This week’s theme is “literary adaptations not just for kids” (I know, I am so fabulous at coming up with something new all the time) and I am very excited to talk about this particular show. I was pretty late to the bandwagon, but Anne with an E definitely needs to be talked about at one point or another.
This, by far, isn’t the first adaption of the Anne of Green Gables book series, however, Netflix really managed to give it a fresh take with a fantastic young cast and extraordinary detail concerning the set and costumes. So far there is one season, but production for the second one has already started in November 2017. Again, I have not read the book (BUT I have ordered it – progress! But seriously, Anne of Green Gables just wasn’t really a thing in my country, so you can’t blame me for not knowing it.), but I have heard that there were some changes made to the original narrative as well as tone, probably to fit into the darker and more drama-filled TV landscape of today.
Anne with an E chronicles the adventures of a young orphan girl as she finds a new home, love and friendship on Prince Edward Island during the 19th century.
Okay, I have to admit that I started watching this because I missed Canada. I am not sure how much sense that makes, considering the time this is set in and that Canada is huge and I wasn’t actually in that part of the country, but I still got the vibes that I wanted. Anne with an E is such an easy show to fall in love with. The visuals are simply stunning and no one on this planet can tell me that this isn’t the most stylish adaptation of the source material yet. But it really shines because of how emotional and gripping it is. Thinking back, I don’t believe there was a single episode where I didn’t need tissues.
As I mentioned above, there were some changes made to the story and that resulted in the show getting edgier than the books. In my opinion, this added greatly to the realism and the exploration of Anne’s past. Having said that, I don’t want you to think this is a super dark show, because it definitely is not. Anne with an E is a beautiful visual treat with a slow pace to accompany the gorgeous cinematography. You will laugh and cry, both out of joy and sadness.
I also really want to applaud all the actors and actresses involved in this series. Netflix always manages to pull amazing young talent out of seemingly nowhere (at least it feels that way for me), but the adults really hit home with me as well. The performances (aside from a very theatrical Anne at times) were so quietly convincing. It’s all a big part of what makes Anne with an E so charming.
Overall, I just really enjoyed the themes that were explored on the show. It is about all kinds of things, each of them relatably portrayed even with the very different setting from our world today. It is about growing up and finding that place called home. The adoption process and Anne’s background were an emotional roller coaster for me and her continued fight to be heard and accepted was so very inspiring. It’s about poverty and friendship. It’s about first love, loss and grief. Also, there’s a real feminist element to everything Anne does and I love her all the more for it.
Lastly, the show has an amazing theme song “Ahead by a Century” by the Tragically Hip, which doesn’t just fit the vibe of the show, but is another celebration of Canadian culture.
I could talk about Anne for days. She’s quirky, charming, smart, wonderful, has the biggest capacity for imagination I have seen on screen and probably knows more complicated words than me. She can also be overly dramatic and a real scene stealer, but I guess that is what makes Anne so very Anne. Even when I will admit that it can border on the point of being a tad annoying behaviour, Amybeth McNulty really made that role her own and I cannot imagine that being easy at such a young age. However, I feel like this part of the post is not just here to feature the main character and that is why I want to talk about Gilbert Blythe.
Gilbert is the guy everyone loves, except Anne. Even though the poor boy immediately takes a liking to her, Anne feels like he is just making her life harder and that’s true even if he never intended for that to happen. He is kind, smart, confident, incredibly cute (except when he pulls girls’ pigtails) and most importantly he doesn’t judge people by where they are from but rather who they are.
He is an overall good guy and doesn’t give up on Anne so easily, but rather uses her aversion towards him to start an academical rivalry he knew she wouldn’t be able to resist. I hope you can see where I am going with this, but it’s the perfect set up for enemies to lovers/the hate-to-love-trope. I adored seeing how Anne slowly changed her view of Gilbert and through that her feelings for him. I am really looking forward to where this is going in the future (although everyone who has read the books already knows, but the journey still counts!).
So, in the end, I don’t know how this show will fare with people who absolutely adore the books. I went into it pretty unknowing and that might have been the best way to watch the show. After all, there are changes! And they aren’t just minor ones either, but I still think that this show is like a piece of art that should be appreciated anyway.
Did you watch Anne with an E? Did you read the books? What are your thoughts? Let’s chat! (Bonus question: can you guess which show I will talk about on Friday?)
Life and Other Disasters 
I watched it without knowing the book and I really enjoyed it (cast, theme, setting – just everything). Then I ordered the book, but I havn’t finished it yet.:D In general, I’m really looking forward to season 2.
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I am not sure I am going to love the book, just because I have a problem with focusing while reading classics and this is … well, a classic. But I am definitely looking forward to Season 2 as well. I like that they are taking their time with the story and are not jumping around too much with Anne’s age.
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I’ve been meaning to read Anne and The Green Gables for ages, so I probably will want until I’ve read the book to watch the show, but I’ve seen snippets and hell, the visuals are amazing?? Definitely a must watch from what I’ve heard- and yes, you truly are amazing for coming up with new brilliant ideas every week!!!
Great post 💛✨
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The visuals are so STUNNING! I was getting tears in my eyes just from looking at it sometimes, but I get wanting to read it first.
And thanks! I am really proud of my themes haha
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Oh my god :(( It sounds so amazing!
You should be proud haha ❤
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Seriously love your themes! I’m glad this was such a fresh take 😀 I’m actually curious about the changes to the original in terms of tone (I’m not even sure how that would go- just because I have the tone of the original imprinted in my mind- not that this is a bad thing). I’m glad it’s so visually stunning and that it was easy to fall in love with. Especially pleased that the young actors do a good job! I absolutely love Anne as a character- it sounds like she’s done so well here! 😀 I’ll admit, I was a bit on the fence about this, but now I desperately want to check it out! Amazing review!
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I wish I could give you actual examples of how it is different, but critics have mostly claimed that it has lost some of the lighthearted humour and replaced it with darker drama (for them a bit too much drama). I personally can’t relate, because the episodes are between 50 and 90 minutes long and really beautiful and slow, so if there weren’t any drama … it could get dull? But I hope you do like it if you decide to watch it and please, please, please report back hahaha
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Ah I see. Yeah I can definitely see that- and tbh I’m happy for things to be changed up, as long as it’s done well and that sounds like it was here. hehe absolutely!
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I swear the first 5 episodes was just me ugly crying in my living room yet ng to to wake anyone- after that it was a silent stream of tears the rewt of the episodes… this show is so beautiful 😭😭😭
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I completely get it! I was in the living room watching with earbuds on my laptop while my parents were watching the telly and I had to hold back tears so much. Then I migrated into my room and the floodgates were open!
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I tried watching this, but found it too sugary-sweet.
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Well, that’s a shame.
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That’s what I say everytime I find out someone isn’t into horror.
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Hahaha fair enough. No one will ever make me like horror. I hate it with a passion.
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Even when it’s mixed with comedy?
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Like what? Name a couple examples.
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Krampus, The Babysitter, Scary Movie.
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Krampus did not look like a comedy when I saw the trailer … The Babysitter I never watched because I don’t like some of the cast and Scary Movie is just plain dumb. So, no. Wouldn’t watch those either. I just don’t understand why you would voluntarily want to be scared.
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It’s a thrill. Like being on a roller coaster. And with so many real-world problems, diving into made-up horrors can be therapeutic.
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Hahaha well, there we have it. I absolutely hate roller coasters as well.
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Blasphemy!
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To you maybe, I know loads of people who don’t enjoy roller coasters. I get hurt in them or once truly thought I might die, so no thank you.
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You know, we are the oddest pair of friends I know.
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I love these books (and yes, the enemies to friends trope is done so very well), but the first episode seemed kind of moody, so I dropped it. But I’m tempted to give it another try! Great review!
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Fair enough. What bothered you exactly on the first episode? Can you elaborate a bit more, because then I could tell you if the rest is the same, you know?
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Oh, there wasn’t anything particularly wrong with it! But for me, I read and watch classics like Anne to get that warm, cozy feeling, and I felt the visuals for the Netflix one was a bit cold, modern, and dramatic if that makes any sense. It was perfectly competent! I just didn’t latch onto it emotionally. I’m totally willing to give it another go since I know I wasn’t in the most receptive mood when I first watched it. 🙂
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I think there’s warmth there, but I guess it’s still different to the original. I’d understand if it’s just not for you, but if you try and pick it up again, I hope you’ll enjoy it 🙂
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Thanks! 😀
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I’m so happy to hear that you loved this show Kat! As someone who loves the books (well, I haven’t read all of them yet) I really, really love the show. The actors just ARE their characters which is so impressive and personally I really love that they made it ‘darker’. I don’t really like the use of that word, because to me they just made it more realistic. They didn’t even really change Anne’s past, as it was all there in the books, just more subtle and the consequences of what she went through are kind of brushed over/not as present on the show. It also just shows how strong Anne is – she went through so much yet she’s still so lovable! And oh my goodness Gilbert – I can’t WAIT to go through their whole relationship again on the show – it’s such a good slow burn and I love them so much 🙂
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I honestly just adapted the word “darker” from all the reviews I read from people who previously read the books hahaha I personally wouldn’t have used that particular wording otherwise I think. When I think of Anne, I never think of darkness. I think of love and friendship and family and the scope of imagination and all the emotions. I have to agree that realistic is definitely the better term.
Also YAS for her love with Gilbert. I can’t wait to see how they are going to play that out on the long run. If they are going to go reeeeal slow and grow up with the kids or change actors after a couple of seasons like on The Crown, but I hope they won’t actually do the latter.
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Haha yeah I didn’t mean to attack you for the use of the word, I figured you got it from the reviews! I got really salty back when the show aired and I read those reviews 😂
Yeah exactly! The lighter moments of the show balance the heavier ones perfectly 🙂
Oh yeah I really hope they won’t change the actors! They already aged up the characters a bit from the books, and they are going pretty slow (they still have a lot of the first book left to cover!) so if they continue on this pace I think they’ll be able to keep these kids!
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Oh no! I didn’t think you were attacking me. No worries! I just wanted to clarify why I chose that specific phrase.
I loooove the actors. They are, as you also mentioned, really their characters. It would be a shame to have to start over again. And I think the actors are already older than the characters. So, if they work with different make up or hairstyles, it might pan out fine.
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