‘Anna’ Recap: ‘What to Do When Mama Dies’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season finale of ‘Anna’.
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The vast majority of shows out there, are often eager to assemble a spectacular season finale. One that is filled to the brim with epic twists and turns and huge moments and cliffhangers that leave us talking for days on end and eager to see what next season will hold. And they accomplish this feat, by putting together an intricate story designed to take us on heck of a ride and well, audiences love this through and through and it really has become a staple of the industry. But every once in a while, you run into a story and a season finale that defies that convention and tells us a vastly different kind of story and for proof that happens from time to time, look no further than the season finale of Anna on AMC+.
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For ‘What to Do When Mama Dies’ is a story… that had nothing to build to. For the world is indeed gone forever and the vast majority of humanity is lost to the moment since all that remains are children that will one day die of the horrific Red Fever, save for maybe a few that are outright immune. And knowing that the end is nigh and knowing that there was little for Anna to do than return home and wait for the end, initially gave this finale the same bleak feel that has permeated over the rest of the season. Because that is quite the hopeless place to take this tale and well… that’s when this finale took quite the turn, one that continued to help this episode defy convention.

Because shortly after she was reunited with Astor, Anna thought it might be best, that she take a page from Pietro’s book and try to live her final days on this Earth doing more than just waiting to die. Which motivated her and Astor to try and leave Sicily and head for mainland Italy. Where perhaps the virus didn’t utterly decimate the population, and where a cure might be available and that led to a harrowing struggle for more. One that was sour in nature. For once they hit the water in a paddle boat, there was no sight of land and little hope of tomorrow. Once again making it seem as though bleak was going to be the theme here as we watched them die trying instead of just lying down and this darkness was reinforced, by the bevy of flashbacks that accompanied the silence on the water.

Since both of them reflected upon their former life and what those first days without mother looked like and how hard it was for them to get by in harsh conditions and that allowed for us to process how difficult it was for them to comprehend that this was the end of everything and normally that kind of reflection, is the inventory we take at the end and that’s when another twist came into play. Wherein this vigilant brother and sister ran into an oil rig. One filled to the brim with food and water and power, and people. Adults that survived the virus and have managed to bring forth a child into this awful new world. Meaning that for the first time ever… this story offered up a semblance of hope and it doesn’t get more unconventional than that. At least, for a story this dark and this hopeless. But it went there none the less and it did so in the subtlest and most relaxed manner imaginable, serving as the true anthesis to how television handles season finales and well, this was a brilliant direction to take.

Because it truly allowed for the past to be left in the past for these intrepid young heroes so they can face a new chapter in their lives, one filled with hope and better days with other people instead of starvation and fear and most important of all, this episode finally rewarded the viewer for sticking with the ugly. Because finally, we felt relief and joy and more than just sheer horror and that’s just a kind thing for this story to do and it does leave us eager for a season two. So, we can learn if there is a cure, or if humanity has survived and hopefully this series gets a year two order. Because television needs more brave shows like this one, that are unafraid to challenge us and terrify us and remind us… that life is precious and fleeting and to treasure ever single moment we can…. since they can be ripped away from us… just like that.

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