Damn skippy. Anastasia's "redemption arc" is utter bullshit and I'm glad others are recognizing it as such.
Now, could it have been done well? Possibly. Maybe if we'd seen Anastasia reflect on her behavior, realize how awful she'd been to poor Cinderella, sincerely apologize to Cinderella and offer to make amends, try to encourage her mom and sister to do the same, or decide "the hell with them!" and move her lot elsewhere, then maybe, just maybe, I'd buy it.
But nope, the writers just yank the "Poor Anastasia is as sympathetic and mistreated as Cinderella, all she needs is love" plot line out of their asses and expect us to just accept it at face value.
Um, no.
If you want the "Redemption of the Wicked Stepsister" story done right, look no further than Ever After. Stepsister Jacqueline is actually a nice person, but terribly shy, meek, awkward, and incapable of standing up for herself and others. She is cruelly dismissed as plain, fat, and useless by both her sister and mother, so, yes, she is to some extent as much a victim of abuse as Danielle (she's just a butt monkey as opposed to being treated as a servant). Danielle's strength of character and kindness towards others eventually inspire Jacqueline to be more proactive in her life, realize the unjust ways her mother and sister treat her and everyone else, and dares to defy them, even if it means being turned out from her own family (but thankfully, things work out just fine for Jacqueline).
That's how it's done: a gradual arc that feels organic and rewarding.
