Anne with an E | Series Review

“Anne with an E” is a Netflix Original series based on the classic book series, “Anne of Green Gables” by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Anne Shirley is a passionate, overly dramatic, young red-head. Marilla Cuthbert, a seasoned spinster, and her meek bachelor brother, Matthew, adopt Anne, thinking they are instead adopting a boy. The story takes place in beautiful Prince Edward Island, offering beautiful scenery for this modern take on the classic. It takes some creative liberties from the source material, even offering a slightly darker perspective on the story. Nevertheless, it still maintains the charm of its main character.

This is the first time we’ve seen Anne Shirley on the screen. Where the 1985 film adaptation kept true to its G-rating, “Anne with an E” takes the aforementioned darker approach. Anne has flashbacks about her abusive past, encounters a pedophile, and observes an inappropriate relationship between a teacher and another student.

I appreciate these subtle differences, but I found myself missing the childlike innocence associated with the character. Granted, we live in a different world than the one present in the ’80s. Parents of today might still consider this series an acceptable one for their young daughters to view. For the most part, the series still sticks to its late 19^th century decency. I was particularly fond of the overall theme of an “independent woman”. Anne may be a child, but she is well beyond her years in terms of maturity. She offers several beneficial life lessons for young girls. Though I would recommend parents preview the show beforehand, just to be safe.

Amybeth McNulty shines as the imaginative Anne with a quirky joie de vivre. She does come across as over-the-top at times, but that’s really part of the character. She delivers an equal balance of innocence and intelligence, which is truly the charm behind the show. Even though I was already familiar with the series, I found myself eagerly anticipating each episode. I couldn’t wait to see how she would handle the role and wasn’t disappointed.

Geraldine James portrays the determined, heart of gold Marilla with intensity and grace. R.H. Thompson’s Matthew warms the heart just as well as any other father figure I’ve seen in a series. There truly wasn’t a bad performance from anyone in the cast. Each actor owned his or her respective role, never wavering from the time period in which the story takes place.

I’ll be the first to admit that nostalgia played a factor in my positive outlook for “Anne with an E”, but I still think there’s something here for newcomers as well. The character is so charming and delightful that I have a hard time believing even the most cynical personality won’t smile on occasion. It’s an easy recommendation for fans of the book or the original film, and I’m hopeful that those who were previously unfamiliar with “Anne of Green Gables” will consider giving this a try. It’s a true bright spot in a world filled with so much darkness, and it succeeds in providing a sense of optimism and lightheartedness that is sorely lacking in so many other television series. This Anne earned an A.