyline now.
The navigation shareholders continue to be tense as well, with hairline split votes. Anne schemes throughout the episode on how to get the votes to swing in the direction she deems right.
Anne is tending to Ann before bed, as is their nightly ritual. Massaging her shoulder, this is a time when Ann’s wonderings seem to bubble to the surface. Maybe it’s the relaxation and intimacy that enables her to bring up hard topics, or maybe it’s the only time she can get Anne’s uninterrupted attention and focus.
Ann broaches what is eating away at her, first mentioning, “You’ve been so attentive since you came back from Lawton Hall,” and then pushing “What made you say, ‘I shan’t leave you again,’ the moment you came in? … When you came back from Lawton — it was the first thing you said.”
Anne, babe, the look on your face is the most telling story I have ever seen. Ann adds, “You’ve not talked about Mrs. Lawton since. Not once.” It’s looking like Ann’s grown out of her little lamb phase and is much more keen and perceptive of the nuances encircling her. Anne has a more worthy opponent on her hands now. I would look like someone smacked me in the face too if I was realizing that my wife wasn’t as naive as I’d thought and might figure out that I had behaved like scum and betrayed her.
I think this awareness in Ann stems in part from her knowing that Anne kept her in the dark about her past, purposefully. There is very real reason for suspicion.
Anne replies, “You’re the only person that matters to me now. You know that. This is the future — our future. Here. You and me.” Who are you trying to convince, Anne? Ann or yourself? This just feels so dirty.
Marian has asked to speak with Anne, and they meet downstairs after Anne is done lightly gaslighting Ann upstairs (I cannot believe I am saying this about Anne. Ugh.) A wretched conversation ensues, where Anne is actually emotionally barbaric in her oversimplification of Marian’s desire to marry Mr. Abbott. I will shorten the, painful to watch, ordeal for you: Anne tells her sister, Marian, that she will disown her if she marries Mr. Abbott, who is beneath them in class and station. “People will be amazed,” says Anne, “it’s inconceivable.” Um… Anne, where is your self awareness?
There is absolutely no regard for Marian’s genuine feelings for Mr. Abbott, nor her desire to have a family and children of her own — because Marian should just settle for the life she has at Shibden Hall, right? This all coming from Anne herself, who has never once chosen to settle for the life handed to her and has always forced the life she herself wanted to live. Anne Lister, who was never content not having a wife to spend her life with, is out here telling her sister to be happy alone. And Anne is speaking these words to the same sister who has wholeheartedly accepted and embraced her sister’s homosexuality and radical relationship and living situation. I’m sorry, but what in the actual fuck?
Halifax’s unrest bursts and riots break out, ravaging destructively through the streets. Anne loads up with two pistols to head into the aftermath, the next morning, to collect rents. She narrowly makes it through a throng of boys harassing her and proceeds on her mission, passing by as people attempt to clean up the looting and rioting damage that is everywhere you look. Episode 5 doesn’t lighten up at all — it’s all heavy with a slightly ominous shadow.
Anne shoots the pistols off, as ash from the upheaval swirls around her, upon her arrival back home to Shibden. She startles everyone. I have no idea why — homegirl is in a mood.
The Lister family sits around the table, for dinner, as the episode nears its close. Anne gives a toast before the meal and the content just seems laughable considering her recent behavior. Mr. Washington apologetically interrupts, bringing in the most recent newspaper. Under the wedding announcements, someone has submitted such a marriage announcement: Captain Tom Lister, of Shibden Hall, to Ms. Ann Walker of Crow Nest. Everyone is confused except Anne, conditioned to this mockery her whole life. She knows exactly what it is: a cruel joke. Tom Lister is referencing Ann — the heathen who refuses to stay in her place as a female.
Ann looks shattered, taking in her first real taste of prejudice since aligning her life with Anne. I think it’s just the hard shell from enduring years of taunts and abuse, but Anne plays that it’s terribly amusing and they should all find humor in it. She manages to get Ann to laugh, lightly. “If only the person who spent good money placing it in the paper could see that what was meant to irritate and annoy has in fact been taken quietly with such mere amusement,” Anne says. Perhaps she’s very consciously trying to coach Ann in how to rise above the battles they will face in this life that Ann has now chosen too.
In their room, after dinner, the wives sit with books in hand but neither are reading. Both stare into fire, silently, processing.
