Netflix’s ‘Anne With an E’ is a d-E-light!

Skip into Summer in 'Anne With an E' 

The opening credits to Anne With An E unfurl to the Tragically Hip's bouncy thumping track "Ahead By a Century", and it's pure magic! Glimmering leaves rain down like confetti, a swooping barn owl stretches its wings and we’re surrounded by the embrace of a tree limbs and the blooming rush of flowers flowers and more flowers! Don’t be surprised if that tune doesn’t lodge itself in your head for days at a time. These enchanting storybook visuals don't entirely represent the tone of Anne With An E but they're stunning way to open up this new series nevertheless!

Adapted from the classic novel Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery, Netflix’s new series reimagines the beloved Anne Shirley, the freckle-faced and smiley girl of 11 as her life opens up to a new chapter. Irish-Canadian actress Amybeth McNulty is Anne through and through. With a pair of whip thin ginger braids hanging at her sides, a ratty brim hat plunked on her head, and a functional but hardly fashionable beige frock and rumpled pinafore, Anne steps out of her ever present life being a servant and into a new role she’s never had the chance to live before: a child. But not just any child, a daughter.

Anne's arrival at Green Gables with Matthew and "Mare"

Orphaned at birth, Anne spent her formative years cleaning up after other people's messes. Bouncing around through family after family she served as nanny, maid and scapegoat. Her last gig was caring for a swarming horde of eight children under the tyrannical rule of a slap happy and verbally abusive Mistress. When the Master of the house is struck down by a sudden massive heart attack Anne’s out of a home again and returned to the orphanage asylum. Like a game of telephone gone wrong, there’s a mix up that takes Anne to Canada’s stunning Prince Edward Island and puts her in the care of Matthew (RH Thomson) and Marilla (Geraldine James) Cuthbert who are living in solitude on their sprawling farm estate. This spinster sister and bachelor brother duo originally had their sights set on a boy to do the farm chores, seeing as how they’re getting on in years so Anne’s suddenly delivery to their doorstep is more unwelcome than anything.

Anne insists she can do all the labor a boy can do with an indomitable energy and can do attitude, her enthusiasm is so vibrant and inspiring: and I can't help but commend McNulty’s talent. She's very theatrical at times and although she's precocious and more insightful than a typical 11 year old is, there's still a sweetness, naïveté and girlishness to her! Unfortunately her outspokenness isn’t enough to keep Matthew from hiring a brown-haired boy from town to lend a hand with keeping up Green Gables. With his heavy French accent and his tireless work ethic, this lad named Jerry (Aymeric Jett Montaz) becomes Anne’s first real rival and eventually, one of her friends.

Anne has a different dynamic all together with Diana Barry (Dalila Bela) the girls are practically next-door-neighbors and they strike up a sweet friendship. It’s Anne’s bond with Diana that buoys her up when her fellow schoolgirls and boys scoff at her and look down on her because of what they consider to be her checkered past.

Roaming around PEI with bestie, Diana.

In these particularly heart wrenching scenes, anyone who’s ever dared to be “different” or defy the norms, can relate to that sensation of being mocked and left out and seen as lesser. It may be 2017, but modern audiences can no doubt relate to Anne’s aching loneliness and burning blooms of shame and self consciousness that blossom up inside her, gnawing away at her effervescent and seemingly untouchable confidence!

Stern and sensible Marilla bears a marked resemblance to Professor Minerva McGonagall (although she’s neither Scottish, nor a witch) and her no-frills disposition makes for a cheeky contrast to Anne’s eager beaver mentality and endless enthusiasm. And soft-spoken Matthew effortlessly transitions to doting dad in the blink of an eye, taken by Anne’s exuberance. Unlike Marilla he’s more guarded and has a more subdued and cautious way of interacting with his neighbors and friends, something that makes the kind gestures he does for Anne seem even more grand and sweet than they already are!

The musical score is pastoral and deeply haunting and moving, it sounds Scottish even though Anne with an E is set in Canada. The period costumes, and the rich historical details in Green Gables, the wooden school house tucked away in the woods, and the cobblestoned hubbub of PEI’s inner city is of cinematic caliber. The directors have a deft hand at capturing light, shadows, nature and all the nooks and crannies, completely immersing us into the world. 

The affections that grow between Anne and Marilla over just 7 episodes is astounding.

Anne With an E isn’t exactly a happy-go-lucky, sunshine and butterflies program. Anne may be a young girl, but this is not a children’s show. Nor is it a slapstick or lighthearted comedy. Historical Drama is the name of the game in Anne With an E and contrary to the poppy, frothy opening credits it’s actually sadder, and more solemn than one might expect. Through a series of deeply heartbreaking flashbacks we see Anne getting smacked around a lot, and how her peers, former employers and former dormmates at her orphanage all tried to shame her for being different and put out her spark. Still affected by some PTSD from those traumatic experiences there’s an edge of maturity in her character, especially in how despite being victimized she’s not a victim any longer. Her rise above that negative chatter and disdain, and embracing all of her quirks, while seeing the beauty and joy in everyday life and nature is very empowering. Make no mistake, this is a drama, not a tragedy. There are plenty of moments that make you giddy with happiness for Anne’s achievements and your heart soar. This is a finely crafted and touching show that plucks at the heartstrings and taps into the emotions. #allthefeels

Anne Shirley is two parts Pollyanna and one part Luna Lovegood with a healthy helping of Sara Crewe from A Little Princess. Anne is an outstanding role model for young girls today. How she models resiliency and optimism is such a joy and so admirable. She finds things in common with just about everyone she meets and her upbeat attitude doesn’t ever feel forced or contrived Anne may be gangly and gawky and she laments her red hair but she’s also unbelievably adorable! Spunk is a fitting descriptor for this little survivor, as is spitfire! Sometimes her temper lashes out, but she’s always learning and she’s always doing. She is ahead of her time by a century after all, and her adventures are all yours for watching. Get the tissues ready!

That smile!!!!

all photos from IMDB