This is probably one of the worst episodes of the show. Pierce is an awful character, and while the show labels him a racist and homophobe they are also using him as an excuse to make racist and homophobic jokes. This episode starts with Shirley (who is very much problematic as well) standing up for herself against Pierce's racism and sexual harassment, and would have been a good way for the show to say "Hey! It's not cool for people to make offensive jokes!" and either write Pierce's character out of the show or reform his character, but the show does neither. Instead they for some incomprehensible reason make Shirley and Pierce friends without him having apologised for his behaviour. (He uses a bullshit excuse that basically boils down to "sexual harassment is a compliment because you're a strong woman and I like you.") Therefore sending the message that you should respect your oppressors instead of standing up to them, because "peace" is better than change, and because you need to be the better person.
The side plot of Jeff and Britta acting like teenagers in some sort of weird competition with actual teenagers is just a waste of screen time and not funny at all. The only purpose that plot has is to establish that they are insecure, but this could've been done a lot better.
This was so horribly inaccurate I suffered more and more every minute. The basically just took the bullet points of Anne Lister's life, the names of those she knew, shuffled the timeline around, and made up almost everything that happened for the sake of drama. There was plenty of drama in Anne Lister's life they could've chosen to make a film about instead of making stuff up.
Apparently Anne did not have a father or sister, and her aunt was obsessed with her finding a husband even though she supported Anne being a lesbian in real life.
One of the most extraordinary parts of Anne Lister's life was that she travelled extensively, but it's barely mentioned. I understand if they can't show that because of budget reasons, but it should at least have been mentioned more than it was.
No mention of Ann Walker's lifelong struggle with anxiety and depression, and they completely changed their relationship. No courtship, they just randomly decide to get married after Ann randomly moves in, instead of showing how much of a struggle it was to even make that happen.
I don't know if I would be this annoyed if this was the only adaptation of Anne Lister's diaries, maybe I would have been grateful simply for someone to adapt Anne Lister's story no matter how inaccurate it was. Thankfully Gentleman Jack exists, especially given how accurate it is.
I do think it's fun that Gemma Jones portrayed Aunt Anne Lister twice.
This show is just not enjoyable anymore. I have no idea how Daphne and Simon's relationship is going to recover after she raped him, and with the way the show is handling the topic I have no hope I would be satisfied with the resolution they came up with. Treating Simon as if his legitimate wish of being child free is nothing more than him being selfish, and that he just needs a good woman to teach him the error of his ways because a life without children surely cannot be anything but miserable. Daphne knew what life she chose when she married Simon, it does not matter what his reasons are for not wanting children, and it is not something she should be trying to change, but rather respect. She makes zero attempts to apologise for her behaviour because she selfishly things she has done nothing wrong, and the story takes her side instead of telling the story of her victim. Ending the episode with her crying because her horrible plot failed, as if she deserves any sympathy for the crime she has committed. And as if that wasn't enough, it's also disgusting the way the show is treating Marina. She deserves better, and Simon deserves better.
