If you need to familiarize yourself with the previous episode, you can find that recap here. Now, onward to the season finale.
Anne and Ann have arrived in London where Anne has chosen not to introduce Ann to any of her society friends, but will be making the rounds herself. Anne claims Ann has too much anxiety concerning the estate proceedings, alluding to a fragileness about her that might make the meetings too much. “I shouldn’t like to see you overwhelmed,” declares Anne, “and these people can overwhelm.” Anne won’t budge on this, saying the time will come but this isn’t it.
Ridiculousness ensues, as Anne always does her hair up for society in ways that she never bothers to in Halifax. It’s always a poignant departure from the Anne we are used to seeing when she is trying to blend into society and stay in good graces. So yes, the curls piled up on her head look ridiculously out of character and turn her into almost a caricature.
At dinner in London, Anne’s former lover, Vere, is miserable — married and with nothing to do except sit around and have babies. This is the lover we saw leave Ann to follow through on what was expected of her in the beginning of season one of the series. Anne attempts to console her, claiming that children are a blessing that cement a marriage together, surely. It’s an interesting choice of encouragement considering Ann’s recent doubts but I think it was good hearted and a loving and pure gesture towards her friend.
Captain Sutherland, Ann’s brother in law has started in on his new strategy to stop the estate from being split. He’s going to try and poison everyone’s minds with the insinuation that Anne is a predator and a fortune hunter, and, yes, that Anne and Ann are lesbianing together (no such word exists at the time, but he alludes to this heavily.)
Ann is still bothered by Anne’s social behavior while in London, telling Anne, “It can’t go on like this, you do know that?” Anne is befuddled, simply answering, “What?” Ann proceeds, “Me paying for everything.” Ann is salty and I’m here for it. Which is no surprise because I have been cheerleading this growth of self strength and assuredness in her all season. Anne’s little lamb isn’t so tame anymore.
Reminding Anne that she should have taken her along to meet her London friends, Ann voices zealously, “I am your wife when it is convenient, when you need money, in bed — but when it comes to your aristocratic people, I am an inconvenience.” Ann isn’t done telling Anne how it truly is, adding, “And then there’s Mrs. Lawton.” Anne plays dumb, looking incredulous at any accusation. “I know there was more to it. That night when you came back from Lawton Hall…” Ann trails off. Anne’s face is wondrous. I guess she supposed Ann would never wisen up to her ways, or, at the least, she would never call her out on them.
“The damage is done, I’ve seen you in your true colors!” says Ann. Can I get a round of applause for an empowered Ann Walker, ladies? But here we have Anne striking back with cruelty in reaction to her faults being seen. It only makes Anne look worse and I don’t like it one bit.
Later that evening, Anne tries to gaslight Ann, telling her she’s really stressed out because of such and such — couldn’t possibly have anything to do with the legitimacy of all the money Anne is spending lately and, oh yeah, the actual cheating on her wife.
Ann is so unnerved by Anne currently that she reverts to her hesitations, “And I’m still not convinced that what we do is right.” I truly believe that Ann only gets edgy and qualmish about their sexual relationship when she’s feeling hurt by Anne. It’s more Anne’s mistreatment triggering her than the actual lesbianism or anything else, for that matter.
She is so far distraught, at this moment, that she wants to break up. Woah! “I think the sooner we part the better,” Ann states, with a chilling level of calm. Anne did not see this coming. “You do know,” says Anne, “that my first and greatest wish has always been for your happiness and if I can’t make you happy, I only hope that someone else might succeed better.” They stare at each other, both of their eyes brimming with anguish. Ann is going to cry but Anne won’t let herself. They spend the night wide awake in bed, with their backs turned towards each other.
Quite formal with each other the next morning, Anne requests that they visit a nearby monument to a child that’s died. She has been once before and promised herself that if she was ever in the area, she would go again. Ann consents. The polite etiquette between them feels somber. At the tomb, they read the epitaph on the monument, “…in form and intellect most exquisite,” and Anne starts to cry. Ann immediately softens towards her.
Spiraling into vulnerability, Anne shares that she is so affected here because she feels so much that she may have been this child in a past life. To overly simplify the complexity that’s happening in this moment (you need to watch this scene for yourself,) Anne wonders why and how she is the way she is — where did she come from? She doesn’t fit with the Listers, they’re too average.
Ann isn’t so sure about reincarnation, albeit feeling tender towards Anne’s distress. “So why does it have this effect on me?” Anne questions. “I’m a scientist, a logician. I don’t engage in fanciful nonsense. It’s either that or, what if this is the child that I will never have? The child I can never give you,” Anne wonders aloud to Ann. Wow: that’s the only word I can muster in the charge of this moment. Ann doesn’t know, she cannot give Anne the answer she so desperately seeks, but she does assure Anne that she is not ridiculous in these thoughts and feelings.
Captain Sutherland is furthering his agenda by meeting with Mr. Gray, the lawyer the wives have hired for the state division. He makes accusations but is not met with agreement, as Ann’s doctor has cleared her and assured her to be of sound health and mind. Mr. Gray has no anxieties about her faculties and following through with her directions regarding the estate.
Further pushing his accusation, Cap. Sutherland claims that Anne has sexually marred Ann. He brings up, “a case in Edinborough, a few years back.” This dude really thinks he’s putting the nail in their coffin; his sour egotism when delivering these accusations is off the charts.
Mr.Gray sets him straight. “The case you are referring to wasn’t against the two women. It was against the lady who accused them openly of sexual misconduct. They sued her for attempting to destroy their reputations and the reputation of their school. They won. One of the presiding magistrates said of the accusations the lady made against them, ‘The crime here alleged does not exist.’ Ms. Lister may not be the marrying kind but if you were to suggest anything beyond that, you’d face the same problem as the Scottish lady because even if such a thing were possible between two highly respected Christian English women, the fact would remain that it’s not illegal.”
Captain Sutherland concedes, as he’s not ready to drag his own name through the mud or pay damages to continue on with his frivolous accusations. He has to sign the documents finalizing the estates division.
This sudden turn around in Cap. Sutherland’s demeanor leaves Ann confused, as he had tried to bully her directly upon his arrival back in town, as well as convince her that, you know, she’s crazy and needs protection from a good man like him. Yes, I’m shaking my head too. This guy, eh? Sutherland’s shift to demurity has her suspicious, and she worries that all the men involved in the transaction, conspiratorially, think she’s an invalid again.
Anne makes damn sure to waltz into Cliff Hill, to confront Captain Sutherland and Elizabeth, who has for the time being sided with him over Ann, and gives them a good show. Oh, nothing objectionable in the showing, just a confident Anne speaking to Anne’s good health and remarking how clear it is for all to see. I love how Anne can unsettle bullies like the Sutherlands by doing almost nothing, other than entering a room and saying hello as if nothing at all unsavory is going on between them. It works quite well.
It comes out from Marian that she didn’t willingly break off her intended marriage to Mr.Abbott, that Anne had threatened with familial alienation. The truth of the matter is that Anne’s reputation broke the engagement. Her betrothed didn’t want to be associated with the family. Marian can’t catch a break and perhaps she will be much happier away from Anne in another of their properties, as she decides this is a move she would like to make.
Apparently, Captain Sutherland has not yet given in to the losing Ann’s half of the estate. He is now trying to bully the financial advisor into giving him the deed to Crow Nest, who currently has it for safekeeping until the division is signed. Sutherland’s tale of lesbian shame didn’t work on Mr. Gray, and now it isn’t working on Mr. Parker. Nevertheless, Sutherland is lying to Ann and trying to force his will, telling her that all of these men are quite settled on her incapacity.
The truth, though, comes out as he is outwitted by Anne. Her sister sacrifices her own safety with her husband, by outing the truth. She loses her relationship with her sister, as access will no longer be allowed by Sutherland, but she loves her sister enough to make this choice. With nowhere left to turn in his favor, he is forced to sign the estate’s division and it is legalized. At long last, Ann is free and with her estate in hand.
Leaving the signing, Ann takes Anne’s hand in hers and confirms that they should go to York the next day, and proceed with altering their wills. Ann’s doubts have dissipated as Anne has shown her loyalty and protection since the proposed split. She wants to finalize their marriage with this step.
“I’m sorry… for doubting it,” Ann expresses. “Don’t be,” Anne lovingly responds, “We are the only two people in the whole world, on Earth, who want us to be together. It won’t be easy. It’ll never be easy. We’re both still here aren’t we?” They share a teary eyed kiss and then their faces radiantly shine forward, to the life they will continue to build together.
