The new Anne of Green Gables series

[QueenoftheAndals]

Anyone watching it? It's just started on Netflix. It'll be hard to live up to the 90s series though, as Megan Follows and Colleen Dewhurst were so perfect. But I suppose the Anne in this series is more true to the book in terms of looks and age. Megan F was possibly a tad too pretty and played 11yo Anne when she was 17 or 18.

Tomselleck - having watched the last episode, I have to say I agree with you. I found it very confusing and upsetting that they would change the storyline so completely. Until then, I had enjoyed the fresh look at Anne's character and experiences - but this was a step too far. What a shame. I don't want to think of Matthew in that way and the Gilbert plot doesn't make any sense at all. Bah.

They should have made their own series if they were going to change it so much. I was so excited, liked the first episode but not impressed with the second and third. Just read a synopsis for episode 7 and I have no words.

I absolutely love it! I've never read the book or seen the previous tv series though.

bettys reaction has (mostly) been very positive here in Canada. We all loved it.

Toronto Life review

Globe and Mail review

By "we all" I mean my family, not everyone in Canada!

I stopped watching it because it is so dark.

HeartsTrumpDiamonds thank you for those reviews, they make interesting reading. Still feel oddly disturbed by the changes in the story though I can see it would appeal to anyone who isn't such a diehard fan of the books or previous versions.

I'm not sure I want to watch it. Megan Fellows was perfect.

My husband just asked "Anne with an E, is she on drugs or something?" And no he wasn't joking!!! 😂

Polly that made me laugh sounds like something Mr M would say.

Love MrPolly's comment - in fact given this was made by the same people who made Breaking Bad I'm surprised that isn't a joke from the show.

Like others, I thought the series started out well - being different from the sublime Megan-Jonathan version but true to the story of the book. You tend to forget how bleak Anne's life was before she arrived at the Cuthberts', whereas the bleakness of their pre-Anne life is more obvious.

However, by the end it had just got ridiculous, and upsetting. Where was the joy? And talking about periods - for god's sake, in one of the later books Diana is trying to indicate that she is pregnant but social mores don't allow her to even hint at it directly. (Whereas I seem to recall Anne describing a flower's smell as carnal, which seemed a bit in-your-face by comparison).

Anne Shirley Cuthbert was emblematic of the problems with the series as a whole. Why would you make something like that up, when it serves no purpose in the narrative?

Anne's life was bleak but in the book, you are given no details. I do not like seeing images of child abuse and try to avoid shows that depict it. And that scene at the train station with the possible child molester; Anne escapes (because she is so clever is the suggestion) but the implication is that he has found another victim. That's not what I want to see from a dramatization of Anne of Green Gables.

I've just watched season 1 is that all there is ?

Agreed, Seneca - the depictions of Anne's past don't need to be so heavyhanded (not to mention repeated).

twofloorsup - that's the whole of Series 1, no news yet on a renewal.

Aagghh I was looking forward to watching the whole thing !
Thanks.

I have never watched the Canadian version but have heard it is very good and am thinking of buying the DVDs

I have binge watched this and thought it was good, albeit rather dark in places. I though the Taken-esque delete of the second episode was rather daft and hated the end of the series

I also cringed when she hit him with the slate, I'm surprised she didn't crack his head open she did it that hard.

Loved Marilla and frequently found myself crying in her scenes

I felt the feminism was really heavy handed - the get back to the kitchen scene was completely ridiculous - but I liked what they were trying to do with it, it's just a she they weren't more subtle

I'm on episode 3. It's a bit...dark! The child molester at the rail station, the teacher / pupil affair, child abuse, the pet mouse bit...shudders

It does seem realistic though and I like how they've shot it.

I'm not sure if I should keep watching if they've changed too much. Only on episode 2 which was completely different to book in every way, whereas episode 1 was very close to the book.
I do think the casting (so far) is great (but don't think we've seen Gilbert yet so don't want to speak too soon!)

Somehow i have never seen anne of green gables or read the book (even though I am an old gimmer) but i have just watched the first series on Netflix and enjoyed it. What was all that pet mouse shit though, it was excruciating. I am reading the book now and loving it, its a wonderful read a and a million times better than the programme.

I loved it. I loved the books too, but haven't read them for over thirty years. I need to read them again.

I have just watched the first 3 (or 4-I forget) episodes and feel quite sad-

They have politically corrected it to death. It doesn't have to be modern and dark and politiacal-it can just be a lovely story. Anne's character has none of the whimsy or charm that the book Anne had. Her bad temper etc is being portrayed as slightly unhinged....

Seems unnecessarily sordid and determined to go in a different direction-perhaps to engage another generation? But with that rating and content it excludes lots of potential fans.

Poor Lucy Maud Montgomery!!

And what was the point of episode 2?

That whole thing with Mathew chasing her?

WHY?????

I got half way through episode 3 and gave up in disgust. A dreadful thing to do to a wonderful book.
The 1972 version with Kim Braden was much better.
It did make me download all the books for 49p on my Kindle though.

I'm loving it, I think Amybeth McNulty is fabulous! The scene when she starts her period even made DH laugh - "I'm not ready to be a WOMAN!!", the utter horror in her voice Oh, I love Anne.

I watched the Megan Follows VHSs when I was about 10, that's my only exposure but I absolutely loved it and watched it repeatedly. I actually usually hate period dramas but Anne is magical :)

Also Matthew is just heart-melting.

Ohhh I absolutely love Anne of green gables. I cannot wait to watch this. Thanks for letting me know it's on.