For fans of period dramas eagerly looking for their next binge-worthy series, look no further — we have the perfect suggestion.
It’s widely acknowledged that beloved period dramas such as Call The Midwife, Jane Eyre, The Crown, Pride and Prejudice, and Downton Abbey have made lasting impressions on viewers spanning multiple generations. Fortunately, there remains a wealth of outstanding period dramas still to discover, and we’ve got another recommendation for you.
A ‘masterpiece’ of a series is being celebrated as one of the ‘best shows to ever exist’, with viewers unable to contain their enthusiasm.
The Canadian period drama Anne with an E has left audiences completely mesmerised, and it’s currently available for streaming on Netflix. Developed by Moira Walley-Beckett for CBC and Netflix, the series draws inspiration from Lucy Maud Montgomery’s 1908 beloved children’s novel, Anne of Green Gables.
Featuring the exceptionally gifted Amybeth McNulty in the central role of orphan Anne Shirley, the young performer was selected from approximately 1,800 candidates spanning three continents who auditioned for the much-desired part through an open casting process. McNulty was reportedly chosen for her dialogue delivery, which was described as “incredibly thick and dynamic and beautiful”.
Amybeth McNulty appears alongside Geraldine James, RH Thomson, Dalila Bela, and Lucas Jade Zumann, complemented by a broader ensemble cast, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Anne with an E initially debuted in March 2017 on CBC, before receiving a global release on Netflix that May. The programme comprises three series totalling 27 episodes.
The period drama’s official synopsis reads: “The adventures of a young orphan girl living in late-19th-century Canada. Follow Anne as she learns to navigate her new life on Prince Edward Island in this new take on L.M. Montgomery’s classic novels.”
Boasting an impressive 91% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, Anne with an E has received widespread acclaim from critics and viewers alike.
One critic said: “This, finally, is an Anne of Green Gables for our times: a darker, sadder, more realistic story about an outsider’s will to survive.”
Meanwhile, another reviewer heaped praise on McNulty’s portrayal: “Anne With an E was never going to work unless the right actress was chosen to carry the series, and I’d say that Amybeth McNulty was pretty much a perfect pick.”
A third critic said: “Lifelong fans of the Anne of Green Gables series should find much to admire here, but the newly initiated will be just as easily drawn.”
Viewer responses have been equally enthusiastic, with one fan sharing on Rotten Tomatoes: “Wow!!I absolutely adore this show! Anne with an E has many ups and downs that are amazing to watch! This incredible piece of work has happiness, adventure, and even some sadness. I think that this show is a wonderful coming of age story for teenagers, but it also has something for any age group to watch!
“I not only highly recommend this wonderful piece of work, but I will say that this is the best work I have ever watched on Netflix! I hope you guys will give it a chance like I did and enjoy the love you get from this wonderful, marvellous, adventurous, and optimistic show!!”.
Another audience review reads: “I do not have enough words to say how excellent this show is. The plotline is riveting, the characters have real, raw depth, and the cinematics and poeticness are a perfectly painted masterpiece. It’s fresh, exciting, dramatic, heartwarming, and really has great lessons to take to heart in every episode.”
Meanwhile, one user review on IMDB said: “Masterpiece. One of the best shows I have ever watched. I highly recommend it to everyone doesn’t matter what age you are. Everyone will find something interesting in it. Amazing acting, scenography, costumes, music and of course storylines”.
Anne with an E is available to stream on Netflix.