Strange Empire

Strange Empire is a captivating dramatic series that graced the screens of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) network during the 2014-2015 television season. Created and produced by Laurie Finstad-Knizhnik, the show weaves a compelling tale set in the late 19th century and filled with gripping twists and turns. This series is notable for its unique blend of the Western genre with influences from period and crime dramas - all centered around women characters who exceed the expectations of their time.

At the heart of Strange Empire is the elusive struggle for survival on the border of Alberta and Montana. The story begins in a transitioning era wherein the wild old west is gradually evolving under the influence of American and Canadian expansion. The show paints a vivid picture of the cultural, political, and socio-economic turmoil that characterized this notable crossroads in North American history.

The show, however, is not your typical Western. While it does include elements of traditional frontier life, Strange Empire focuses its perspective through the lives of three diverse women: Katherine Loving (Cara Gee), Rebecca Blithely (Melissa Farman), and Isabelle Slotter (Tattiawna Jones). They step outside conventions of 1860’s womanhood to assert their agency and shape their flawed, complex humanity in an enigmatic empire.

Katherine Loving forms one of the show's emotional cores as a Métis woman and skillful horse trainer. Her resilience emerges from a personal tragedy and propels her into an new identity as a self-styled leader. Rebecca Blithely, an autistic woman with a quirks and peculiarities, represents one of the show's touchstones of diversity. She is an office-bound doctor who finds herself in the midst of the harsh western frontier where her unconventional medical methods and perspectives offer fresh viewpoints and solutions. The enigmatically fierce Isabelle Slotter complements this trio as a brothel madam, a woman scorned by tragic loss and hardened by the brutalities of the frontier life.

The proponents of Strange Empire emerge from the crucible of their shared adversity as distinctive avatars of survival and resilience. As they battle the harsh realities of life and loss on the frontier, they simultaneously fight the social constraints hoisted upon them by the traditional gender roles of the time. These women are not mere damsels in distress. They are complex characters in a ferocious, largely male-dominated world, who bite back at the stereotypes that seek to define and confine their resilience in the face of adversity.

In terms of the storytelling approach, Strange Empire embodies a quality that is elegantly dark and compellingly gritty. The narrative is perhaps best described as moving in shades of grey, neither painting its characters as entirely virtuous nor completely villainous. Instead, the series challenges its viewers to embrace characters that are deeply flawed yet undeniably human. It allows us to appreciate their capability for both kindness and malice, suggesting that the struggle for survival often ignites our most primal instincts, sometimes at the cost of our morality.

Adding more appeal to the series is its exceptional cinematography, which effortlessly captures the grandeur of the Western landscapes, presenting striking shots and panoramas that play their own crucial role in the storytelling. The performances are remarkable as well, with the cast delivering powerful portrayals that draw audiences into the characters' struggles and victories. The authentic sets and costumes further enhance the show’s historic atmosphere, transporting the viewers into a raw and, at times, unforgiving, world of 19th-century frontier.

Strange Empire, with its rich themes and nuanced narrative, deconstructs the popular take on Westerns by centering voices that are often marginalized. By crafting a narrative through the experiences of its leading female characters, the series brings a fresh perspective to the genre, offering thought-provoking commentary on gender, power, autonomy, and the overlapping shades of morality during a time of great change and upheaval. Though the series only lasted for one season, its evocative narrative style and unique take on the Western genre make it a must-watch for viewers interested in exploring a different side of historical drama.