Netflix’s 3-Part Historical Drama Series Remains One of Its All-Time Greatest Binges 7 Years Later

Netflix has a little bit of everything, including political thrillers, sci-fi, and every genre in between; however, one of its best series isn’t quite as intense. The literary adaptation, Anne with an E, is a highlight in the streamer’s collection, with its imaginative and heartwarming story about the simple truths of growing up. The story may be familiar to some as it is loosely based on Lucy Maud Montgomery‘s classic 1908 children’s novel, Anne of Green Gables. But the series is engaging, regardless of how well the audience may know the story.

Like the novel, the series tells the story of a young orphan who is taken in by an aging brother and sister. It’s an endearing story, which is why it has never gone out of style, but the 2017 series reinvents it. With three seasons, Anne with an E shows the spirited Anne (Amybeth McNulty) as she grows up while highlighting her personal trauma and the injustices in the world around her. While it isn’t exactly like the 1908 novels, the Netflix series tells a charming, modernized adaptation that captures the heart of the story. Anne with an E proves that the 100-year-old story transcends time in an addictive series that ranks among Netflix’s best.

What Is ‘Anne with an E’ About?

As the title suggests, the key to Anne with an E is Anne Shirley herself, a spunky and talkative girl whose optimism and joy set the series apart. The story follows Anne, starting at 13 years old, as she is sent to live on a farm in the picturesque town of Avonlea, but this is a shock to the unmarried siblings, Marilla (Geraldine James) and Matthew (R. H. Thomson) Cuthbert, who expected a boy to help with the labor. As the unlikely family grows closer, the imaginative girl and unsuspecting Cuthberts enter a new life together, but it isn’t without challenges. Anne isn’t immediately accepted by the small Avonlea community, but as she adjusts to life in a family, she makes friends and forms a rivalry with the top student in her school, Gilbert Blythe (Lucas Jade Zumann).

Ultimately, Anne with an E is a coming-of-age story in which Anne learns hard truths about the world and discovers who she is, which is made more interesting by the character’s undeniable personality. Anne constantly speaks her mind, even when she should keep quiet, which emphasizes her tendency to get into trouble. This, paired with her adventurous spirit, fierce determination, and constant imagination, makes her compelling. However, she is far from perfect, especially when it comes to her vanity, as she openly hates her bright red hair. Life is never easy for Anne as she struggles with the trauma of her past, but she never loses her enthusiasm for life, giving the series a sense of hope, especially as Anne finds the love of a family with Marilla and Matthew.

‘Anne with an E’ Modernizes the Original Novel

Image via Netflix

Though based on the classic children’s book, Anne with an E makes notable changes, highlighting Anne’s trauma and incorporating modern issues. Before the series, Anne had a difficult life, and Anne with an E shows this through flashbacks that explain why she is so quick to get lost in her imagination or reacts harshly to bullying. This element makes the series slightly darker than fans might anticipate. However, it always offers hope as Anne learns and heals from her past with the love and support of her new family. In addition, Anne with an E adds a modern edge to the original story. Yes, it is set in the late 19th century, but the Netflix series addresses more modern conversations, such as racism, homophobia, sexism, and censorship, by allowing the precocious Anne to fight for justice in her own ways. These storylines often require the show to create new characters, such as Cole (Cory Grüter-Andrew) and Bash (Dalmar Abuzeid), which is a major change to the story. Yet, the updates to the source material are treated with care, and the story never loses Anne’s characterization or the heart of the original.

In truth, Anne with an E should have gone on longer. Although there are three seasons to enjoy, Montgomery wrote six books about the character and several more about her family and friends, meaning there are stories that the show never touches on, in addition to the potential of the show’s original twists. However, the series delivers a satisfying ending that is hard to deny. With only three seasons, Anne with an E offers a timeless, endearing story that other series can only hope to compare to, making it one of Netflix’s best series despite being tragically underrated.

Anne with an E is streaming on Netflix in the U.S.

Release Date

2017 – 2019-00-00

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  AmyBeth McNulty

  Ann Shirley-Cuthbert

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  R.H. Thomson

  Matthew Cuthbert

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  Andrea Arruti

  Anne-Shirley