#Reverend Ainsworth

[lifewithaview]

Suranne Jones in Gentleman Jack (2019) Let's Have Another Look at Your Past Perfect

S1E5

Reverend Ainsworth arrives in Halifax and, with encouragement from Mrs. Priestley, sets his sights on Ann Walker. Meanwhile, Lister presses on with the transformation of her estate, but her ambitious plans threaten to lead her into trouble...

*Amelia Bullmore (Eliza Priestley) & Suranne Jones (Anne Lister) also worked together on Scott & Bailey (2011) as DCI Gill Murray & DS Rachel Bailey respectively.

[blogger360ncislarules]

Boston, MA; June 18, 2024: MASTERPIECE on PBS has commissioned a 10th season of the beloved mystery series, Grantchester. Stars Robson Green and Rishi Nair will both return as DI Geordie Keating and Reverend Alphy Kottaram, respectively.

Grantchester is one of MASTERPIECE’s longest-running series and has been noted as an “irresistible British mystery-drama” by TV Insider.

Grantchester is a Co-Production of Kudos (a Banijay UK Company) and MASTERPIECE for ITV. It airs on MASTERPIECE on PBS in the U.S. and on ITV1 and ITVX in the U.K. Banijay Rights handles international distribution for the series.

MASTERPIECE Executive Producer Susanne Simpson says, “I couldn’t be happier to recommission Grantchester for a 10th season. This is hands-down one of our most popular series and I know the fans will be thrilled to see it continue with the outstanding Robson Green and Rishi Nair back for more crime-solving.” MASTERPIECE is presented on PBS by GBH Boston.

Writer and Executive Producer Daisy Coulam notes, “This show is a testament to our lovely team – the cast and crew. I’m so grateful and proud that we get to come back together for our tenth season and another glorious summer in Grantchester!”

Emma Kingsman-Llloyd, Executive Producer adds, “We are so delighted by the audience reaction to Grantchester and appreciate that they have enjoyed so many episodes.  We are overjoyed to be filming our tenth series and bringing more of Geordie and Alphy’s adventures to the screen.”

In addition to Green and Nair, other returning cast members include Al Weaver as Leonard Finch, Tessa Peake-Jones as Mrs. C, Kacey Ainsworth as Cathy Keating, Oliver Dimsdale as Daniel Marlowe, Nick Brimble as Jack Chapman, Bradley Hall as DC Larry Peters, and Melissa Johns as Miss Scott.

Filming on Season 10 will begin in the UK in July, 2024.

Season 9 is currently airing Sundays at 9/8c through August 4. The series is also available to stream now on the PBS App, PBS.org and the PBS MASTERPIECE Prime Channel.

[incorrect-gentleman-jack]

Reverend Ainsworth wandering into Crown Nest: Hi- 

Anne Lister: Leave before there's a terrible misunderstanding between my foot and your ass

[iwt-v]

You took advantage of a vulnerable young woman. You inflicted yourself on her. No-Yes. 

[thought-i-to-myself]

And once more, I urge you to appreciate the propriety and necessity of neither Miss Walker nor myself ever hearing anything about you in this world ever again. And I trust we have no reason to fear bumping into you in the next.

[whatdoesshedotothem]

Sunday 25 November 1832

7 35

11 40

fine soft damp November morning F53° at 7 ¾ - breakfast with my father at 9 – Marian came just as I had done breakfast staid talking to her till 10 20 then with my aunt till near 11 and came to my room at 11, and ¾ hour looking over my journal, the notices respecting my coal – at 11 50 went downstairs and from 11 55 to 12 50 read aloud to my aunt my father and sister and Hemingway the morning prayers and sermon 19 Mr. Knight - at 1 ¼  off along my walk to Lidgate and there in ½ hour - found Miss W- and Miss H. Parkhill and the reverend Mr Wilkinson and his grandson (Wroughton) sitting after dinner - they soon went away and Miss Parkhill went into the other room leaving Miss W- and me to go to church which however we did not do but sat talking till after 5 - she was low and looked disconsolate  had received the ring in memory of Mrs Ainsworth and that had put her into the dolefuls      much talk of Mr A-     she will have him after all I spoke with indignation as usual    and she of duty and all that   I said whatever she had done to him she had not behaved very well to me I had had two promises of which she had evaded the one and broken the other (vide seventh and twelfth instant)  she said she was more than ever determined not to go abroad    I talked as if she needed not fear but bade her remember I would not pledge myself to anything    then grubbled her she making no sort of objection but evidently enjoying it    she thought Mr A- had a smaller hand than mine   I said he had done it more roughly than necessary to spoil her as much as he could without the real thing   ‘yes (but said she hastily) he did it first’    that is grubbled first   in spite of all her declarations to the contrary I begin to suspect Mr A- really has deflowered and enjoyed her or how this so declaring against marring anybody else and the feeling bound to him   and how all the pain she suffered sometimes could scarcely walk    and why never tell the so gross and offending expression he used in his first letter after the death of his wife   and that no man would use to the woman he meant to marry?

 SH:7/ML/E/15/0154

 she must have some man or other I can never satisfy her Steph was right enough about hysteria   hang it she has no shame I may grubble or handle or look at her as I please she is my mistress for the time   after the grubbling talking of Steph thinking she ought to go abroad   promised I would say nothing to aid it   but owned that he had asked me (I was going and who) whether I durst to take the charge    and I said I should not do it for my own sake unless I felt pretty sure of its answering   she thanked me for my consideration and seemed rather converted  she needs not fear   I shall not be for having her laughe[d] and said I should be at least merrier without than with her     I see she is for keeping up a friendship and corresponding?   I told her not to call on me ever on my return if she was Mrs Ainsworth    she would then be no longer the same person as now and I being the older resident in the neighbourhood I should consider it my place to call on her     the option of visiting lying with me   she said she had once thought of his taking her name     I said I should still not consider him society for me and under such circumstances what friendship could be carried on between her and me? a few minutes in the room with Miss Parkhill - apologized for having kept Miss W- away from church and so long away for Miss P- - Miss W- asked me to dinner on Tuesday which I declined but said I would go in the morning – they will be making calls on Wednesday in the town and neighbourhood and are to go to Low Moor iron works to call on the Hirds there on Friday that I shall probably after Tuesday not go again till Saturday - home in ½ hour at 5 ¾ near German house an impertinent fellow with a great stick in his hand asked if I was going home and made a catch at my queer   goddamn you said I and pushed him off     he said something which I took as meaning an attack    do said I if you dare    I’ll soon do for you    and he walked one way and I the other    I did not feel the least frightened   how involuntarily and bitterly I always swear on these occasions! changed my things - dinner at 6 20 - afterwards wrote all the above of today -  I really begin to tire of Miss W- I thanked her offer of money (in her note) the other day to pay for Godley     saying that if all had gone on between us as I had planned I should have taken her offer as a thing of right   as things were it was better not to have any tie of money matters    she now proposes going to York after Christmas said the other day as  I was likely to be here rather longer than I expected    I made no objection  would that I could well be off going with her    but when I leave her it shall stand for a leaving   I will have nothing more to do with her    I am glad I have got to going to her so much seldomer – Have just done the above at 8 ½ - then an hour making calculation about the coal –

1 acre at 5 corves or loads per square yard = 1210 scores

1 acre at 4 ½ ----------------------------------= 1089 scores

.:. 4 ½ corves per square yard = 1210 scores – 2 corves per score = 1210 – 1210x2÷20 = 1210-121 = 1089.

121 scores at 13/4 or 8d. a corve = £80.13.4  .:. the soft bed of the lower land being ½ a corve per square yard or 121 scores per acre better than the soft bed of the upper land is (deducting half for expense) worth £80.13.4/2 = £40.6.8 more than the said coal of the upper land

1210 scores (at 8d. a corve) at 13/4 = £806.13.4÷2 = £403.6.8

1089 -----------------------------at 13/4 = £726.0.0÷2 = £363.0.0

 1210-----------(at 7d. a corve) at 11/8 = £705.16.8÷2 = £352.18.4

1089 ------------------------------ at 11/8 = £635.5.0÷2 = £317.12.6

 Kind letter 3 pages from Mrs Norcliffe (Langton) - thinks Joseph Booth will be to young and cannot know much of cleaning carriages or harness or waiting at table - the letter contains nothing of any use to me - asks id the death of Donald Cameron of Lochiel is the death of lady Vere’s husband - asks about the price of lodgings and livings at Hastings and about the society there - will not leave Langton before the 3rd of next month – Had just written the above at 10 – ½ hour with my aunt and came to my room at 10 35

my father sold the lower or soft bed coal at Highroydes at 12D.W. and 12 years to get it in to Messrs. Holt, Clarke, and Pearson for £100 a D.W. i.e. £150 per acre in the year 1784 when coals sold at only 3d. (instead of 7d. and 8d. as now) per corve or load – and ½ the purchase money was paid on signing the deeds and the other ½ 3 months after – 3d. a corve would equal 5/. a score – at 5 corves per square yard =

1210 scores at 5/. = £302.10.0  at 6 corves per square yard ten square yards = 3 scores

.:. 4840/10 x = 1452 scores (per acre) at 5/. = £363. per acre which allowing one half for expense would leave a profit of £63 per acre – less than 6 covers per square yard would not pay the partners

 fine soft November day – F50 ½ now at 10 55 p.m. after writing the last ten lines -

[claudia1829things]

"GENTLEMAN JACK" Season One (2019) Episodes Ranking

Below is my ranking of the Season One episodes from the HBO series, "GENTLEMEN JACK". Based on the diaries of Anne Lister and created by Sally Wainwright, the series starred Suranne Jones and Sophie Rundle:

"GENTLEMAN JACK" SEASON ONE (2019) EPISODES RANKING

1. (1.03) "Oh Is That What You Call It?" - Diarist and estate owner Anne Lister confides her hopes for a future with neighbor and new lover Ann Walker to her aunt Anne Lister. Meanwhile, the wife of Ann's cousin, Mrs. Priestley, threatens the couple's relationship with hints and gossip. inkling about the two women's relationship presents a threat. Anne's alcoholic tenant Samuel Sowden has a major confrontation with his more responsible son, Thomas.

2. (1.06) "Do Ladies Do That?" - Ann Walker's mental state takes a turn for the worse as she struggles to reconcile her homosexuality with her religious beliefs. Anne struggles with her desire to help the former, while balancing her coal ventures.

3. (1.01) "I Was Just Passing" - In the series premiere, Anne Lister returns to Shibden Hall, her family's Yorkshire ancestral home after being rejected by her partner Vere Hobart in Sussex. Upon discovering that her land is rich in coal, Anne takes over the management of the neglected estate.

4. (1.05) "Let's Have Another Look at Your Past Perfect" - Reverend Thomas Ainsworth, an unsavory figure from Ann Walker's past, stirs up trouble as he attempts to claim her hand in marriage.

5. (1.02) "I Just Went There to Study Anatomy" - Anne begins a dangerous courtship of Ann Walker. Meanwhile, she continues to fight the Rawson brothers for control of the coal on her estate and enlists the help of land steward Mr. Samuel Washington to claim her money.

6. (1.07) "Why've You Brought That?" - Thomas Sowden visits Mr. Washington and asks for his daughter Suzannah's hand in marriage. Anne confronts Christopher Rawson over his disrespectful treatment of her younger sister Marian. Anne takes out a loan to finance the sinking of a new coal pit, using the deeds to the Shibden estate as collateral.

7. (1.08) "Are You Still Talking?" - Bad news from Shibden Hall about her aunt's health and the unexpected financial problems of her new coal pit leads Anne to leave behind her new lifestyle in Denmark and return to Yorkshire. She and Ann Walker come to a new understanding regarding their relationship.

8. (1.04) "Most Women Are Dull and Stupid" - Anne's friend, Dr. Belcombe, confirms that she is the perfect tonic for Ann Walker's nervous disorder. When news of a friend's death arrives, Ann Walker's desperate reaction makes Anne suspect that the former has secrets of her own.

[skgway]

1832 Nov., Wed. 14

6 3/4

11 3/4

Fahrenheit 48º at 7 a.m. damp soft morning – Looking over accounts breakfast with my father at 8 1/2 – Off at 9 1/2 to Lidgate – There in 24 minutes – From 10 10/.. in 1 1/2 hour walked with Miss W– [Walker] along the new road to Stump Cross Inn and back not much less than 4 miles; and she really bore it so well, it only shewed what she might do with a little regular exertion –

At 12 3/4 Mr. and Mrs. William Henry Rawson called and sat 1/4 hour – Said they had been at Shibden – Miss Parkhill returned from Cliff Hill just in time to dress for dinner at 2 – Sat down to table with them and ate a little –

Afterwards staid till 3 55/.. and then off home by my walk – Some time in the moss house and came in at 5 – We had talked of Mr. A[insworth]. I said she was not fit to be left to herself, which she admitted. Gradually told her she really must make up her mind to let me decide in all things for her. Yes, said she she would do as I liked. I then [said] I should see what was best.

She was to remember I had pledged myself to nothing. She must really consider herself no longer at her own option but must really do as I wished, to which she fully consented. All this reiterated after our walk as we sat on the sofa. 

She said she knew now she had suffered very much. Sometimes last summer she could scarcely walk. I asked if he had ever touched her. Yes. And it appears repeatedly, and had told her that she would have suffered less from the real thing. It would have been much easier! What a fellow!  

After dinner came the postbag. I opened it. Gave her the letter from her late book and closed the bag as if there was nothing more. Then pretending to want the postbag as a pattern, took it off with me. She came with me to the door. Took her into the dining [room] and told her of the letter from Mr. Ainsworth to me. 

Letter from Mr. A– [Ainsworth] (Manchester) – 1 3/4 pages. Read it. A rigmarole of humiliation and confession to me. Hoping for my pity and that I would not expose him, and begging my permission to send Miss W[alker] a box that his wife would have left her had she lived to add a codicil to her will. Excusing his first letter to Miss W[alker] as being written under the effects of opium. 

Just told Miss W[alker] these heads and what sort of answer I meant to send. Saying the matter was out of her hands and she must do as I wished, she being no longer a free agent. She does not seem to dislike hearing of this tie. Smiled and seemed satisfied, and in half hour I left her. What does Miss Harriet Parkhill think of us? She must see that my influence is paramount –

Home at 5 – Wrote the following, dated Lightcliffe today –   

Sir, I have just received your letter of yesterday and I am sorry that, considering all the circumstances of the case, I cannot consent to your sending the box you mention. I very earnestly hope that you will [have] the propriety and the necessity of abstaining from any further communication with my friend or myself as the best and only means of preventing that exposure which it is so desirable to avoid to a gentleman and a clergyman. I trust it is unnecessary to add more. 

I am Sir your obedient servant A Lister –

Dinner at 6 – Just before and afterwards till 9 10/.. wrote the above of today and had a long nap – Then went into the other room read tonight’s courier, and staid talking to my aunt till 10 55/.. at which hour came upstairs – Fine November day – Soft and mild and damp but a little sunshine in the morning –

Fahrenheit 49º at 11 p.m. – Wrote and sent off about 7 Letter 1 page to the “Reverend Thomas Ainsworth at Miss Bentley’s 1 Crescent Salford Manchester” – She neither deserves nor understands what I am doing for her –

[gentlemanjacksource]

Anne contemplates what she will do to Reverend Ainsworth  — [1.04: Most Women Are Dull And Stupid]

[iredreamer]

Thanks for all your GJ commentary! I wonder if you could say something about the scene when Anne tells Ann what Rev. Ainsworth did to her. First, to me it's fairly clear that it wasn't consensual - she says "I told him I didn't want to" twice and "I never encouraged him," but I've seen a couple of recappers say he "seduced" her or that it was ambiguous?

Second, all of the beats of Ann’s response fascinate me - from her wanting to maintain some emotional distance (she starts off angry at Anne, after all) to moving to comfort her, and then becoming more and more angry on Anne’s behalf. But I wanted to point out that when she asks “Were you connected?” (i.e. did penetrative rape occur), Suranne Jones somehow managed to shed her first tear during that question. Both SJ and SR’s performances were amazing, but that one moment got me especially.

anonymous asked: I LOVE your gifs and scene analysis for GJ! No one I know has seen it so I can’t talk about with anyone, but reading your stuff is just as good. I was hoping you could gif and/or give your thoughts on a moment that really touched me and made me think. In episode 4 when Anne was comforting Ann about what Ainesworth had done, when she asked Ann how far he went with her, we see her crying too as if in empathy for Ann. I thought it was beautiful and want to know your thoughts?

First of all thank you you two for your messages

I know your asks focus on the second half of the scene, but I just wanna briefly touch on the first half too (lol at me saying “briefly”… this turned out long af) – by the way, it’s so hard to break down this scene, there are so many things happening and so many layers my brain will combust but I’ll try.

I love, just love, how mad Anne is. We can understand so much about her and her philosophy of life and how one should live it. I love her body language, she can’t keep still, she’d trash the room if she could, she finds a little relief in throwing that little box in a careless manner, she’s disheveled after that walk and she’s tired, she’s mad, and she wants answers, real ones this time. As soon as she hears the door, she’s ready to say all that is on in her mind. She doesn’t even notice that Ann had probably been crying all day.

“I would have known what to do with a yes or a no, but this? What am I supposed to do with this? I mean, do you think, do you really think that I’m someone to have my future happiness decided by fate?”

And, wow, behind this line there is just so much to unpack! Anne Lister, someone who has always lived her life in the truest most honest way, choosing every day to walk the hardest path, of course is pissed when AW leaves to fate a big decision like that. And AL doesn’t want fate to decide Ann Walker’s future either. She wants to hear that “yes” from AW’s lips, from AW’s heart, she wants AW to be sure of wanting her and wanting to be with her. The contrast is just striking, Ann Walker prefers to leave her future to fate, Anne Lister thinks that everyone should determine their own destiny. She would never take AW just because there’s a “yes” written on a stupid piece of paper. And she says it “Well, I’m taking it as a no” - “If you can’t choose, if you don’t have the courage to say yes to me, well then, it’s no, I’d never take someone who isn’t sure.” If it’s not a yes then it’s not a yes, it doesn’t matter to her that “it isn’t a no” – “Well, it isn’t a yes!”

[y’all this turned out long af so…more under the cut]

AW tries to get closer, she takes a few steps forward but it’s impossible to get nearer to AL, she just doesn’t care that it isn’t a “no” [and let me just say that the camera movement on Ann Walker is spot on, you can feel the insecurity, the instability and nervousness of the situation, just look, LOOK!!!].

Look at AW’s panic in that moment. We know by now that Ann Walker has been in love with Anne Lister for 15 years, and in this moment, when AL angrily says “Well, it isn’t a yes”, AW realizes that she could seriously lose Anne – AW can’t say “yes” to her, and not because she doesn’t want to but because she thinks she’s “not fit to say yes”, at the same time she can’t explain to AL why she can’t say yes because if she does, she’ll lose her – this is what Ann Walker is thinking, this is what she has been thinking for the whole episode, she doesn’t want to say the truth and explain to AL what is going on because she’s sure, she’s so sure, that AL will leave her if she tells her what happened. But, is she not losing her now anyway? So what else does she have to lose?

She still keeps quiet tho, and it’s AL who, looking for an explanation, finally asks the right question (even if the answer might hurt her) “Will you accept him?” – “I don’t want to but…” – “But…what?” And… oh god, the way she screams that “What?” gets me every time. She scares me a little. She was mad before but the anger and the frustration in that “What?” are on a whole new level.

The way she closes her eyes, the way she screams, the anger of that “What” that is shaking her body even if she’s staying still (so in contrast with how we’ve seen her act till this point, moving around, opening her arms, talking with her whole body). She’s desperate to know what is going on with Ann, what Ann is not telling her, what is she keeping from her? What?

Ann Walker breaks down, she has to tell the truth. It’s time. And here we are anon, the moment Anne softens (for the first time). I love how in this moment you can seen on Anne Lister’s face how torn she is [Suranne is really expressive I love her], she’s suffering but she understands that she has to push her pain aside, she has to be there for AW, this is not the right moment to be mad – even tho she is – and so she tries to manage her anger and her pain to be there for AW and try to understand what is really going on.

Anne Lister has worked on herself, for years, to finally be the person she is and be able to have such a deep understanding and control of herself and her emotions (something Ann Walker is just now learning to do). She’s an observer, she can read AW’s feelings really well, and she’s mature enough to understand when it’s time to be angry and when it’s time to manage that anger. She will not make Ann feel worse than what she already feels, she will not fight with her just to feel a temporary relief (in the next episode we’ll see how Ann Walker hurts Anne Lister without even realizing it just because she’s saying everything that comes up in her mind without giving it a serious thought, and I love this contrast, I love how different they are from each other).

AL lowers herself, she puts herself on AW’s level, she’s not towering over her anymore – this is so important for what happens later, after Ann Walker says she’s been indiscreet with Ainsworth – so, the power shifts, Anne Lister is ready to listen. Her walls are down. [Just let me rant for a sec inside these square brackets… this is like, one of the things I love the most about them and about this show, the way this fuuucking series plays with levels and physical positioning to show the shift of power between the Ann(e)s is so good I might have an orgasm every time it happens, I’m not even kidding.] AL takes her time before touching AW, she is still mad and after all she had been shouting at her just moments before.

Look how careful she is and how carefully she chooses where and how to touch her to comfort her – “Ann.” – Ann, on the other hand, is totally in her head, already thinking the worst. When AW doesn’t respond to AL’s touch, AL gets closer, takes AW’s face in her hands and makes her look at her. She has to look her in the eyes, she has to be sure that AW knows that she’s there for her and that she’s ready to listen to her and find a solution to whatever is hurting her so bad – “Ann, talk to me. We’re adults. Nothing can be this bad.” – “I’ll never see you again. If I tell you the truth, you won’t want anything to do with me.” – And here it is, Ann Walker’s greatest fear. Losing Anne.

“It’s him. The Reverend Ainsworth. I’ve been Indiscreet with him.“

Oh oh.

See? See how the power shifts between them? AL is getting up because she doesn’t want to be understanding anymore, not after that confession. She stands up, dominating AW in the only way she can, physically. She is shocked and hurt, more hurt than before. Didn’t AW say to her that she “felt a repugnance towards forming any sort of connection with a man”? So what is the truth? Did she lie? Or there’s more to it? And clearly there’s more to it…

The way Ann Walker explains what happened with Ainsworth is messy, yes, because she is upset, and she goes back and forth with what she says. She starts saying she’s been indiscreet with him, that he loved her, that he wanted to marry her and while she’s talking about all this she says: “And I didn’t want to but I didn’t know how to say no”, she continues talking about the letter and then she goes back talking about Ainsworth… so… my point is, her monologue is messy, and it can be confusing (even Anne Lister is confused, look at her face in that moment, trying to make sense of everything AW is saying to truly understand what’s the meaning of it). But, I think, there’s not doubt that it was a rape, I think it’s crystal clear > Ann Walker says: “I didn’t want to” and “I never encouraged him” – “I told him I didn’t want to, but then he just managed situations that he was alone with me, either here when they visited or there at their house.” – So I have no doubts about this.

In real life it seems that she wasn’t raped and apparently she never had sex with Ainsworth, they just kissed, so, to answer your question anon, maybe that’s from where the confusion about this scene starts, but I don’t think the scene itself is ambiguous at all, he never seduced her, that’s not what he did, he manipulated her.

The way Anne Lister stays calm and controls herself from this moment on fucking kills me because she’s dying inside y’all, she’s dying, the fact that AW has been with a man fucking kills her and she’s pushing all her pain aside because she understands that the pain AW is feeling is much greater and she needs to be there for her. She’s been holding back her tears from the moment AW said “I’ve never encouraged him”… I CANT

“Do do you understand? You understand the problem? He’s had Intimate knowledge of me.“

And here, right here, is where Ann Walker is saying to AL that he forced himself on her – that she can’t say “yes” to her because she’s been with someone else – “Do you understand? You understand the problem?” – AW knows she’s not being very explicit, she probably can’t bring herself to be more explicit than that and a part of her probably thinks he had every right to act how he did (let’s not forget we’re in the 19th century), but she wants AL to understand, she wants AL to know that she didn’t have a choice. And AL does understand.

She sits beside Ann. The power shifts again, AL’s putting her walls down again. I love the fact that Ann Walker has her walls down the whole time during their confrontation while AL keeps pulling them down and putting them back up, consciously deciding when to maintain an emotional distance and when to be more open [which is good y’all, learn from Anne Lister, self preservation is a great quality].

So, now, the dialogue that breaks my little lesbian hopeless romantic heart…

The time AL takes before talking is so important, she’s almost studying AW, thinking how to approach the subject. She needs answers to all the questions she has… And this brings me back to the flirty scene in episode 3, where Anne Lister playfully asks Ann Walker if she has ever kissed anyone or if she has ever wanted to. The contrast is devastating. I don’t know if this scene is supposed to mirror that one, but I can’t deny that in my mind the two are linked, whenever I watch this scene I think about that one and whenever I watch that one I think about this one. There’s something in how the whole conversation is written, AL asking questions, AW not answering in an explicit way, or again the way this scene totally changes the meaning of AW’s reticence in answering AL’s questions in episode 3…

“Intimate how?” – “Kissing?” – “Touching?” – AW can’t even bring herself to answer, she can’t even bring herself to look at Anne. And oh god, the way AL looks at AW right before asking if she and Ainsworth have been connected is heartbreaking. She doesn’t want to know, but at the same time she has to know. I love how AL is basically putting everything in order here, AW has already said all of this in her confusing monologue and now AL is asking clear straightforward questions to be sure to understand what really happened with Ainsworth and what didn’t.

And well, I think she’s not only crying in empathy for AW, I think she’s crying for herself too. She hates that AW has been with someone else before, it hurts her. I really think there’s not just one way to explain her tears, I think for sure she feels the pain AW is feeling (and this is clear from the way she acts, and from how quickly she changed her manners when Ann started crying) but I also think it is not just a selfless, completely sympathetic crying. She’s crying for herself, she’s crying because she’s hurt.

and OH mY GOD!! SURANNE WITH HER FUCKING TEARS I CANT SHE’S A MASTER IN CRYING I SWEAR TO GOD THE WAY SHE SHEDS SINGLE TEARS ON THIS SHOW I’M– I DIDN’T EVEN THINK THIS WAS HUMANLY POSSIBLE BUT HEY-OH WOW BITCH HER GAME IS STRONG GIVE HER ALL THE AWARDS EMMY BAFTA OSCAR EVERYTHING

Okay, so, the scene doesn’t end here (as we all know), but this is long af so I think I’m gonna just say a couple more things and then end this analysis or whatever this is…

My absolute favorite bit is this one: 

I love the way AL caresses AW’s face, the contrast of her delicacy and the anger and pain that she’s feeling and that we can clearly see in her expression just breaks my heart. She’s trying to be caring and loving and sweet and supportive with AW even if that’s not what she’s feeling at all. She says “You were under his protection, in his house, and he took advantage of you.” and it’s like she’s seeing what happened at that time, in that house. She’s not calm, she’s angry, hurt, but she tries not to show it because she has to be there for AW, she has to be strong for her (let’s also say that she kinda fails because it’s clear how upset she is about the whole thing, and AW notices it – “You’re shouting. You’re cross”). I love this bit because AL is just so protective but at the same time looks so hurt and I– I don’t know, I just love it. I love how her chin is trembling, I love how her hand is slightly shaking, I love how she’s trying to control her body but she just can’t because what AW just told her upset her too much.

Another thing I really love – and that makes me really sad too – is AW saying that if she had someone like AL in her life things like that would have never happened. It’s amazing how that line brings us back to episode 1 and 2, to Dr Kenny, to Anne Lister being so quick to notice how his presence and manners irritated AW.

So, I hope I answered your questions and that you enjoyed reading my thoughts about this scene and yes, this is it, love u bye :*

[sirensdxn]

Fallen

Beneath the dim candlelight of the Reverend quarters a new carpet. Gilded parchment inked with exotic pigments and torn edges laid scattered upon the floor. On occasion, the ash lumber peaked through the thrown remains of Silvermoon’s revered book. And in the center sat the calm of the storm. The pale-haired priest with his ever kindly smile sombered. 

Thin hands, uncalloused by any true labor, worked in a repeated motion as they crumpled a page. Decorated with dulled greys, whites, and golden paints along with broken script, depicted the picture of a child. One who’s back turned away from the red border that captured him upon his rock. Knees pulled close as soft locks fell over his shoulders, face hidden from the world. 

The Child Fallen. Originally, a parable that came from the Human written script of Ainsworth. Stories retold to the point where they lost any relevance. Elven ears peeked through the yellowed locks, purples and greys splotted their way across the child’s skin. Such were the rewards of those who fell. 

Those who fell. Fell into temptation. Dragged into selfless sacrifice. Torn away from the Conclave’s protective halls. Destined to stare at the gilded gates from a distance. First, the small lamb with a broken body turned to a goat with horns and scales. It never sat well with him, how one destined for the Church could walk away? To give it up for a life they knew nothing about? The Goat, and now the Confessor? Ah, how children were such foolish things.. 

All children. They were all granted leniency for their mistakes, but him? A man who knew the fields of Westfall long before the brotherhood stalked fields. No, there was no room for forgiveness there. No road back to the pulpit and the stiff bed of his quarters. Yet, a hand lingered upon the newest addition to his accessories. A simple gold necklace locked around his neck, not more than a band a centimeter thick. 

“Is there no greater sin than to deny one’s nature?” 

Those words, that sentiment, no matter how much he desired to smother it, still lingered. A shadow that lurked in the halls of his clinic. A wisp of smoke from his midnight candle. The echoes of songs from that morning’s sermon. What was one’s nature, and did they even have a right to fight it? Dravenn’s words, Vesiriel’s confirmation and even change in his ways only left a sour pit in the Reverend’s stomach. From one the scent of smoke was familiar, a gateway home. The other’s a stark reminder of who he was and innocence manipulated. Corrupted. 

Home. If to return would one have to remove their white wings? And, if so, where was one to go next? The fields of a town where everyone knew their name? Or the comfort of tall walls, solid floors, and a bed to return to?

The Reverend only bit his lip and crumpled his paper in silence. 

No. Such doubts did not suit him. Let the child falter and fall, they have the time to repent. Not all had the luxury. Besides, only a child would believe in binaries.

Mentions of: @cellody​, @dravenn-dark​, @indifferentminds​

[ohlookagoth]

Bit of a long one, but how would each wastelander be tempted by a Demon?

“

“Well, if you think about it, each one of those little scraps has their own guilts and temptations. They are painfully selfless it’s disgusting. I believe it would start with the problem child.” -- “Lydia Ainsworth, she would be tempted with the promise of all her pain to be reflected upon her father. She is full of wrath. Full of rage, I like her. She is vengeful and is not afraid to let others know.”  “Hmm.. Matilda, Matilda Bishop. She is one of those little selfless saps that would be tempted to bring back someone that she lost. So in-touch with her relationships with other people, the immediate offer of bringing back someone that she lost would instantly give us her soul.”  “The father, Sweeney Bishop. This man would be tempted with knowledge. Being able to have the knowledge to solve all the problems they deal with every single day. Food shortage, power shortage, crime, etcetera.. The man wants knowledge.” “Ahh, the reverend. Father Zecheriah Gizzard. A man with so much inner turmoil that you could boil steel. Being knowledgable of my antics, of all our antics, he is one to not easily tempted. But- if he would give in when told about ‘seeing the almighty’. what a daft buck.” “Allan Johnson, a World War Two Pilot. Hmm, he lives with guilt. The thoughts of his co-pilot dying in fire never leave his mind. He would also sell his soul to bring back that pilot of his.”  “I like this one, Caleb Calloway. a self-diagnosed ‘underappreciated’ man.  He would give to the temptations of love. Of being able to have as many women by his side as he could. Though, I don’t see how. He seems happy with his current situation. Well~ The more the merrier I always say.”  “Again, these scraps are so easily tempted when looking into their deepest desires.” 

[ann-waking]

Who Do You Love

She was expecting Anne.  She’d gotten up early, and made a rare fuss about her hair and which dress she’d like to wear.  Usually, she could get impatient with the process of setting her hair just so, but today she wanted to look her best.  Anne Lister was coming over.  Anne, whom she was fairly certain she was in love with, if such a thing was even possible under God’s law.  She’d been waiting and working on her cross stitch when James came.  She’d looked up at him eagerly, only to find that it was the Reverent Ainsworth who had come for a visit.   She told James she felt unwell, and could receive no one, when the man came walking right into the room.  Came right up to her with that pandering look on his face as he took her hands.  His grip was tight, his face intent and that disturbing shade of pinkish that worried her. He’d insisted on some sort of conversation, though she continued to call infirm and ask him to go.  She’d even stood to invite him out, but he’d only cornered her.  He’d had her up against the corner, drawing a finger down the side of her cheek. At this same time James was most thankfully letting Anne Lister into the house.  There was no way he was going up against a Reverend. “Reverend, Reverend-  I find this not to be seemly at all.” she insisted, but he countered with something from the Great Book she did not really recognize.  Then he had her up against the wall, pressing a kiss upon her.  She let a shriek go right against his lips, and struggled where he held her against the wall.

@gentlemanjackrp

[incorrect-gentleman-jack]

Reverend Ainsworth: Yeah, well, can your “science” explain why it rains?

Anne Lister: Yes!! It can!!

[iwt-v]

And once more, I urge you to appreciate the propriety and necessity of neither Miss Walker nor myself ever hearing anything about you in this world ever again. And I trust we have no reason to fear bumping into you in the next. 

[thought-i-to-myself]

Since you're absolutely brilliant, Id love to hear your opinion and break down on the ending bickering scene and the development of Ann "This is my life now, piss off good sir" Walker because what an icon. I can only hope this little cute skirmish brings on many sweet and funny moments between the two. 💞

YES I THINK IT SHALL.  Ann Walker was on fire this episode, except for that moment when it was her drawing of Anne that was actually on fire which was devastatingly tragic.  BUT YES.  We have known all along that Ann had some fight in her so it was absolutely thrilling and inspiring to see her stand up for herself, by herself.  Let’s recap:

In 1 x 02, Anne finds out that some members of Ann’s idiotic tribe are totally taking advantage of the fact that she is $$$ loaded, and she helps her compose a strongly-worded letter as a means of defending her and her cash.  And Coach Anne says that she’d be willing to come back next time and dictate another, but like all great coaches, she hopes instead that Ann will be able to do it herself in the future.  Teach a woman to fish, and all that …

In 1 x 05, we see some sparks of Ann’s fight, particularly when it comes to Ainsworth.  First, Anne again helps her write a letter telling that wretch off (lesbians love writing letters, if you didn’t know) and then Reverend Assworth has the nerve to come right the fuck over anyway.  Ann sticks to her guns and tells James (“Yes, thank you James!”) to send him on his merry way, and to remind him that she JUST SENT HIM A FLIPPING LETTER TELLING HIM TO BACK OFF.  But I think it’s important to note that Anne is in the room here, she’s literally in Ann’s corner so to speak.  [Also is it just me or does anyone else say “Yes, thank you James!” in Ann’s perfect voice every time you see James on screen? Just me? Ok whatevs.]  Secondly, there’s a part later in this episode where Ann has sent word that she’s not feeling well and instructed everyone to leave her alone, and ELIZA this time comes right the fuck over anyway.  What is it with these people?  And Ann has a great little scene (that I know I still need to gif for @nikkupsticks, sorry friend) where she says she didn’t hear the doorbell ring and Yes-thank-you-James tells her that Eliza came around back.  Ann groans (the hbo caption actually says “[groans]”) and tells Miss Parkhill snarkily that “she sneaks in,” and that people show up anyway even when you ask them not to.  Then she tells Miss Parkhill that she might head back upstairs, and though this is kind of a throwaway line, to me it’s signaling that Ann does have that fight-or-flight instinct within her somewhere, it’s just buried under layers of civility.  But she’s well on her way to reaching her breaking point.

In 1 x 06, Ann tells Anne that when she’s with her, she feels like she could take on the world and boom, it’s like by saying it outloud like that Ann has totally jinxed herself because OF COURSE now she’s gonna have to learn how to take on the world without Anne first before she gets to be with Anne.  And throughout episodes 5 and 6 we see several moments where Ann is so sure of her feelings for Anne when they’re together in the bedroom or behind closed doors but then 180s in the light of day, faced with her family and the jeering eyes of society.  And the difference in all those instances is Anne: when Ann has Anne as backup, as her coach, her teammate, she is willing and able to fight for what she wants. That is, until Ann - sweet cinnamon roll Ann who has been sort of cast aside and dragged around by her family her whole life - has to go to Scotland to be with big sis and big sis’s disgusting human of a husband because family always knows what’s best (???) and birthing children solves all a person’s problems (???).

UGGHHH that brings me to the heartbreaking scene in 1 x 08 where Ann is so sad and downtrodden - she doesn’t know yet that Anne’s written, that Anne still cares for her -  that she’s basically resigned herself to think maybe she should go be with whatever poor schmuck Capt. Sutherland wants.  I mean this is the product of years of abusive behavior by her family which has led Ann to believe that she’s worthless.  And with no signs of life from Anne, Ann’s spark is all-but-extinguished until big sis ELIZABETH swoops in because big sisters are fucking awesome and girl knows that it’s SISTERS BEFORE MISTERS and CHICKS BEFORE DICKS and that friendships between women are literally the most important thing in the world full stop.  So Ann Walker hears that Anne hasn’t let go yet and the flame is reignited and whatever idea Ann had tried to convince herself of that being with joe schmoe might actually be bearable is struck down by Elizabeth’s lightning rod words that you should do what who makes you happy and if that’s a coal pit-sinking brunette in a greatcoat and a tophat with a killer smile and eyes that make you go weak at the knees then go for it little sis because gal pals like that don’t come along every day!!!  Is that not what she said? Yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s what she said.

So you know what comes next, Anon: it’s “I’ll deal with it,” and “bye bitch, thanks for having me, see ya never!” and “everything that has to do with me is my choice.“  And yeah, ok, so she’s got Eliza and Eliza’s hubby there and Elizabeth is secretly on her team too, but she’s standing up for herself because she’s finally reached her breaking point and come to the conclusion that letting other people decide for her is not working, civility be damned.  Remember how joyfully Ann talked about “my sister, Elizabeth!!” in episode 2? Go back and watch it, she says it like that 3 times in the span of 10 minutes.  And now here we are, however many months later it is, and Ann is staring into the face of her older sister Elizabeth who is revealing that she’s actually miserable and intimating that husbands and babies aren’t always all they’re cracked up to be.  So I think that for Ann, she sees in her sister’s eyes what her world will look like if she goes down that path and that fight-or-flight kicks in.  And then there’s Anne.  And there’s that feeling, that deep, indescribable thing in her bones that Ann feels when she’s with Anne. That thing that turns her into Ann “I’d love to paint you” Walker and Ann “I’ve been in love with you since the first time I saw you” Walker and Ann “it’d be like a marriage”/“like a wedding?”/“is it not the same as a proposal?” Walker.  And that thing wins out.  Because that thing is real, and Anne’s real, and because “often a good friendship [with a woman] is better than a marriage [to a man].”  And if a good friendship with a woman is better than a marriage to a man, then what could be better than secretly marrying that good friend who is a woman and living as secret wives gal pals for the rest of your days.  Not a damn thing, that’s what.

The wifely witty bickering at the end of the episode is just icing on the (wedding) cake.  These two have gone through the gauntlet of emotions, both together and apart this season, but this idea that they’d make a lasting commitment to each other and solidify it with some sort of symbolic gesture has been lingering between them for months at this point.  But now there are no more words.  No more yes’s or no’s. No more “I can’t.”  No more “you came so close.” Exchanging rings in the carriage, sealing it with kisses, taking communion together, That Finger Graze, smiling on the way out of the church - all of it was wordless.  They didn’t have to say anything.  They knew how serious it was for each of them. They understood the gravity of it all, the weight of what they were doing, what it meant, and what it cost. And so by the time they got back to the alleyway, they had taken the sacrament together and were wearing rings on their fingers, and there were no more questions about what they were to each other or what they’d be in the future.  It was done.

So the last scene, the playful back and forth - that’s totally what marriage is, isn’t it?  It’s a comfort thing. Anne can joke with Ann about her being morethan a pretty face because she knows she’s not going anywhere.  Ann can stomp all over Anne’s plans, or boss her around (please god yessss) and order her to put away her pocketwatch because she knows Anne won’t leave her. And those all just words anyway, you know?  And now, our Ann(e)s, our beautiful, remarkable, perfect Ann(e)s are married. And that is so much bigger than words.

This show is fucking perfect.