Strange Empire: female-led Canadian Western ran 13 episodes on CBC

Collider reports that Strange Empire premiered on CBC in 2014 as a female-led Canadian Western that aired for one season of 13 episodes before being cancelled.

Set in the late 19th century frontier settlement of Janestown, the series follows women left to govern themselves after a mysterious mass death of men. At its center is Kat Loving (Cara Gee), portrayed as a grieving Métis woman whose sorrow hardens into resolve and violence. The ensemble also includes Isabelle Slotter (Tattiawna Jones), her husband John Slotter (Aaron Poole), and Rebecca Blithely (Melissa Farman), each depicted as a different response to trauma, power, and survival.

The show was noted for its unflinching depiction of brutality and for refusing to idealize female solidarity, presenting women as capable of cruelty and moral compromise. The article argues the series emphasized ensemble storytelling and Indigenous perspectives, and that its early cancellation prevented it from finding a broader audience; viewed through today’s streaming landscape it feels, the piece says, like it arrived slightly ahead of its time. All episodes of Strange Empire can be streamed for free on Tubi.

Key Topics

Culture, Strange Empire, Cara Gee, Janestown, Cbc Television, Tubi