Analysis of Story Elements of HBO’s ‘Gentleman Jack’: Episode 7

As we approach the end of the first season of this series, we can see that the conventions and obligatory scenes are playing out and that many of my predictions from the first episode have happened. Let’s continue with an evaluation of the 5 commandments for this episode.

5 Commandments of HBO’s ‘Gentleman Jack’: Episode 7

These are the 5 Commandments of Storytelling as outlined by Shawn Coyne in his book The Story Grid: What good Editors Know.  These commandments can be found in all stories that really work.

Inciting Incident

Lister goes on a Europe trip by herself, the trip she was supposed to go with Walker before Walker got sick

Progressive Complication/ Turning Point

Lister links up with her ex Mariana

Crisis

Does Lister re-ignite he relationship with Mariana or not

Climax

Lister re-ignites her relationship with Mariana

Resolution

Lister decides to leave Mariana; meanwhile, Walker tries to commit suicide

Values

-/+ distraught to accepted (by her former lovers)

Lister starts distraught over her separation from Walker, then reunites with her exes and feels accepted

Notes

I’m not tracking the Society storyline right now because at its roots this series is a love story I think. At the end of Episode 8 I’ll review the Society Story requirements and see how the series lines up with its Obligatory Scenes and Conventions.

There was a brief triangle with Walker/ Lister/ and Lister’s exes, but that appears to be over.

Next episode is the last of the series let’s see where this goes.

The Story Grid

For more information about the Story Grid, go to the Story Grid Webpage to find free videos and articles on how to implement the methodology.

Read these articles for more information about the 5 Commandments of Storytelling and the Editor’s 6 Core Questions from the book The Story Grid by Shawn Coyne.

For an example of how these techniques are used, read Jane Austin’s The Pride and the Prejudice with annotations by Shawn Coyne.

Story Grid Editing

If you are interested in having your manuscript reviewed by me, see my Editing Services.