Ancil
Anne With An E is a unique period piece that you don’t usually expect to see on television these days. Based on the book Anne of Green Gables written in 1908 by Lucy Maud Montgomery (under the pseudonym of L.M. Montgomery), it’s a timeless coming-of-age tale. Fans of the Canadian drama were eagerly awaiting the announcement for the premiere of season 4 of the series. Alas, Netflix decided that the series didn’t need another season and announced that season 3 which aired in January 2020 would be the last one.
Anne With an E – The Plot So Far
Two siblings, Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert decide that they want to help out an orphan boy. However, on getting to the train station, they’re greeted by a young girl named Anne Shirley. As can be expected, there is a lot of tension in the family home as Anne insinuates herself into it. Things start to go wrong, culminating in an event where Anne is accused of stealing Marilla’s brooch. Anne is sent away only for Matthew to go to the orphanage to get her back and make amends. Eventually, Anne settles into her new home. With each setback facing her, she faces it and becomes a strong young woman because of it. The series is a brilliant retelling of the original novel and keeps many of the themes but makes it relatable for the audience and suitable for an episodic series.
Cut Down in its Prime
Netflix isn’t a fan of franchises that can’t seem to catch their audience, and for some reason, the TV streaming giant thinks that Anne With An E is one of those. The studio announced that it wouldn’t be renewing the series for a fourth season. This statement prompted a massive uproar from the Twitterverse, with thousands of people coming to the series’ defense. The hashtag #RenewAnneWithAnE reached viral proportions as fans tried their best to let the company know it wasn’t done with the series. An online petition surfaced signed by thousands of avid viewers to get Anne With An E reinstated. As it turns out, Netflix wasn’t the only one to blame for the show’s cancellation.
When showrunners are deaf to the pleas of their fans, it’s never a good sign. Despite all the uproar over the cancellation and the spirited resolve of the supporters to get it renewed, the showrunners neither supported nor criticized the fans’ efforts. Eventually, it was revealed that the showrunners had gotten bored with the franchise and were no longer interested in filming season four, even if the fans were clamoring for it. The bleak outlook is that we won’t see another season of this touching and heartfelt series. Fans are gutted that, despite all their hard work, they were still met with disappointment.
Why Was it Cancelled?
It appears that the streaming company made the decision to cancel the series due to it costing more money than it was making. Rumors circulate that a disagreement between NBC and Netflix may have also played a role in the cancellation. Additionally, the show’s decline in demand was a significant factor in its end. However, fans can find comfort in knowing that they were given a proper season finale and the show did not end abruptly without explanation. This provides them with a sense of closure regarding the series.
Will We Ever See Anne With An E Again?
Sometimes TV series are brought back to life, but currently there are no plans to revive this particular franchise. However, the studio may consider doing so in the future with new people in charge and a new cast. For now, we can only hope that someday it will make a comeback.
