BY SONIA NG
Feminism, romance, family, friendship, adoption and racism - Anne with an E covers it all.
Notorious for creating underwhelming live adaptations, see fate: the Winx Saga and Riverdale, Netflix could have gone a very different direction when it came to Anne with an E. Based on Lucy Maud Montgomery’s classic books, Anne of Green Gables, Anne with an E is not your average teen drama series and thank god for that.
Via Netflix
Anne with an E follows the story of a young orphan, Anne Shirley (Amybeth McNulty) as she navigates life in her new home, Avonlea. Orphaned at a young age, Anne has been sent from home to home, enduring horrendous conditions at each home she is placed in. Eventually she is adopted by siblings Matthew (R.H. Thomson) and Marilla Cuthbert (Geraldine James), though that did not come easy for her as well.
Right from the beginning, it is obvious that Anne is a special child. With a wild imagination and an ever so positive outlook on life, Anne was truly something else. Despite all the pain that she had gone through in her life, she never complained and was only ever grateful for anything that she had. Rarely do we see such a positive and unproblematic protagonist of a teen series and so watching Anne as she navigates life in Avonlea, is like a breath of fresh air.
Via Netflix
The first season kicks off with the misplacement of Anne at the Cuthberts doorsteps. Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert were siblings of an elderly age and they were looking to adopt a boy that could help tend to their land. Unbeknownst to them, there was a miscommunication with the orphanage and Anne Shirley was sent their way instead of a boy. Refusing to keep her at first, Marilla eventually grows fond of her, as does Matthew, and they eventually decide to keep her at their home.
With the start of school, Anne becomes fast friends with, as she calls it, a kindred spirit Diana Barry (Dalila Bela). Diana shows Anne the ways of the school however, Anne’s odd nature and progressive thinking gets her into more trouble than she realises. Unintentionally, Anne attracts the attention of the school heartthrob Gilbert Blythe (Lucas Jade Zumann) and in an attempt to make peace with her classmate Ruby, who has a huge crush on Gilbert, Anne breaks her slate over Gilbert’s head.
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Anne’s actions causes a rivalry to form between her and Gilbert, an even bigger rift between her and her other classmates and a deep hatred shared mutually between her and her teacher. It is clear that Anne has much more to learn socially and throughout the season, we see her struggle to conform and fit in.
Marilla Cuthbert on the other hand, is also struggling to fit in. As a new mother, she is invited to a meeting with the other mothers in town and she tries her hardest to fit in with them. However, Anne’s unorthodox ways causes Marilla to be kicked out of these meetings and casts a shadow of shame onto the family's reputation.
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Throughout the season, we see Anne refusing to give up on her morals and beliefs to conform to what society deems as acceptable. The theme of pushing boundaries can be seen throughout the entire season especially within the character of Anne. The portrayal of the character makes audiences want to root for her success and the show does an excellent job at finding a balance between Anne’s stubbornness and her open mindedness. Sometimes, characters like these can come off as annoying and it all boils down to the writing for the character. Anne has some of the most beautiful dialogue within a teen series and the way her character was written ensures that viewers understand the character. The writing also ensures that Anne is not a character that is simply all talk. When the time arises, Anne is more than willing to take action and that is what sets her apart from a lot of characters from other shows.
The show also explores themes of family and prejudice and how everyone needs the former to overcome the latter. When Anne is ostracised at school and Marilla is ostracised at the meetings, they both lean on each other to get through the tough times. The show also explores the aspect of family and how one can find their family as they grow older. This can be seen through Diana’s and Anne’s interactions and how the two so closely regard each other as friends.
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Amybeth Mcnulty and Dalila Bela are a joy to watch. They bring such depth to the characters and their performances are nothing short of extraordinary. Their chemistry is also extraordinary and you would believe that they truly are kindred spirits.
Lucas Jade Zuman also turns in a remarkable performance and he steals the show in every scene that he is in. The portrayal of grief, regarding his character's fathers death, is extremely realistic and the scene that he shares with Amybeth after his fathers death is powerful. It clearly shows the lack of social knowledge that Anne has yet also shows how much she truly cares for others. Lucas’s portrayal of Gilbert’s reaction to Anne in said scene is incredibly realistic and proves that there is more to explore with the character of Gilbert.
Via Netflix
In all, Anne with an E is an enjoyable and educational watch that deserves much more attention and love than it has gotten. It is a show that has a realistic portrayal of social issues and is truly a one of a kind watch. The show focuses on family and the importance of love and acceptance whilst serving stunning cinematography and beautiful dialogue.
Stream all seasons of Anne with an E on Netflix now.