Masterpiece romance: Lasting love

Takes to the screen in ‘Alice & Jack’

Show PBS some love this St. Patrick’s Day when “Alice & Jack” makes its premiere on Masterpiece. Starring Irish actor and screenwriter Domhnall Gleeson (“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2,” 2011) and English actress Andrea Riseborough (“To Leslie,” 2022), the six-episode drama series premieres Sunday, March 17, on the network.

While “Alice & Jack” premieres to North American audiences midway through the month of March, it first premiered on England’s Channel 4 this past Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) — a timely release due to the ongoing romantic theme of the series.

The six-episode series, which was created by “Mad About You” and “Mad Men” producer Victor Levin, spans 15 years and “explores the seminal question of whether the bonds between us are stronger than the forces that would tear us apart” (per PBS).

When Jack (Gleeson), a calm, reserved scientist, meets a young, tightly wound financier named Alice (Riseborough), the pair instantly hit it off despite their many differences in both lifestyle and personality. They spend just one night together before returning to their separate lives, but over the course of a decade and a half, Jack and Alice meet repeatedly — often by chance — and begin to question what it is about the other person that keeps them both coming back.

Described by Fremantle, the show’s distribution company, as a “love story for the ages,” “Alice & Jack” is arguably a more realistic representation of romance in the modern world than the traditional meet-cute romantic comedy. With so many possibilities to interfere with love, trust and friendship these days, the nature of our relationships have changed drastically, and TV fans need look no further than these star-crossed lovers for confirmation.

Following the series’ September 2023 premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, PBS Masterpiece executive Suzanne Simpson described “Alice & Jack” as “exceptionally beautiful and profound” and added that Masterpiece is “proud to add” it to their lineup. And while it is easy to praise the show for its will-they-won’tthey quality that has every hopeless romantic on the edge of their seat, critics, such as Marya E. Gates of RogerEbert.com, are just as quick to point out that “Alice & Jack” is far from a fairytale romance.

“As each character does unthinkable things, Levin’s script slowly reveals emotional layers that color why they might make such decisions, asking viewers to examine the thornier sides of life,” writes Gates, later adding that the miniseries is “more honest about human behavior than most romances allow.”

All this said, the heavy subject matter and at times brutal honesty do not weigh the series down, a feat that is largely due to moments of comic relief on the part of the supporting cast. Chief among these providers of levity is Aisling Bea, who plays Jack’s later-inlife partner, Lynn. Bea, now best known for her work in the Irish comedy “This Way Up” and the low-key sci-fi dramedy “Living With Yourself,” is gaining popularity stateside for her quick wit and cheerful banter — a welcome addition to the uncertainty brought to the screen by Alice and Jack.

Whether you are in the mood to celebrate the little things that bring us together or mourn the sticking points that tear us apart, PBS’s newest television experience, “Alice & Jack,” has you covered.