On the same night the season finale aired, Anne with an E was cancelled. The decision was met with immediate backlash from fans, who managed to have #SaveAnneWithAnE trending with a million tweets overnight. Efforts were ultimately in vain when writer and executive producer of the show Moira Walley-Beckett announced via an Instagram post that it would not be possible to renew the show.
As someone who grew up reading the series and whose fictional hero has and always will be Anne Shirley, the cancellation of the show pained me. From the first episode I was transported into a world as familiar to me as the back of my hand, and knowing I had to let that go was heartbreaking. It felt like the moment Brooklyn Nine-Nine was cancelled, except instead of NBC picking it up, the lovely cast had to break the news that it could not be revived.
You might be wondering why you should watch a show that got cancelled in its third season and to that I say, good question! Luckily for you, Anne of Green Gables and all its adaptations are special to me. I’ve had my arguments prepared in PowerPoint order since I started watching Anne with an E and needed a compelling way to convince others to join me on the magical journey that is the show.
Indigenous Issues and Canada’s Dark History
Canada’s relationship with the Indigenous people is a rocky one. Most of the times, we brush it aside, ignoring the damaging effects our past actions have caused. In Anne with an E, the topic of residential schools is brought into play with the story of Ka’kwet. Seeing the horrors the young girl is forced into by colonizers is completely and utterly repulsive. Instead of sugar-coating the suffering Indigenous people went through, the show gives viewers the nitty-gritty, acknowledging and highlighting the past Canada seems so eager to ignore.
Period Romance and Drama
The age-old story of Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe is one that has varied in every rendition. But one thing always remains the same: the two are drawn to one another the same way Anne’s slate is drawn to Gilbert’s head. That’s to say, they are inevitable. Their love story is one of turmoil and to see it unfold in Anne with an E is absolutely magical. While L. M. Montgomery will always be the creator of my favourite rendition of the two, this show provides a wonderful twist to the story of Anne and Gilbert without taking away from the overall message of personal growth. Rest assured, with the cancellation of the show, Anne does seem to get the romance she yearns for.
Women’s Suffrage
It’s no secret that women had to fight for their rights. The show covers what it was like to be a woman in the late 1800s, while also tackling issues like sexual assault. We get to see how women are relegated to certain roles and the double standards that are still in play today. All of this is done in a tasteful way that highlights what it means to be independent.
Costume Design and Cinematography
I’m far from an expert in either of these fields – unless you count my love for historical fashion –but everything about this show is stunning. The costumes are mostly accurate historically (and any inaccuracies don’t draw away from the scenes) while still having a beauty that can be captured on screen. Every shot is lined up with purpose and helps cultivate an atmosphere that directly reflects the tone of the scene.
So next time you’re browsing Netflix for a show to binge, give Anne with an E a shot. If you’re anything like me, you’ll cry your eyes out the entirety of the first episode.