Why You Should Watch ‘Anne With An E’

Written by Emily Clark

The third and final season (unfortunately) of Anne with an E released January 3rd 2020 on Netflix. 

Anne is a charming series loved by many, but one that hasn’t quite made it into the mainstream, and even though it is not being renewed, I believe it deserves to be celebrated and enjoyed by many now and in the years to come. The series is based on the 1908 children’s book Anne of Green Gables by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery. Knowing this, perhaps you might think the story would be aimed at children or not relevant to this day and age, however, within this series and the world seeded from Montgomery’s books are lessons that are relevant to everyone, and encourage us all to keep an open mind about the world.

As you watch, you will see that Anne is a child with a big heart and lots to say, even though she has been mistreated as an orphan, tossed from place to place and never shown real love, she has this amazing imagination and love for the world. When she comes to live at Green Gables with siblings Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert, it takes a while for everyone to accept for who she is. Avonlea is a town of closed-minded people, to which Anne is simultaneously a breath of fresh air and a force to be reckoned with.

Marilla and Matthew never intended to adopt her, they wanted a boy from the orphanage to help with the farm, but there was a miscommunication and they ended up with a girl. They nearly send her straight back, but Matthew, a shy and serious man, quite the opposite in personality to Anne, takes a liking to her and convinces Marilla to keep her.

At its heart, Anne is a coming-of-age story, but it is also the story of how one little girl transforms a whole town, opening peoples eyes to new possibilities and stamping out some of its prejudice. She stands up for people she feels are being wronged, whether it is herself or someone else, and often this sparks understanding in others.

The show tackles questions of sexuality, sexism, and racism and bullying in its storylines, things which are still very relevant today, and time and time again we see Anne do her utmost to help those who are treated badly because she knows herself just what it feels like. Beneath it all, of course, Anne is still a child, and her emotion sometimes overtakes her, she does things she ought not to, even though she may believe it is what is right. Many a time she is shunned by her friends for saying the wrong thing, or Marilla for her impulsiveness, Anne has a lot to learn just like everyone else. Even so, she brings so much to Avonlea, and it eventually repays her kindness in love, friendship and family, all the things she could only dream of until she met Matthew and Marilla.

It is a beautiful and at times heartbreaking tale and if nothing else, it is perfectly shot and cast. Amybeth Mcnulty (Anne) brings a passion to the role, every word she says full of heart. Geraldine James (Marilla) is brilliant, as are all the rest of the cast which includes R. H Thomson (Matthew), Korrine Koslo (Rachel Lynde), and Lucas Zumman (Gilbert Blythe). Every character feels so precisely written and acted, and you find yourself feeling everything the characters feel with intensity. It’s unlike any series I’ve ever seen for its emotional power, mainly because Anne goes through so many extreme highs and lows and cannot seem to let herself be in-between. Through all this, the camera is great at portraying this emotion, and revealing moments she or others are untruthful, or upset, or hurt. Even though so much is said, it is what isn’t said that makes everything so intense, as there is often a lack of proper communication between the characters. It is the drama of this that gets you interested, but you’ll stay for the unique outlook of the world Anne With an E gives you.

Long story short, I think you’ll love it as much as I do, but don’t just take my word for it, find out for yourself!

Anne With An E is a CBC and Netflix original series, produced by Northwood Entertainment and created by and produced by Moira Walley-Beckett. It is also produced by Miranda de Pencier, Debra Hayward, Alison Owen and Ken Girotti and John Calvert.

Have you watched Anne With An E? Tell us in the comments below!