Revisiting Dickinson: Show Draws New Fans After Watch Party In Honor of the Female Poet

In this new-wave society filled with Instagram poetry and TikTok trends, art is seemingly becoming less and less definable. One constant form of creation, however, is self-expression. This sentiment was certainly held by the artists and poets who preceded us, including the famous female poet Emily Dickinson.

Apple TV’s show “Dickinson,” starring actress Hailee Steinfeld in the titular role, held a watch party for the show’s premiere on June 30 to promote the series for potential Emmy Awards consideration, attracting millions of new viewers.

Steinfeld portraying Dickinson

“Dickinson” tells the story of poet Emily Dickinson when she was a young woman, aspiring to be a writer in a world dominated by men and confining gender expectations. Despite the show’s initial release occurring in November 2019, a watch party was recently held over Twitter for the first episode under the hashtag #DickinsonAtHome. Steinfeld was live tweeting throughout the live-stream to over 6.5 million viewers.

The Apple TV show, created by Alena Smith, gives a modern commentary to the re-telling of Emily’s life while also using bright cinematography, contemporary music, and images of scrawling writing across the screen to enrapture viewers. Women of all ages have been expressing their love for the shows’ comedic timing and imaginative modernization, recognizing the significance of how much women have progressed since the 19th century.

I don't know how to explain this but every time I watch @dickinson I feel at peace because I love to just escape my life for a moment and live in this show. I'm just immediately brought back to when it was released and the good memories I have around that time. #DickinsonAtHome pic.twitter.com/E1I2L3jb0O

— Kamila (@HaileeChicagoS) July 1, 2020

The opening episode includes the narration of one of Emily Dickinson’s most famous poems, “Because I could not stop for Death,” where Dickinson (Steinfeld) receives backlash from her father for fighting to have her poem published instead of settling into roles deemed more appropriate for women of the time.

Steinfeld tweeted about the scene during the watch party, writing, “This scene is special. The writing moved me so much. It’s so layered and complex. Beautiful and heartbreaking to think what the reality of this conversation sounded like between Emily and Mr. Dickinson.”

In an interview with “The Hollywood Reporter,” the singer-actress has also said of the show, “There are so many parallels” to today’s world. “Here’s [someone] who in her time had to fight fearlessly for her rights and her voice to be heard, just to be understood as an artist and as a woman, and that is very much still happening today. I think we’ve come a very long way, but not much has changed. There’s still a lot of work to be done.”

Steinfeld and the cast in “Dickinson” circus scene

The cast also includes actress Ella Hunt, who plays Emily’s best friend and love interest Sue Gilbert. The relationship built between the two characters has proven to be a fan-favorite, and further represents the themes of female empowerment and fearlessness that Smith uses as a basis for the show.

Hunt and Steinfeld as Gilbert and Dickinson

“Sue — forevermore!” #DickinsonAtHome https://t.co/PFmf5jy0K9

— Dickinson (@Dickinson) July 1, 2020

After the episode finished streaming on Twitter, Steinfeld and some of the cast of “Dickinson” delivered a surprise performance of the show’s feature track “Afterlife.”

“Dickinson” has since been renewed for a season 2, though its release date is currently unknown.