Anne With An E Season 4: Everything We Know So Far

 

“Anne with an E” is a Canadian television series that aired from 2017 to 2019. It is a period drama that also serves as a coming-of-age series that is loosely based on Lucy Maud Montgomery’s novel “Anne of Green Gables.”  The show follows the adventures of Anne Shirley-Cuthbert, an imaginative and spirited orphan who is mistakenly sent to live with elderly siblings Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert.

 

She is set to help the Cuthberts in taking care of their ancestral farm of Green Gables. The series slowly evolves into much more as it starts to explore themes of identity, friendship, and acceptance, set against the scenic backdrop of Prince Edward Island.

 

The series premiered in Canada on the CBC network, while it was telecast internationally on Netflix. The cast of the show includes Amybeth McNulty as Anne Shirley, Geraldine James as Marilla Cuthbert, R. H. Thomson as Matthew Cuthbert, and Lucas Jade Zumann as Gilbert Blythe, among others. It was created by Moira Walley-Beckett and garnered praise, appreciation and acceptance from all quarters.

 

The show was a modern take on the classic children’s story, addressing contemporary issues while staying true to the essence of Montgomery’s beloved tale. “Anne With An E” was nominated for multiple Canadian television and streaming awards and also won quite a few of them, including the ACTRA Toronto Award, Canadian Screen Awards, etc.

 

 

 

Official Announcement on Anne With an E Season 4

 

In October 2019, CBC’s president Catherine Tait announced the network’s decision to discontinue co-productions with Netflix, citing concerns about the impact on Canada’s entertainment industry. This impacted shows like “Anne with an E”.

 

Following the third season of the series, CBC and Netflix unexpectedly declared the show’s cancellation, labelling it the “final season.” This caused an uproar among the fans. They crowdfunded billboards and initiated a significant online movement, launching petitions and campaigns under the hashtag #renewannewithane.

 

Despite this and additional support from the show’s cast and crew, Netflix remained silent and the show’s revival remains uncertain. Until now, both Netflix and CBC have been quiet on the topic of reviving the show.

 

They have not made any comments on this matter.

 

 

 

Previous Seasons and Episodes of Anne With an E

 

The series was introduced in 2017 and ran for three seasons on CBC and Netflix. While the first season had seven episodes in it, the second and third seasons had 10 episodes each.

 

The entire season has an average rating of 8.7, with the third season having the highest average rating of 8.9. The premise of the show is based on the children’s classic Anne of Green Gables, written by Lucy Maud Montgomery.

 

The characters and the general direction of the story are based on the book. However, the actual plot and the issues dealt with in this series are much more contemporary in nature.

 

The first season highlighted the plight of orphan children, the prejudices and bullying faced by them, general sexism and misogyny in the society. The second season furthered the social awareness theme by addressing issues such as indigenous rights, feminism, gender identity, etc.

 

It also features tender topics like growing affection between Anne and Gilbert Blythe. The third season sees Anne embark on a quest to discover her roots, leading her to distant places and uncovering her true identity.

 

The characters face evolving relationships and confront societal norms, including issues like LGBTQ+ representation, mental health, and racial equality. The show has been praised and received critical acclaim for the writing and direction, apart from the spirited performances of the cast.

 

It shone a light on the dark history of racial injustice and oppression in Canada. Some of the highest-rated episodes of the show were in season three. The episodes “The Better Feelings of My Heart” (S3 Ep10), “What Can Stop The Determined Heart” (S3 Ep 3), “The Strong Effort of The Spirit of Good” (S3 Ep7), “I Am Fearless and Therefore Powerful” (S3 Ep5), etc. received the highest rating.

 

 

 

Where to watch Anne With an E

 

The show was co-produced by CBC and Netflix; hence both networks have the telecast rights for the show. All three seasons of “Anne with an E” are available for streaming on Netflix, Netflix Basic with Ads, and Gem.

 

You can also watch it on the trial version of Apple TV Plus.

 

 

 

Google Trends Data Analysis of Anne With an E

 

The series was telecast between 2017 and 2019. It has been cancelled in 2019, which gives a gap of three to four years since the show. Yet, the Google trends of season 4 for Anne With an E are still strong.

 

The fans and netizens have constantly maintained pressure on CBC and Netflix to revive the show with billboards, change petitions and discussions on this topic. The cast and crew of the show also lent them support to keep their hopes alive.

 

If we observe the trends graph, the interest in Anne With an E season 4 keeps rising and falling but never dies out. It was at its peak in 2019 and has dropped a lot by 2022, yet the matter refuses to die out.

 

Every few months, the fan community puts out petitions, posters or events that keep the pressure on the network.

 

 

Social media engagement of Anne With an E

 

The series is relatively more active on search trends than on social media. The social media engagement for this show is on the lower side, despite regular articles and videos being released.

 

The show is more active on Facebook and X (Twitter) than on other platforms. The relevance of the show is more in the current generation due to the active woke audiences who have connected with the various social issues discussed on the show.

 

Be it gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, racial injustice, or otherwise, Anne With an E has never shied away from tackling sensitive topics. This has made it a must-follow for most communities.

 

The cast of the show has also actively endorsed and supported these causes adding their weight to it.

 

 

Expected Plot of Upcoming Season

 

The conflict of interest between Netflix and CBC brought the series to an abrupt end in 2019. The day after the season three finale was aired in Canada, Netflix and CBC released a joint statement announcing the cancellation of the series.

 

As a result of this sudden move, the show’s creators did not plan the plot or the storyline for season four yet. Up until the end of season three, the plot had brought a positive turn of events for many of the key characters of the show.

 

The budding romance between Anne and Gilbert also showed a positive future. If the series has continued into a new season, we would have seen Anne possibly attending college before she could marry Gilbert.

 

This could lead to Anne tackling more issues and societal stereotypes. This could have meant new characters joining the team while the changes to the attitude and life of the old characters became more fixed.

 

 

Important characters That shaped Anne With An E

 

1. Anne Shirley Cuthbert

 

Anne Shirley Cuthbert is the main protagonist of the series. She is played by Amybeth McNulty and received high praise for her portrayal. She was nominated twice at the Canadian Screen Awards for her role as Anne Shirley, and she won an ACTRA Toronto Award and a Canadian Screen Award for the same.

 

The character of Anne Shirley is that of an orphaned thirteen-year-old. She has toughened after years of abuse and discrimination in various orphanages and homes. She is a fierce, spirited, intelligent girl with a vivid imagination.

 

Amybeth McNulty is an Irish-born actress who is best known for her role in Anne With an E. She also worked on the Netflix hit series Stranger Things for seven episodes.

 

2. Matthew Cuthbert

 

Matthew Cuthbert is one of the main characters of the series. He is portrayed by R. H. Thomson. Viewers might remember him by his roles in Glory Enough for All, If You Could See What I Hear, Chloe, etc.

 

The character of Matthew Cuthbert is that of a kind-hearted, elderly, introverted loner. He is painfully shy and cannot make friends easily. However, he connects with Anne and adopts her as his daughter.

 

He places great faith and trust in her as he slowly starts to get out of his shell with Anne’s encouragement. Robert Holmes Thomson is a well-loved Canadian actor who worked extensively on stage, television and films.

 

He also won the Gemini Award twice for his earlier roles, and for his role as Matthew Cuthbert, R. H. Thomson won the Canadian Screen Award.

 

3. Marilla Cuthbert

 

Marilla Cuthbert is portrayed by the British actress Geraldine James. She is an acclaimed actress who has been nominated for multiple BAFTA TV Awards, a Tony Award, etc. and won awards like the Drama Desk Award, Volpi Cup for Best Actress, and Canadian Screen Award.

 

She portrays Marilla Cuthbert, who is a no-nonsense, no-patience sister of Matthew Cuthbert. She has been taking care of her brother and helping him with managing the farm since the death of her elder brother and mother.

 

She has little time for sentiments and frivolities. However, she does have a hidden maternal nature that comes out only for Anne. While Geraldine James is introduced to us as Marilla Cuthbert, she has worked in many acclaimed productions like The Jewel In The Crown, Sherlock Holmes (2009) and its sequel, Calender Girls, etc.

 

4. Gilbert Blythe

 

Gilbert Blythe is the love interest of Anne Shirley-Cuthbert. He is an all-around good boy who is helpful, kind, loyal, fun-loving, and a well-loved character. He is also an intelligent boy who studies in the same school as Anne.

 

There, he develops a close bond of respect, trust, loyalty and friendship with her that blossoms into love. Gilbert Blythe is played by a young American actor called Lucas Jade Zumann from Chicago.

 

He got his breakthrough with the role of Milo in the horror flick Sinister 2. He also starred in the Oscar-nominated film 20th Century Women. His other major role was in the rom-com Every Day.

 

5. Diana Barry

 

Diana Barry is Anne Shirley Cuthbert’s best friend. She is a friendly, kind, grounded, and sensible girl who is the opposite of Anne’s flight of fancy. She is a loyal friend who understands her friend without getting carried away by her ideas.

 

She fully accepts Anne despite her lower status in society and her mother’s disdain. Diana Barry is the kind of friend we all need in our life as she perfectly balances Anne.

 

Diana Barry is played by Dalila Bela who is a Canadian actress from Montreal. She has appeared in multiple highly rated shows and movies some of which are Diary of a Wimpy Kid, its sequel, Odd Squad, Once Upon a Time, etc.

 

She has been nominated for ACTRA Toronto Award, Young Artist Award, Canadian Screen Award, Imagen Award, etc.

 

6. Cole Mackenzie

 

Cole Mackenzie enters the series in the second season. He is an introvert who is prone to suffer in silence rather than voice his pain. Anne meets Cole Mackenzie in the school and witnesses him being bullied by his schoolmates and teachers.

 

Mackenzie is a budding artist who enjoys solitude and his artistic pursuits. Cole Mackenzie is portrayed by Cory Grüter-Andrew, a Canadian actor who debuted in 2014 in the series Fargo.

 

He acted in minor roles in different shows like The 100, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Okja, Van Helsing, Supernatural, etc. In the series, the character of Cole Mackenzie is that of a kindred spirit to Anne, and she immediately forms a bond with him.

 

His situation improves towards the end of the show as he is taken in by an elderly Josephine Barry, who loves his art.

 

 

Important Crew Members and Their Work

 

While the cast of the series has done an amazing job of bringing to life the characters and making the show a hit, the crew behind the scenes have done an equally amazing job too.

 

The crew that worked on Anne With an E need to be recognized for the stupendous job they have achieved. Here are a few stand-out crew members.

 

1. Moira Walley-Beckett

 

The show Anne With an E is based on the children’s book Anne of Green Gables, written by Lucy Maud Montgomery. The book was a simple tale of the adventures of an orphan girl who mistakenly comes to stay at the Green Gables farm.

 

The plot took on a contemporary and darker theme at the hands of the creator, Moira Walley-Beckett. When she picked this book for the show, she added many current concerns that plague society like women’s rights, racial prejudices, rights of indigenous people, the psychological impact of bullying and discrimination, LGBTQ+ rights etc.

 

For her work on this show, Moira Walley-Beckett earned a Canadian Screen Award nomination for her writing work. She had previously worked in shows like Breaking Bad, Flesh and Bone, Pan Am, etc.

 

2. Lucy Maud Montgomery, Kathryn Borel, Moira Walley-Beckett, Shernold Edwards

 

Due credit needs to be given to the writers of the show for seamlessly incorporating valid and current flaws of society into the plot without disrupting the flow of the story.

 

The original book by Lucy Maud Montgomery becomes the basis of the plot and follows all the watershed moments of the book. The finer details of the plot, like the instances of discrimination, bullying, gender bias, etc. are weaved into the narrative effortlessly.

 

The writing work also received credit and appreciation from the Canadian Screen Awards. Many of the viewers of the show in Canada and around the world were impressed with the way the show effortlessly highlighted the injustices without making it appear forced or out of place.

 

3. Niki Caro, Helen Shaver, and Anne Wheeler

 

The show progressed beautifully, and the talents of all the cast and crew were aptly highlighted due to the wonderful work done by the directors. Different episodes of the series were directed by different directors.

 

Paul Fox directed the maximum number of episodes with seven, followed by Anne Wheeler and Amanda Tapping, who did four episodes each. Norma Bailey directed three episodes of the show.

 

However, Niki Caro and Helen Shaver were nominated for the Best Director award at the Canadian Screen Awards for the episodes they worked on. Despite the number of episodes and awards, the work they did in conveying touchy issues with utmost sensitivity won over the audiences and fans.

 

4. Jackson Parrell, Catherine Lutes, and Bobby Shore

 

A mention needs to be made about the cinematography of Anne With an E. The camera work in the show was absolutely marvellous in capturing the beauty of Canadian nature.

 

The premise of Anne as a spirited, fun-loving, outdoorsy person was rightly captured in the show. The outdoor locations in Black Creek Pioneer Village, Doon Pioneer Village, Castle Kilbride, New Hamburg, Cambridge, Caledon, etc., were awe-inspiring.

 

The photography and camera work evoked the poignancy and beauty of the era and the story.

 

 

Similar shows To Anne With An E

 

After getting to know all about the show Anne With an E, I am sure we are all raring to watch the complete series once again.

 

If you are wondering what next? What do we do after that? Here are a few suggestions for shows along similar premises.

 

1. Outlander

 

This TV series is a British-American production that is based on the Outlander novel series by Diana Gabaldon. The plot revolves around a time-travelling WWII nurse by the name of Claire Randall, who goes back in time to meet and marry Jamie Fraser.

 

The couple suffer all kinds of turmoil that were common to that era and travel back and forth over the course of the next seven seasons. The series was created by Ronald D. Moore, who also worked on Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek: Next Generation, etc.

 

2. The Queen’s Gambit

 

The Queen’s Gambit is another coming-of-age period drama that is based on the novel of the same name by Walter Tevis. This miniseries follows the life of an orphan, Beth Harmon, who tries to rise up in life using her talent as a chess prodigy.

 

She is taught the game by a custodian at the orphanage. Despite her alcohol and drug dependence, Harmon has to shine through. The miniseries was highly acclaimed and won eleven Primetime Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and more.

 

The performance of Anya Taylor-Joy as Beth Harmon received rave reviews.

 

3. Bridgerton

 

Bridgerton is a historical romance based on the Bridgerton book series by Julia Quinn. It is a historical fiction with a contemporary twist to it. The series follows the eponymous family of London high society during the Regency era.

 

They face London’s ton in their effort to introduce their marriageable children to members of nobility and gentry. The series was much praised for its direction, acting and art direction.

 

It was nominated for multiple Primetime Emmy Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, Satellite awards, etc.