* I have several upcoming movie and TV blogs coming up which were written before the writers’ strike. I’m just going to post them until I run out.

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” - L. M. Montgomery

What? It’s not quite October yet? Well, that’s fine. This wasn’t quite Anne of Green Gables.

I’m not going to do a specific episode here. I confess that I am an Anne of Green Gables purist and this show gave me anxiety. Why did every episode have to be a major drama? This show made Avonlea the most depressing place in North America. I mean, I appreciate them trying to add in actual social commentary especially from the time period, but hour after hour of PTSD, inequality, nearly losing the farm, being beaten by ruffians, con-men, and sexual assault! Seriously, where was the joy?

Just in case anyone is unfamiliar - Anne is an orphan in the early 1900s who is accidentally sent to the home (Green Gables) of spinster siblings Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert who were expecting a boy to help on the farm. They end up keeping the talkative, imaginative Anne despite all of her misadventures and ways she upsets social norms.

I’m going to talk about writing now. Something I did like in the show the spotlight it shown on Anne’s love of writing. She and her friends start a story club where they bring their ideas to a clubhouse they built in the woods. This is one of the few sweet, childhood moments in the first season. They keep the core of imaginative play there with Anne’s made-up beliefs developing into characters and plots.

The show adds more to the ideals of being a blossoming writer including a school newspaper. Anne experiences censorship and it leads the students to realize the importance of freedom of speech. They idea of Anne becoming an author is rather lost by the end of the series, taking a backseat to her unrequited love. At least the show never stopped the use of large words to convey meaning and never let up on how important those words were to young Anne.