Anne with an E: The Sweetest Story of Girlhood
'Oh how I love being a woman!'
I recently rewatched Anne with an E, a Netflix show based off of the classic novel, Anne of Green Gables, by Lucy Maud Montgomery. I said it when I first read the book as a kid, said it when I watched the show for the first time, and I’ll say it again now: there’s a reason why the story of Anne Shirley-Cuthbert will continue to be retold in film and in paper.
There’s something very primal about it that feels impossible to explain, but nevertheless, here’s my lame attempt at listing down why this show has my HEART. (Yes, I had to caps that.)
Strong main character
Let’s start with our protagonist, Anne. What a beautiful character! Her love for life, her affinity for words, and her adventurous spirit is just contagious. It’s evident in the way she influences the people around her, and it spills out of the screen. That’s not to say she’s perfect – she’s dramatic and stubborn most times, but there’s something so youthful and feminine about it. Her intelligence and passion for knowledge inspired me so much growing up – it looked so beautiful on her, and I wanted to be just like that.
Also, she has red hair! That’s a bonus to me.
Cinematography
This isn’t so much about the show as it is the production, but have you seen the shots? So many beautiful scenes that I could even watch it in mute. The shots are delicate, very whimsical and full of emotion. Paired with the writing, it’s just *chef’s kiss*.
I don’t think I can ever get over the most beautiful winter scene, when Prissy ran out on her wedding.
The buildup, the tension, the injustice – all released in that one scene. Then the joy, the laughter! When the girls started dancing together, I wanted to jump right in and join them.
This is just one of many other scenes – Josephine Barry’s party, Easter dinner for Mary, end-of-exams celebration, the writing club in the small wooden house in the woods.
Simplicity of daily life
Modern-day life emphasises convenience and efficiency – everything around us is designed to ‘help’ us and ‘serve’ us. While true, it can be overwhelming. Life portrayed in this show is peaceful and slow-paced. There is no rush.
I found it so easy to just immerse myself in their world, almost like a way to unplug from technology (let’s ignore that I’m watching the show on Netflix, on my TV).
I absolutely loved watching the students wrap their books together like parcel to take to school, how they cool their bottles of milk in the stream of water running next to their humble little building. I loved Anne and her fascination for puff sleeves, how after Matthew bought her a dress, it was the one dress she owned. When the students get a printing press in their school, their excitement for innovation is inspiring!
The story doesn’t work with much material, but they made so much out of it! Living in a materialistic world, it’s fascinating to go back to something much simpler. It’s irrationally nostalgic.
Complex societal issues
Now, I mentioned earlier about how I loved the simplicity of the show and the life portrayed in it. This does not mean that the show turned a blind eye to the social condition that existed in the 1890s. In fact, I think the show took their time in expanding on various issues that are still applicable in our modern day.
The show touched on feminism and sexism through various storylines such as Prissy’s engagement to a closeted man, Diana’s desire to go to college despite her mother’s wishes for finishing school – Anne’s arrival and entire existence in Avonlea, I could argue, is a catalyst for change in the societal norms of a small town like theirs.
Through Gilbert and Bash’s friendship, the show expanded on racism. Ka’kwet’s storyline brings light into the violence endured by Indigenous people and the cultural genocide of their people. None of these are exactly easy topics to talk about, but I thought the show handled it with such grace. They treated the subjects with gentleness – in a way that made us care as an audience – without taking away from the importance of these issues.
Anne and Gilbert
THEIR CHEMISTRY. These two deserve an entire section. The academic rivals trope is strong with this one. I love that from the moment Gilbert laid eyes on Anne, he knew she was the one. Maybe not necessarily in a romantic way yet, but he knew she was going to be part of his life – to change it, too. He’s curious about her and he’s enjoying every second of getting to know her. Meanwhile, Anne’s too busy absorbing her new life in Avonlea to even notice him. At first.
Don’t get me started on that iconic 'Carrots’ scene. Explain to me how Anne smacking Gilbert so hard in the face with her slate board made me giggle like a schoolgirl. The way he smirks after – ‘You just did'.’ – MY HEART.
Let me tell you, though, throughout the entire three seasons, we were STARVED of Anne and Gilbert scenes, but it left me wanting more and more and more, and it made me savor every little moment they do have together. In season two, Anne and Gilbert weren’t even in the same country for majority of it. Starved, I tell you.
But then there were the letters. How romantic?! Life took them many places and they were off chasing their dreams, finding their destinies, but they still kept in touch and were still in the back of each others’ minds. Almost like there was no doubt they’d find their way back to each other again someday.
Towards the end of season three, there was mutual pining and a bit of that miscommunication trope, which I’m normally against, but the whole ‘Diana, what letter?’ scene made it worth it 100%.
I truly had the time of my life watching their relationship blossom from being classmates and rivals, to friends, to a little something but not quite. They took their sweet time getting there, surviving off of secret, fond looks and moments of understanding between the two.
I could go for days, and my rambling will make zero sense, but for the sake of everyone around me, I won’t.
Girlhood
Lastly, a short but sweet acknowledgement to the heart of this story: girlhood. What it means to be a daughter. A mother. A friend. A wife. A woman. It’s a timeless tribute to women. A story that has done a marvelous job in resonating with women around the world, in connecting us through stories of struggle and immense joy, an unspoken and universal understanding.
Women are strong. They are smart. Filled with love. Full of dreams. Whole from the moment they enter this world. There isn’t a story that tells it quite like our magical Anne with an E.