'ANNE WITH AN E' (2017-19) REVIEW
A darker and much more realistic adaptation of the book 'Anne of Green Gables'. Unlike its predecessors, 'Anne with an E' or just 'Anne' focuses on themes such as identity, feminism, and classism, later discussing sexuality and racial discrimination within the last two seasons of the show.
Premiered on Netflix worldwide along with CBC Television (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation), the show was a hit with the demographic audience; teenagers and young adults. Not only were the topics discussed within the show relatable (despite the differences in time periods) but the performances by the younger cast really showcased their talents and spectacular acting. We hardly see teenage characters being portrayed by actual teenagers these days, and so the casting director deserve an applause for finding young and talented actors.
Amybeth McNulty who portrayed Anne (main lead) was a natural and knew how to portray this well-known and beloved character. She was challenged to portray Anne in a darker and much more brutal and realistic environment, discussing difficult concepts. At a young age of 15, she managed to take on these themes. She has already won Best Lead Actress at the Canadian Screen Awards 2019 and Outstanding Performance at the ACTRA Toronto Awards 2019.
Personally, I'm not a huge fan of TV series but I can say 'Anne' is one of the very few shows that I have watched and will remember as a well-produced series. What I loved about the show is how naturally they speak about issues that still exist today. Anne gives hope to young children especially young girls to speak out. We watch Anne grow up to become a lady in the third and final season of the show. There are many lessons to take from Anne's character and so, if you still haven't watched it, then you must now. There are moments that will make you laugh, moments that will make you cry and moments that will teach you valuable life lessons.
It's a shame the series has come to an end when we have just seen Anne become a woman; the beginning of a new adventure for her. I still do not understand why it got cancelled, I do not believe the 'age demographic' was the issue; the show should be aimed at teenagers and young adults however, due to the lack of views from the 25-54 age range, the show immediately got cancelled. Honestly, I too was shocked and upset by the news and I also do completely understand why the fans of the series started to spam comment sections on Instagram and petitioned for a protest against the cancellation.
However, we can still admire the aesthetics and story that has been presented in the three seasons of 'Anne with an E'.
