Anne With An E (or AnnE) has been one of my favorite shows since it came out, and since the fight to renew AnnE continues on Twitter, I thought I’d discuss one of my favorite parts.

Anne With An E is a show aimed towards older children based upon the Anne of Green Gables books by LM Montgomery.

With Moira Walley-Beckett of Breaking Bad & Flesh & Bone as the showrunner, AWAE has made many changes to the original story to have it discuss topics ever-relevant to our modern world. From mental health to racism, the topics covered are done in a way that they weave into the story seamlessly and effortlessly.

And while these big topics are so important to discuss, the scenes that were afforded to Anne’s (played by Amybeth McNulty) first period were equally important, albeit in a different way.

In fact, her reaction was so reminiscent of my own I nearly cried. I was thankfully aware of what periods were beforehand, but getting mine, I was filled with shame, and fear because frankly, I didn’t want to grow up. I felt as though I was losing my childhood.

I know that my experience, while not universal, is reflective of others’ experiences as well.

Anne With An E taking the time to show Anne’s genuinely terrified reaction, as well as the other physical effects that a period has on a woman’s body, was so refreshing, it was like seeing Wonder Woman for the first time all over again.

Media hardly takes the time to examine periods, largely ignoring them. Walley-Beckett and her (all-female) writing staff taking a few scenes and showing Anne’s experience in relation to her period was an all-too-new experience for me, and it warms my heart to know that AnnE’s young audience got to witness it.

I hope to see many shows follow in AnnE’s footsteps, but in the meantime, go watch Anne With An E. You won’t be disappointed.