#also i have such a crush on gilbert blythe. who of course also reminds me of my high school crush in some ways... how could it be else

[leaving-fragments]

i cannot explain how much anne with an e resonates with me, i have cried over it daily at this point... the filmography of the light on the landscape... the games of childhood, the anxieties of growing up, the quiet love within the cuthbert family... i recognise it and it evokes such feelings of nostalgia and love for living in me, it's a little bit much to bear at times

[seawolvesanddragons]

AWAE 25 Days of Christmas  Day 22 “Go on, love birds”

Gilbert was a bundle of nervous energy as he sat in Ms. Josephine Barry’s parlor, a cup of tea growing cold in front of him. 

It had been Anne’s idea that they meet at “Aunt Jo’s” house. Gilbert had finally managed the double miracle of having enough train fare for a trip to Charlottetown as well as having caught up on his work to be able to take the trip, and he and Anne had been ecstatic to see each other for the first time in months, if only for a few hours. Since Anne’s landlady only allowed suitors on Sunday afternoons, when Gilbert would be halfway back to U of T, Anne had suggested a bit of subterfuge in their meeting. Aunt Jo’s was an adequate secondary location, since Gilbert had been there before and Aunt Jo herself was apparently a kindred spirit. 

Privately, Gilbert had thought it would give them the added bonus of avoiding the prying eyes of the other Avonlea girls. He liked Diana and the other girls well enough, but he hadn’t traveled hours on a train to listen to them giggle and tease him and Anne. 

He had completely forgotten Cole McKenzie. Who was now seated across from him in the parlor, grinning at him like the cat who caught the canary and the cream. 

“So, you’re here to visit Anne?” Cole asked, just a mite smug. “Last I saw you two, you could hardly stand to be in the same room.” 

“We uh - settled our differences,” Gilbert said, stumbling over his words. He was only now realizing he had no idea who from Avonlea knew about his and Anne’s courtship. Diana knew, of course, and her father, and Bash. It hadn’t occurred to him that they would now have to tell people. 

“And are such good chums now that you decided to spend a whole day and more on a train ride?” Cole raised a brow. “Must have been some settlement.” 

Gilbert nearly choked on his own breath, coughing wildly at Cole’s accidental innuendo. 

“I, well-” Gilbert stammered, his ears very red as he tried not to think about just how he and Anne had “settled” their communication fiasco. 

“Oh Cole, stop teasing the poor boy,” Josephine Barry chided, sweeping into the parlor. “You know perfectly well Mr. Blythe here is courting our Anne; she told us about it weeks ago.” 

“She did?” It was silly, the elation he felt at those simple words. Gilbert’s heart felt like it was dancing a jig. 

“Technically, Diana told me,” Cole corrected primly. “Anne mostly sat there, face as red as her hair as she tried to remember how to speak,” Cole gave Gilbert a wicked grin. “I heard you caused quite the scandalous scene in front of the boarding house.” 

“I - there was pretty good context for it at the time,” Gilbert said weakly. 

“Oh, I am not faulting you for it at all,” Cole said happily. “I’ve been waiting for this development for ages. I told Anne years ago that you had a crush on her.” 

“You did?” 

Cole nodded. “Back when we all went to Charlottetown for the light bulbs. Right after you two were done your strange flirting as we left the train. She didn’t believe me, of course, even though it was very obvious. You looked at her as if she hung the moon,” Cole snorted.

“Oh,” Gilbert felt sheepish. He had thought he had done a good job keeping his feelings in check until last summer. Apparently, if Bash and Gilbert were to be believed, he had not. 

“That was some time ago,” Ms. Josephine said, raising a brow at Gilbert. 

“Aunt Jo, I don’t think you would have stood for it,” Cole said, clearly relishing in sharing this tale. “Those two were dancing around each other for ages; it was a wonder Gilbert got any work done in school, he was too busy staring at Anne.” 

“I wasn’t that bad!” Gilbert tried to defend himself. 

“I sat behind you and Charlie, Gilbert,” Cole reminded him. “You were that bad.”

Cole might have a point there. 

“Anyways, I’ve had far too many letters from Diana describing your latest escapades once I was gone,” Cole shook his head. “I’ve yet to get the full story of just what happened after the exams out of Anne, though. I’m glad you got it sorted out, Diana seemed ready to knock both of your heads together in her letter right before the fair.” 

“She would have done it, too,” Gilbert shook his head. His opinion of Diana had changed drastically in the last few months. “Your niece can be very terrifying when she wants to be,” he told Ms. Barry. 

“I know,” Ms Barry said proudly. “She’s come a long way.” She then swept out of the parlor, calling for Rollings, her departure as grand as her entrance.  

Gilbert could see exactly why Anne admired this woman so much. 

“So,” Cole’s grin dissipated the moment the older woman left, and he sat forward in his chair, a serious expression on his face. Gilbert felt himself sit up straighter automatically. “You’re courting Anne.” 

“I am,” Gilbert said, a little uncertain of where this was going. Cole had always been a very reserved, kind boy, and for the last thirty minutes there had been nothing but cheeky remarks and grins. Now though, Gilbert was remembering that Cole also had attacked Billy Andrews out of the blue once, in a state of fury incarnate. There had been rumors that Anne had been involved over that too, somehow. 

“Anne is a very dear friend to me,” Cole said sternly. “She was there for me at a time that no one else would be, and she is the reason that I had the strength and courage to be here now. I care for her a great deal, Gilbert. I would like to see her have the same sort of happiness she has helped me find.” 

“I know the two of you had a rough ride to get where you are,” Cole continued. “And though I am quite glad that you managed to meet in the middle at last, I don’t want to hear about any more miscommunication fiascos. Figure it out together, Blythe, because should I ever get any wind that you are treating Anne poorly, or giving her any cause to be unhappy, you’re going to need a doctor yourself. Is that clear?” 

“Understood,” Gilbert said hastily. “Truly, Cole, all I want is for Anne to be happy. I am well aware of how fortunate I am to have her in my life, and how foolishly, stupidly close I came to losing her forever.” 

“Excellent,” Cole clapped, all smiles and cheer again as if he hadn’t just been threatening Gilbert’s life. Ms Barry returned and Cole carried on reminiscing about their Avonlea school days as if nothing had happened. 

All of Anne’s friends were terrifying, Gilbert decided.

At long last, the bell rang, signaling Anne’s arrival. Gilbert sprang to his feet without thinking, his heart racing.

“That look,” he heard Cole tell Jo gleefully. “Every single time she read aloud or beat him in a spelling competition or even just walked through the door, we all had to put up with that look.” 

Cole and Bash were never, ever, allowed to meet, Gilbert thought. Then Anne walked in and all other thoughts vanished. 

“Gilbert,” Anne said softly. 

“Hello Anne,” Gilbert could hardly believe she was finally in front of him. 

“Go on, love birds,” Cole called. “I know you’ve been pining Anne, at least give him a hug now.” 

“Cole!” Anne cried furiously. 

“Come on, Cole, I don’t think we’re needed here anymore,” Ms. Barry said firmly, leading him from the room and leaving Anne and Gilbert alone at last.

“Sorry I was late,” Anne apologized. “At least Cole was able to keep you company. What did you talk about?” 

Gilbert considered telling her all about it. 

Then he considered it again. 

“Oh, just the weather.”

[twoidiotwriters1]

Déjà Vu (Or are we losing our minds?) -Modern!Shirbert

A/N: That’s right! I’m starting a new (old if you ask the fellas in Ao3 lmao) AWAE series!! I was waiting to have enough chapters and now that day is finally here! I hope you like it -Danny

Words: 3,961

Next Chapter

Chapter One: Make Your Own Decision.

'Two souls don't find each other

                                      by simple accident.'

Gilbert wasn't a morning person.

Medical school was a pain in the ass, he didn't need to say that to anyone– He didn't like to complain at all if he was honest, after all, it was thanks to school that he was going to become a doctor. Still, he missed the lazy mornings on his bed, no worries in the world apart from what his father would make for breakfast.

That was years ago, though. Now he was an adult (or the closest thing to it, anyway) and he had bills to pay, he didn't have to pay rent and that was certainly a good thing, Bash and Mary were a gift sent from heaven after his dad had died, but he still helped around their house, along with the schoolwork he worked on relentlessly while trying to ignore the uncertain future knocking on his door almost every day.

After all the sleepless nights pacing around the kitchen, lights on and coffee maker ready to go, memorizing things and finishing research papers, he's pretty sure this isn't exactly healthy, but if he's bound to have similar routines for the rest of his life, he might as well get used to it.

He tries not to think a lot about that, his future, that is. All around him friends start to settle down, move out to their own places, find love, travel, having adventures while he spends all his weekends locked in his room learning about a new subject that is just as thrilling as any date he could possibly have.

That's a lie, of course. He longs for a break, an excuse to run wild and free just one night.

Luckily for him, that opportunity comes this Friday.

___________________

Anne's in love with the early sunlight, that warm, clear light that slips through her window every morning to announce a new day with no mistakes in it yet was about to start.

She loves the quiet, how time slows down for her while she pours a second cup of tea for her morning readings before heading to school. She loves the muffled noises Diana and Cole make while getting up, letting her know she has to hurry if she wants to start her routine on time.

She's a simple young woman (a very new one at that, if she was honest) and the little things still manage to give her a thrill that parties or any kind of social interaction simply can't.

That's half a truth, of course. She misses the weekly reunions with her Highschool friends, the bike rides with Jerry, her old neighbor, whenever they needed someone to rant about stupid things and none of their friends was around to do so.

Despite all this, she is fine. Anne follows the path to her dream: to become a successful writer for all kinds of people, to tell the stories that people need most at the moments when all hope seems lost and love is scarce.

However, when her Highschool friends text her and Diana about a much-needed reunion, she didn't have to think twice before replying with 'Oh god, YES.'

___________________

The Orchard was fairly known for its homely 'aesthetic' as some would call it, which attracted the younger people that needed a break from their crazy student lives. The diner had originally belonged to Gilbert's dad, but when he passed away, it fell onto Gilbert's hands and him, not wanting to close the place that had so many memories of his childhood, decided to add Bash's name into the papers.

Their dads had been good friends most of their lives, and although Gilbert and Bash aren't the same age, he thinks of him as some kind of older brother who always helped him get through the hard times, especially right after his father was gone. It was only natural that Bash owned half of the diner, after all, he loved the place as much as Gilbert, for his father had worked there in the bar while Mr. Blythe served the costumers.

The two lousy boys had dedicated most of their free, youthful time, to run around the place like they owned it. Now that they did, it was pretty much the same, only that this time they run around placing food on the tables and scribbling people's orders.

After a few months of hectic confusion, Bash's mother practically forced them to hire more staff, since they had their hands full and Gilbert was breaking under the pressure that it was to keep the business going the same as his career.

They hired one of Gilbert's old friends and a few students that lived near the diner. Moody Spurgeon, Prissy Andrews, Charlie Sloane, and the Pauls (They weren't related, they just happened to be named Paul).

That Friday was the last before their winter break, so it was packed with tons of eager students wanting to eat their money away now that most of them were returning home for the holidays. This meant two wonderful things to Gilbert:

One, the diner was going great.

Two, he was getting the well-deserved sleep he'd been lacking for months.

Excluding that night, because that night he was going to get utterly shitfaced with Moody and company after their evening shift.

___________________

"I've never heard of that place before," Anne replied distractedly as she kept grabbing things from the table and putting them inside her bag.

"Students love that place, Ruby says they serve the best food and she's always there, but Jane says she's actually crushing on one of the waiters, though Ruby refuses to either confirm or deny..."

"Ruby's always crushing on someone, though," Cole replied. "If she's still going after all this time, the food must be worth it as much as any cute boy."

"I honestly don't care as long as there's enough room to sit and have a long, long chat with all of you," Anne smiled dreamily. "I've missed them so much! Even Josie– And you know how often she tends to get on my nerves!"

"You wouldn't be missing them so much if you could put the books down every once in a while to hang with us," Diana rolled her eyes. "Honestly Anne, it's a miracle you're not blind or wear glasses at all after all the hours you stay with your face glued to the pages."

"I'd look awful with glasses!" Anne grimaced. "I hope my eyesight stays the same for the rest of my life."

"Well then, take care of your eyes and take a break from those books. Leave your bag here, you won't need it," Cole grinned.

Anne's eyes landed on the bag laying on top of their table. That bag was used for one thing only: To carry as many books as possible in case she got bored, so she could read at any time, any place. Also to carry her keys and pads, but those weren't as important.

"But... what if the girls arrive late?"

"You can talk to us, or are we too boring for you now, Miss Literate?" Diana teased.

"You know that's not it," She rolled her eyes. "Okay, if you want I'll leave the books."

"Perfect," Cole clapped once and got up excitedly. "Let's go!"

___________________

"Gilbert, come back to earth and take this to table three, will you?" Charlie hissed, putting the plate in front of his nose and waking the boy abruptly.

"Sorry!" He jumped, walking hurriedly to said table.

When he got back, Charlie was still there, examining his face.

"Are you sure you want to go out, man? I can tell you're worn out, maybe you should take a–"

"No!" Gilbert growled. He cleared his throat and continued on a much lighter voice after noticing this. "I- Uh, I'll be fine. I'll sleep all I want tomorrow, but today I really want to go out, before you and the boys go back to your homes for Christmas."

Charlie nodded with uncertainty.

"Maybe you should change places with Bash? The kitchen might keep you alert instead of sitting here and wait for people to call you over."

"Yeah..."

"I'll get him," His friend decided, walking back to the kitchen.

Gilbert heard the entrance's bell ring and turned to see Ruby Gillis and a few other girls enter.

Ruby was a good and constant client. He was glad about Bash taking his place because he believed that Ruby had a crush on Moody, and the waiter always took her orders no matter the table she was in, he didn't have enough energy to watch them ogle at each other.

"You okay, Blythe?" Bash patted his back once he and Charlie reappeared behind him. "You're sure you want to go out? With that look, you're likely to scare all the ladies away instead of getting a date for our Christmas party."

"Very funny," Gilbert scoffed. "I'm fine, I just need to stay active."

Before either Bash or Charlie could reply, he rushed into the kitchen, missing the exact moment when three new costumers arrived at the place.

***

"I see why people love it here," Anne said. "I feel cozy just by looking at it!"

"Yeah," Cole agreed, frowning slightly. "We are going to a bar after this, aren't we?"

"Cole!" They replied.

"I'm just asking!" He exclaimed. "It's lovely and all, but I'm not spending my last weekend away from my maniac siblings eating a freaking burger."

"It's likely," Diana retorted. When she noticed Anne's eyes widening, she quickly added. "No one will force you to get drunk, I know you hate how... uhm– Well, how crazy you get."

"I love drunk Anne!" Cole laughed. "Last time I saw her we were playing truth or dare and she was dared to kiss one of my friends, but then I convinced Josie to change the dare and after that Anne grabbed me by the collar and whispered very loudly. 'Thank you Cole. I actually want to kiss you now' and when I reminded her I was gay, she retorted 'Oh, sorry Gay, I thought you were Cole' "

Diana and Cole chortled, Anne shook her head in horror.

"Drunk me is terrible!"

"No! Only her puns are."

"Can we just get a table, please?"

"Oh!" Diana grabbed her arm, pulling her to a distant corner. "They're here already!"

The next few hours passed way too fast. Anne, finally reunited with her best friends, felt as if she was finally coming back to life.

As Diana had predicted, they decided to go to a bar a few streets down the road from The Orchard. A place their waiter, a young man named Moody and who Anne suspected was the waiter Ruby had feelings for, had recommended to them, casually letting them know that he was going to be there after work with a few of his friends. Ruby practically dragged them to the bar as soon as they paid the bill.

"Bet Ruby ends up declaring her love to that waiter in less than an hour, and ends up spending the rest of the Holidays mourning because she scared him away," Josie whispered audibly to Jane and Anne. The former sniggered and nudged Josie's arm. Anne frowned worryingly towards her friend, really hoping that wasn't the case.

___________________

"Who's ready to lose all memories from whatever happens tonight?" Paul asked loudly over the music, placing a bunch of drinks in front of the group.

The boys answered by chugging down drink after drink, getting clumsier as time went by.

Gilbert was having a blast, most of his days he wishes he could go back to being a teenager, slightly more different than the one he was. One that wasn't all that quiet and reserved and bitter about his dad's fate.

He longed for his lost youth, where he would attend parties and go to prom looking sharp, accompanied by a pretty girl beside him. All those teams and clubs he had to leave to stay home and spend the last days of his father's life next to his bed, all those gatherings he missed with people from other places because he had to get the best grades so one day he could be a doctor, so he could save the people he loved... so he didn't have to live through the uncertainty and the uselessness again.

Tonight he was finally getting that, he could pretend he was still just a boy, a stupid boy who didn't know how to drink and most certainly would end up throwing up half his stomach out of his body, but a happy boy at least.

"You know," He yelled to no one in particular. "Did you know, that you guys are my best friends?"

The boys replied with words of appreciation, patting his back harshly. Charlie even hugged him.

"I mean it!" He continued. "These last few months have been shit. There, I said it. Shit."

"What you need," One of the Pauls said, he wasn't as drunk as Gilbert, but he was definitely almost there. "What you need is to get laid."

The boys erupted into mayhem, agreeing with Paul. All of them except for Gilbert.

He frowned, not understanding what they meant.

"I said I'm not tired," Gilbert shook his head, his whole body losing stability and crashing against Moody, who held him in place as if it was normal to lose your ground while sitting on a chair. "I don't need to lay in bed just yet."

"I meant sex," Paul retorted, chugging down half of what he had in his glass.

"Oh," Gilbert sat back, eyebrows raising as if he'd never thought about it before. "Well, that's different."

"You need a break," Charlie slurred. "Or is the good doctor too much of a saint to touch a strange girl?"

"I'm not," Gilbert huffed, drinking what was left of his drink. "I can have sex. I like sex!"

"But Gilbert, you've never had–" Moody started, but was soon cut off by Gilbert's sudden movement.

The young man stood up, leaning on the table and losing all the color on his face. The rest of the group moved away as Moody grabbed Gilbert by the shoulders and straightened him up.

"Gilbert?" He asked, slightly coming back to his senses.

"Bathroom," He said quietly.

"Alright," Moody gulped. "Be right back, guys. Gilbert needs a moment."

___________________

Anne spent the majority of the night talking with everyone, and the problem with that is that she gets thirsty when that happens. Which is a dangerous thing to be at a bar.

Still, Cole -what a great friend he was- made sure to always keep her glass full so she could take sip after sip without having to wait.

She knew she was far from sober when she found herself in the middle of an argument with Josie and Tillie about zodiac signs. Anne was talkative on the daily, but after a few drinks she was simply unstoppable- There was no soul on earth or heaven that could follow her train of thoughts, and right now she wasn't even sure she was following them herself.

"I have to pee," She said, interrupting her own story and sliding out of their booth to stand up.

"I'll go with you," Ruby said, impatient to have an excuse to stand up and look around for Moody, she'd barely touched her drink all night.

"Okay, but it's not like I need help or anything," Anne rolled her eyes, accidentally stepping on Tillie's foot. "Woops! Sorry, Tillie!"

Cole watched her along with Diana, both raising their glasses and making a silent toast for their friend. Anne was finally having fun after such a dull term and it was simply amusing watching her act so recklessly during her drunken state.

"Don't stay for too long Anne," Ruby warned her. "Last time you fell asleep inside the stall and Diana had to crawl underneath to get you out!"

"It wasn't my fault!" She replied loudly. "I hadn't slept at all that week, and the alcohol makes wonders to my insomnia."

"I think you've had enough for tonight as well," Ruby grinned. "I'll get you a cold glass of water once where back in our table, okay?"

Anne nodded, silently making her way into the girl's toilet. Since it was just one bathroom, Ruby had to stand outside, leaning on the sink and examining her reflection on the mirror. Two men, one dragging the other, walk past her in a rush and opened the boy's bathroom harshly, the one who'd been dragged quickly fell to his knees and started vomiting his guts out.

"Oh my god!" Ruby gasped, covering her mouth in horror. "Is he okay?"

"He's fine," The guy said without turning to see her. "He doesn't drink this much often, that's all."

The young man stood up once he made sure Gilbert was doing fine on his own, not choking or anything, and turn to meet the blonde's eyes.

"Oh," His cheeks reddened. "Hi!"

"Moody!" She exclaimed happily. "You weren't lying, you came here after all!"

"Yeah," He smiled. "We wanted to give our buddy Gilbert a good night before we return home. Now I'm not so sure about it..." He grimaced at hearing his friend's grunts and gags.

"I'm with my friends as well, but I..." Ruby blushed lightly, even that she managed to make enchanting. "If you have time, we could seat together for a moment? Just the two of us?"

"Right now?" Moody asked in surprise.

"Well, no," Ruby peered over his shoulder at the boy's bathroom. "Not if you can't, I see your friend is feeling terrible..."

"He'll recover," Moody brushed it off. "He's studying to become a doctor, you know? I bet he'll see his way out now that the alcohol's out of his system"

"You're sure?" The girl inquired.

"Are you able right now?" Moody looked behind her to see the girl's door. "Were you waiting in line or is one of your friends there?"

"A friend, she's also wasted," Ruby said, pondering her options. "But... I guess if she managed to walk all the way here on her own... she can walk back just fine?"

Moody's smile widened.

"We better go get those drinks, then?"

"Sure!" Ruby exclaimed, holding Moody's wrist and dragging him back to the bar.

A minute after her friend had left, Anne walked out of the toilet, mid-conversation with a Ruby she didn't know was no longer there.

"... and the toilets here are so comfortable, I almost felt tempted to have a nap right there, but a promise is a promise– See, Ruby? I didn't stay for too long!" She looked up to find the spot empty, her confidence falling. "Or perhaps I did..?"

Lightly stumbling her way over to the sink, she focused on washing her hands before going back. Her reflection looked back at her and smiled happily, putting some strands of loose hair behind her ear and failing to notice the boy's door opening.

There was a small slate on her right with the words 'Wash your hands before you leave! :)' written with purple chalk that she found adorable. She picked it up to examine it further when a body clumsily crashed against her side.

"Woops!" The man said, not looking up. "Sorry."

Anne raised her brow for a second before turning her attention back to the slate.

Gilbert washed his face and hands, the world less blurry than before but still awfully intoxicated. Paul's comment came back to him and feeling the girl's presence behind his back he decided it was rather convenient.

"Excuse me," He asked, looking up and facing the girl's reflection. "Can I ask you something?"

It took her a moment to realize he was talking to her, the man kept staring at the mirror instead of turning to face her, but she could sort of see his face under the dim lights looking back at her though, and since she was feeling rather chatty, she obliged.

"Sure, what's up?"

"Do I look like I need sex?"

Anne laughed.

"Dunno, why're you asking?"

"My life sucks," Gilbert shook his head casually. "And I'm about to have the worst hangover ever."

"That makes two of us, dude."

Gilbert tilted his head, turning to see her now, taking in her appearance.

"You would have sex with me?"

"Excuse me," Anne frowned. "I barely know you!"

"Yeah, but am I attractive?"

"It doesn't matter, I wouldn't have sex with a stranger."

"Very well, then imagine that I'm not a stranger," Gilbert rolled his eyes, having to hold on to the corner of the sink so as not to lose his balance. "Would you do it?"

Anne started to imagine, she imagined a great deal so she could give a precise answer.

"Well, I'd have to know your medical records cause I don't wanna get any diseases, and then I'd have to find you likable because looks aren't everything– and if I'm having sex with you I probably want something that lasts–"

"Nevermind," Gilbert snorted. "I think we're both better if we don't have anything at all."

"Why's that?" Anne asked irritatedly, this guy was making no sense to her.

"You overthink a lot and I already do that way too much for my own good," Gilbert explained.

"Oh, so you'd rather take advantage of a dumb girl, is that what you're saying?"

"That's what you're saying," He scoffed. "I only asked if you'd have sex with me in a hypothetical scenario but you rambled on with the rest, Carrots."

"I was giving an honest reply," She stated. "And don't call me, Carrots. You sound like a child."

Gilbert laughed loudly at that.

"Better a child than a grumpy librarian," He walked up to her, grabbed a strand of her hair and pulled lightly, with a taunting voice, he added. "Carrots."

Anne's fingers gripped the slate harder than ever as she flung it to the man's head. It was small and thin, so it didn't cause severe damage, but the slate broke in half with a nasty 'crack' that pleased her a bit too much.

"How dare you!" She yelled in drunk anger. "I don't know who the hell you are, but I'm certain no one would have sex with a jerk!"

She stormed off, giving Gilbert no opportunity to apologize. Although he didn't seem to mind that much at the moment, the things around him spun once more and he had to return to the toilet to vomit what was left of his evening drinks, dreading the following morning.

___________________

Anne, Cole, and Diana returned home with rosy cheeks and loud laughter surrounding them. The trio intoxicated in happiness and many, many margaritas and shots.

"Best night ever!" Anne yelled as she let herself fall on the couch, kicking off her shoes.

"Told you it was going to be fun!" Diana grinned, laying beside her.

"My favorite part was to find Ruby making out with the waiter when I went to ask for the check," Cole cackled. "No wonder why she abandoned you in the bathroom!"

"Don't even tell me about it, I had the most unpleasant encounter–"

"Oh my god!" Diana sat up, looking at her phone with wide eyes. "It's four in the morning! We have to be back in Avonlea in less than eight hours!"

Cole and Anne groaned.

"Can't we have a nap first? We packed all of our things already!" Anne whined.

"Please?" Cole fell on the couch opposite to them. "I'm exhausted!"

"Fine..." Diana sighed. "But I'm certain my mom's gonna kill me for arriving late."

"What can she do? Forbid you to go to their Christmas dinner?" Cole chuckled. "Just sleep, Diana."

"Goodnight, guys."

"Goodnight!"

"Sweet dreams," Anne mumbled, half-asleep.

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[pluviophile-bookworm]

AWAE 2x9 rewatch: thoughts and reactions

This review is dedicated to Dalila Bela, who turns 19 today. Happy birthday!

After a long wait, there she is at last - Muriel Stacy, decorating her new home with potato stamps. What a lovely way to show she is a kindred spirit. She’s basically like an older Anne. 

Marilla and Anne utter the same words upon passing Miss Stacy, who is cycling in the opposite direction at top speed - ‘My heavens!’ - except their intonations are so different. Marilla is shocked at the sight of the unconventional-looking stranger, while Anne is in awe of her, and especially the fact that she’s wearing trousers. I don’t think the women of Avonlea, be they progressive mothers or not, won’t be so fascinated with her, though.

And again, Miss Stacy acts exactly like an older Anne, going on and on about potatoes and tardiness and motorbikes before she’s even caught a breath. I can’t wait for Anne to finally meet her. And that concludes the cold open. 

I don’t care what Prissy and Josie, or their mothers, say about Miss Stacy- I’m with Anne on this one. They shouldn’t judge their new teacher before they’ve met her up close. She’ll warm her way into their hearts, I’m sure. I actually know it for a fact.

I simply cannot believe Billy brought a gun to school and is openly proclaiming he’s about to kill an animal, a living being, with it. And it’s not just any animal - it’s the fox, Anne’s fox. What has it done to him that he’s so personally violent towards it?

Again, Gilbert alone is the voice of reason (unlike season 3 Gilbert, who is the most confused individual I’ve ever seen and has the eyebrows to prove it). ‘There’s no fox here, so how about you put the gun away?’ It’s as if he speaks for me. 

Who does Billy think he is, calling his teacher ‘little lady’? He’s lucky she’s not Phillips, otherwise he wouldn’t get away with such disrespectful behaviour. 

Once again Anne uses the exact same words as someone else, but with a different intonation. Prim and proper Tillie’s ‘Oh my goodness!’ is one of disapproval (which she’s not to blame for, that’s probably just what her parents have taught her), while Anne’s is an expression of pure admiration and fascination. [Side note: Let’s put things into perspective, though - what would you think if your new teacher showed up to school with no bra on, on her first day at that? I don’t really know what to think of corsets anymore, so I’m not sure how to take this. You tell me.]

What, now Matthew and Jerry, two of my favourite AWAE men, want to catch the fox too? I understand it’s stealing people’s chickens, but hey, a fox must eat too, and it’s not like it can get its food in another way.

What’s happening to Bash? Is farm life not his speed? I’m worried about him, I hope he’s alright. 

For this next scene, the introductions, I’ll insert a note from when I first watched this episode. I notice I’ve been doing that a lot lately, but well, it seems I’ve got quite a lot of first impression notes on this season written down, so why not make them public now, here where it’s appropriate? Here goes:

And, just as I was fascinated, things got dramatically bad. Anne wouldn’t stop saying quite private things about everyone who spoke, and Miss Stacy reprimanded her for spreading gossip, resulting in her being unable to come up with words to describe herself (the method used for introductions was everyone would use words starting with their initials to describe themselves. I really wanted to know what Anne would have said about herself, as nobody else seemed to struggle much with the exercise (although I myself always do when asked to do it).

Alright, now I’d like to add something to this. When Ruby describes herself as ‘romantic’ and looked for a G word for ‘Gillis’, I could swear she thought of a certain young man right to her left - heck, she even looked at him before quickly blurting out ‘girl’. Well, yeah, she is a girl. But she’s also defining herself through Gilbert too much. I hope she knows how much potential she has beyond him. Besides, he only has eyes for Anne. I wish we’d got another season so we could see how far Ruby and Moody go. I liked them, but we saw too little of them together. #renewannewithane

Ok, but... it was like Miss Stacy just finished Anne’s sentence. ‘Ruby has a crush on...’ ‘Gilbert Blythe?’ Well, yes, but that’s not what we’re talking about. See, I’m noticing details I did not deem significant enough to note down the first time around. This is what rewatches are for. 

Rachel Lynde needs Marilla’s help. That’s a first. Oh, well, it’s rumours, what else. She’s against Miss Stacy. I really don’t like her right now. 

No, seriously, what is happening to Bash?

Of course, what the mothers of Avonlea fail to see is that, female or not, trousers or nor, corset or not, Miss Stacy is much more capable of teaching the young minds of Avonlea school than her predecessor. Or at least she’s much more willing to educate them properly. Of course she’ll tutor Gilbert. And Anne will soon find her way into her good graces. I hope. Nay, I know it. 

‘Appalling, stupid, clueless...’ this is what I hoped wouldn’t happen, but it happened anyway. Now Anne is beating herself up for the scrape she got into by complete accident. Gosh, I hope someone can fix this.

From my old notes:  And again, Cole knows how to fix things, and he does so, brilliantly I would say. Also, with the way he goes out into the nature, raises his hands and shouts out “Come to me, Muse!”, I can totally see him being a pagan... and who’s to say he’s not? I mean, Anne has the makings of one too, remember the Beltane ritual in season 3?

Rachel’s only job seems to be to stick her nose in other people’s business. She has no right to go around asking about Muriel’s marital status and whether she wants to be an old maid. But as anyone who’s watched the full series knows, this will be carried over into season 3.

Seriously, Rachel right now reminds me of Anne earlier with all the gossip, and I see now why she (Anne) made such a bad impression on Miss Stacy. Unfortunately, she (Miss Stacy) cannot assign Rachel Lynde an essay.

Anne’s mind is all taken over by the fox... so much that she’s fallen asleep over her papers... and now, disaster after disaster lead to a small fire, which grows into a bigger fire. If Anne’s essay burns in it, I’ll literally cry. I know a thing or two about lost work. Why, half of this very post I had to write a second time after my computer decided to restart the page with the unsaved draft open. But hey, this is not about me. 

So I guess they’ve figuratively and literally forced Miss Stacy into a corset. That’s sad. But I see she’s not giving up on her unique identity.

Oh, great, now the found brothers are fighting. I guess it turns out Bash’s problem is he’s inexperienced in farming and he needs help, but Gilbert is pursuing his own future now and doesn’t seem to care all that much. I feel bad for Bash. But we know Gilbert will stay at least another year and Bash will figure farming out by the time he has to leave. 

Ah, I see Anne is feigning sickness so as not to go back to Miss Stacy after yesterday’s fiasco. Well, I’d do the same if I were her, but I’m not quite sure that’s the best solution to the problem at hand. Marilla’s suggestion seems much better to me. Going together so Anne has someone to vouch for her... reasonable and concerned like a true mother.

I see Bash is trying to figure out horse-riding on his own. It looks tough. But he can manage it. 

It’s a shame Jerry won’t help Anne with the trap... but well, he was promised good money, and his large family is so poor... the ends sort of justify the means here. Still, Matthew is not in the right to plan on skinning the fox for money. 

Gosh, things are heating up between Shirbert. Anne seems to be all the more determined to find and develop her vocation now that Gilbert is working on his. And he doesn’t seem to care much about her feelings right now, being so busy studying and all. But I wonder how this whole thing really makes him feel. 

Hey, there are the potato light bulbs! The first science lessons Miss Stacy teaches the class. And they never forget it. How inspiring!

Hey, I just realised something. In her ramble in the cold open, Miss Stacy mentioned that you can use potatoes for a lot of purposes... well, here’s the second one she demonstrates in this episode. Stamps and... lighting a bulb.

Marilla, who took up Miss Stacy’s offer to stay and observe, seems to be a new supporter of the young teacher. See? If people only gave her a chance and saw what she does and how she does it, she might soon be a hit in town. But no, some choose to condemn her instead, as if she’s ever done them wrong. Just like the fox. Except the fox stole some chickens. Miss Stacy is perfectly innocent. 

And... poor clumsy Moody had to ruin everything just as Rachel and the ProgressiveTM mothers came in. Too bad. But hey, it’s him who recalled this very first lesson later on when they were graduating, isn’t it? 

Hey, Bash has gone to see Mary. Things are getting serious. I guess.

Alas, the mothers are not too pleased with how the lesson turned out. Luckily, Marilla was there to see the whole thing from beginning to end and can support Miss Stacy in front of the rest of the women. And it seems Gilbert and Anne are ready to step in and defend her as well. On their second day with her. That speaks volumes. 

Oh, so he’s visiting Mary to talk about Gilbert. But he also talks about himself and his idea to go deep into farming. His story is truly an inspiring one. And also, he’s staying with Mary for supper. As I said, things are getting serious. 

Anne decided to show Miss Stacy the story clubhouse... nice. But she’s made another blunder in doing so. She’s forgotten Cole is hiding there from his parents. And now they’ll force him into farming again... as my younger self said when I saw this for the first time, ‘this episode is one of the most devastatingly dramatic ones of this series – ever. What a way to lead up to the season finale’. I think that says it all. 

Ah, yes, nobody told Gilbert that Bash wouldn’t be home for supper this evening. Too bad... now he’ll think Bash has run away on him. Meanwhile, Bash is having a good time with Mary. But there’s no way for Gilbert to know that. How unfortunate. 

One shot, one gunshot and... wait, it seems the fox has not been killed yet. But the poor clubhouse... Billy is the worst person in this series, hands down. I can’t even. I’m crying. Real tears. Right now.

See, Anne’s blunder was not telling Miss Stacy about Cole. After all, she swore her to secrecy. But it was a blunder nonetheless because Miss Stacy takes her duty as a teacher more seriously than her promise to Anne. If only she’d known the full story... Cole might have been saved. 

Miss Stacy riding with Harmon Andrews... I wonder what Rachel, aka the Avonlea yellow pages, will make of that. 

‘Sometimes you just have to use your imagination.’ This is powerful because it comes from Marilla. Also, perhaps this is the hidden sense of humour that L.M.Montgomery talked about in the book, which I’m currently rereading. 

I can’t, I just can’t. Now Cole feels betrayed by Anne, and Anne is devastated about the clubhouse.... and the women of Avonlea are against Miss Stacy, and Matthew disappointed Anne... can nobody be happy in this episode? It’s truly tragical and devastating. I should not have opted for rewatching it right before going to bed, on a school night at that. How will I sleep now?

Gosh, Cole really has had it now. I’m not saying Billy Andrews did not deserve it (he did and he does), but violence is never the answer. Still, I guess it’s justified now. Too bad it will probably lead to even more trouble for Cole. See, even he’s scared of what he’s done. He surely didn’t mean for it to go that far. And to the creators - this is no way to end an episode.

Let’s sum up: we meet Miss Stacy; intonation matters; the fox is in danger; Billy the bully has a weapon now - how bad can things get?; Bash struggles with farming; Anne accidentally makes a bad impression on a kindred spirit; appalling, stupid, clueless; ‘Come to me, Muse!’; Rachel Lynde sticks her nose into things that are not her business - what else is new; potato light bulbs; Bash visits Mary; the clubhouse is destroyed; Anne accidentally betrays Cole, leading to dramatic consequences; a disastrous ending to a devastating episode.

[carrotsofavonlea]

Hi! I love your stories! Is it possible to send you a prompt? I love the situation of Gilbert being the first to fall for Anne and her realizing about her feelings in season 3 on the show but what if it was the other way around? What if it was Anne the one gone for Gilbert since the first moment and him only realizing his feelings during season 3 like Anne in AWAE (maybe because she starts courting? or because of any other reason) I'd make me so happy! Big thanks and hugs^^

Thank you for waiting, this took longer than planned and the word count just kept increasing!

(for the purposes of the story lets just pretend Roy is Diana’s cousin ok?)

///

You can't talk to Gilbert Blythe, you can't even look at him. 

Anne didn't want to, but she couldn't help it. Josie's warning all those years ago had never held much weight in Anne's mind. She knew Ruby was helplessly in love with Gilbert, and she respected that. But whenever Gilbert spoke to her she couldn't help but feel her heart rate increase, butterflies formed in her stomach whenever their hands accidentally touched as they worked on the school paper together, passing papers between themselves.

Anne couldn't lie to herself. She was also crushing on Gilbert. How could she not? There was no denying he was the most handsome boy in their class, he had such a splendid chin. Even the moment they met had been like something out of a fairy tale, with Gilbert stepping out of the woods to save her from Billy. Of course she wasn't some helpless damsel, but it had felt nice for once to be cared about. Here she was, a strange girl in the woods but instead of joining in with his classmate, Gilbert had stood up for her. 

Of course he had shown his true colours when he pulled her hair, subsequently pulling her out of whatever prince charming spell he’d had over her. But over the next few months he had slowly won her back, showing that he truly was sorry and now she supposed they’d been friends ever since. It was only when he left for months that she realised she had fallen for his charms again.

For three years she had been helplessly in love with Gilbert Blythe, but there was nothing she could do about it. He had settled into the role of her friend and there was no changing that. Besides, why would he want her - some red-headed orphan - when he could have literally any girl in Avonlea? There were moments she thought maybe he felt it too, when their eyes met across the room, but other times he would take a tone with her and they would start arguing. 

It seemed futile that anything would happen with Gilbert, so when Anne met Diana’s cousin Roy (and he actually showed an active interest in her), how could she say no?

Roy was tall, dark, and handsome. It had started off quite simple. Anne had met him when she visited Aunt Josephine’s as part of her quest to find out more about her family. But he seemed to be there every time she turned up, until eventually Cole suggested they both go out to tea - and soon it became a weekly affair. 

She’d managed to keep it hidden from her friends - other than Diana of course - but especially Gilbert. It wasn’t anything wrong, but somehow she couldn’t bear it if Gilbert ever found out. She was supposed to be over him, but here she was trying to avoid them ever meeting. 

It had been going well until Roy turned up at the county fair. The two worlds were meeting, but Anne had done everything to make sure she avoided Gilbert at the fair, until the dancing began...

“Does he remind you of someone?” Ruby said, tilting her head as she stared at Roy while he was talking to Anne.

“He’s related to Diana, Ruby.” Josie rolled her eyes.

“No, that’s not it...his hair is...and his eyes…” she turned her head, catching a glimpse of Gilbert stood on the other side of the dance hall, talking to Moody. And then it hit her. “Gilbert. He looks like Gilbert!”

The other girls all immediately turned around to stare at Gilbert, giggling when he awkwardly caught their eyes. 

“Perhaps we should...introduce them.” Josie smirked, walking towards Gilbert before the other girls could stop her.

Josie linked her arm through Gilbert’s, dragging him across the hall and tapping Roy on the shoulder, Anne’s face falling when she realised what was happening.

“Gilbert, this is Roy. Anne’s -”

“Friend.” Anne cut off Josie before she could spin some kind of web that would leave everyone uncomfortable. 

“Pleasure. Anne’s told me all about her classmates but she failed to tell me about you.” Roy smiled a bright smile as he held out his hand to Gilbert, but there was something in his eyes that Anne couldn’t read.

“Likewise.” Gilbert returned the handshake with similar politeness, but like Roy there seemed to be a stiffness about the pleasantries, a tension between the two boys.

Roy subtly glanced Gilbert up and down, mentally comparing himself. Gilbert was similar in height to him, perhaps broader in the shoulders as evidence of his life in farmwork. But Roy’s suit was smarter, his cufflinks pure silver, given as a gift for his eighteenth birthday. Roy’s hair was parted neater, his shoes not scuffed but polished so that his reflection was almost visible. He was almost a mirror of what Gilbert could have been had he been born into a wealthy family. 

After a moment’s silence, Gilbert nodded to Anne, stepping away and back into the crowd, an unreadable expression on his face. Was he jealous? No, Gilbert Blythe didn’t get jealous. He was far above that. Or was he?

////

Gilbert walked home in a daze, staring up at the moon. Anne...had a beau? She was courting someone. He’d never considered it before, not that Anne wasn’t courting material, any man would be lucky to be her husband. But he hadn’t expected it to happen so soon. Maybe he had had a crush on her once, but she’d quickly made her feelings known so he just never pursued anything. 

He just never imagined she’d find someone. Logically he knew it was bound to happen, but it still shocked him. They’d been friends for years, he hadn’t imagined one day she wouldn’t be in his life. Why did he care? He should be happy for his friend. And yet, there was a burning feeling in his chest when he thought of Anne with another boy. Another boy who looked exactly like him. It was just a coincidence. Right?

“I don’t know Gilbert, it sounds like maybe you’re in love with Anne.” Bash was bouncing Dellie up and down as he paced, listening to Gilbert recount the events of the fair. 

“I’m, she’s, we’re not...I am just curious about this Roy character.” 

Bash tilted his head, “Sure. Just curious like you were when you got her letter on the boat and wouldn’t stop talking about her.”

“She’s my friend. I just don’t think this Roy is a right fit for her.” Gilbert hung his jacket on the back of the kitchen chair, leaning his two hands on the back as he thought. “You should have seen the way he looked at me. Like I was irrelevant, beneath him.”

“I can imagine.”

Gilbert straightened up, realising what that must sound like to Bash. Of course he knows what it’s like to be looked at like you were nothing. “I’m sorry. I just-”

“It’s alright.” Bash shook his head.

Gilbert began pacing, gesticulating to emphasise his points. “But my point was that Anne shouldn’t be with someone like that. She’s too good for him. He’s the type who just wants a pretty wife to sit around his house and cook for him, but that’s not Anne. She has a mind, and spirit. She deserves someone who can see that. Who knows what it’s like to have to work for something. Someone who will let her follow her dreams. Someone...someone like…”

“Someone like you?” 

Gilbert stood still, hands falling to his sides. He imagined it, him and Anne. It didn’t scare him, but rather it made it all clear. He was in love with Anne. He was in love with Anne Shirley Cuthbert. But she was with someone else…

“She loves him. Not me…” 

Bash put Dellie down and grasped Gilbert by the shoulders. “You don’t know it’s love. He’s a nice fellow who showed interest. How do you know if you didn’t tell her how you feel that she’d return those feelings. You’ve shown no interest, she probably thinks you don’t care for her. You said it yourself he looks just like you. Is that not a sign? You have to tell her, you have to give her a choice at least.”

Gilbert nodded slowly, letting Bash’s words sink in. “I...I have to tell her. I have to tell her that I love her. And if she rejects me then I’ll have to accept it. But like you said, I have to give her a choice.”

Gilbert fled from the house, running through the night towards Green Gables.

////

“This is all so...sudden.” Anne stood on the porch of Green Gables, one hand on her chest, the other being held by Roy who was on his knees. 

“Anne, I’ve asked Marilla and Matthew and they say it falls to you. So what do you say?”

“I…” she hadn’t imagined her marriage proposal to be so...unromantic.

Roy had been talking about his father’s business and that he was soon to come into money, and before she knew what was happening he was on his knees asking if she would be his wife. They’d barely been…(were they even courting?) for a few weeks. She’d imagined a far more romantic speech, and she’d expected to actually feel like she was in love. Roy was lovely, and he was pleasant to be around, but she didn’t know if she could be around him forever. When she thought of her life...Roy wasn’t there. Her mind couldn’t conjure up the image of them together, sitting by the fire reading, holding hands in their matching chairs.

“What about college? I haven’t even started yet.”

Roy stood up, smiling, “Yes but if we were married you wouldn’t even need to go to college. Isn’t that great? I’d support us so you needn't work a day in your life.”

Anne shook her head, “But I want to be a teacher. It’s not about money. It’s about dreams.”

“You’ll have new dreams.” He held one of her hands, holding a ring in the other. She pulled her hand from his.

“I don’t want new dreams. You’re asking me to give up my life. I can’t do that.”

“But everyone expects it.”

Anne shook her head. “Roy, I can’t marry you. I can’t be expected to give up my dreams and settle down as some house wife. That isn’t who I am. I can’t be that person for you. I’m sorry, but goodbye Roy.”

“Anne?”

“I can’t.” 

“Is there someone else? It's that Blythe boy isn’t it? That we met at the fair?” 

At the mention of Gilbert her heart sank. She had been in love with him for years, tried to move on with Roy but that hadn’t worked. It always came back to Gilbert. But it was true when she pictured a future with Roy, it didn’t seem right. But when she thought of a future without Gilbert in it...she just couldn’t. 

“He doesn’t love me back. But that isn’t why I can’t marry you. We don’t work. I’m sorry Roy.”

Roy bowed his head solemnly, “He is a fool for not loving you.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Perhaps one day we can be friends, and laugh about this nonsense?”

Anne laughed, “I hope so.”

“Then, farewell Anne.” Roy politely bowed, taking his leave from Anne for perhaps the last time.

She sat on the porch after he’d left, letting the moonlight light up the fields before her. A part of her thought she had made a mistake, but another part of her knew there was no use trying to pretend that she was not still hopelessly in love with Gilbert. Marrying Roy would only end in unhappiness for the both of them, but at least she figure it out sooner rather than later.

As she hugged her knees tighter to herself she mumbled, “Unreciprocated love is far more tragical anyway…”

She looked up as she heard footsteps approaching, a dishevelled looking Gilbert breathing heavily stood before her. Had he run all the way here?

“Mind if I join you?” he gestured to the empty space on the porch step, and Anne shuffled over to make room.

“Anne...I have to tell you something. And I know you’re with Roy and he’s a very lucky man but…”

“I’m not with Roy.” She whispered, looking down at the ground. “He asked me to marry him and I said no…”

“Oh…” Gilbert forgot what he was going to say and instead followed up with, “Why did you refuse him?”

She sighed, “We want different things. He’s not right for me. I want someone who will support my dreams, not prevent them. I can’t be the perfect little house wife that he expects. But also,” she finally met Gilbert’s eyes. “because I realise I’m still in love with someone else.”

“Oh...well, that’s unfortunate.” Gilbert awkwardly cleared his throat, unsure what to say.

“What was it you came here to tell me?” she perked up a little, a small smile tugging at her lips.

He couldn’t back down now, “That...that I love you. And I know I can’t offer the marbled halls that Roy can, but I promise you, my heart is and always has belonged to you. I should have told you earlier, but in all truth I didn’t even know myself. All I knew was that you were always going to be in my future, I just didn’t know how. But now I do. I’m not asking for your favour, I just couldn’t let you marry him without knowing how I felt.”

Anne leaned forward, cupping both his cheeks with her hands as she kissed him. When she pulled back, she was surprised at herself for acting so boldly. But when Gilbert’s face broke into a huge smile, she knew all was well. 

“Do you truly love me too?” he said, almost pinching himself to check it was all real. 

“I always have. You just took too long to notice.”

“Forgive me.” he laughed, brushing the hair from her face as he leaned in to kiss her this time.

“But this isn’t a marriage proposal?” she suddenly stopped, holding up a hand.

“No.” Gilbert’s eyes grew wide. “Were you expecting one?”

“No.”

He took one of her hands, “How about we make a promise. That one day, it will be a proposal. One day when we’re done with school and college. But for now, we’ll just...be.”

“I like the sound of that.”

He lifted her hand and pressed a gentle kiss to her knuckles. “I should probably go before Marilla shouts at me for this indecent display.”

“Perhaps.” Anne laughed, letting him help her up. “Goodnight, Gilbert.”

He grabbed her waist, kissing her quickly once again just because he could. “Goodnight, my Anne with an E.”

[flordidian]

Underrated Anne Scenes

With one exception (number 4), none of these delightful scenes have been in any adaptation I have seen. Here is praying that Anne with an E puts some of them in their series.

1. Crushing the Candy Heart (Anne of Green Gables)

The day after Anne hits Gilbert over the head, she is forced to sit next to him because she is late to class. While that funny scene is kept in adaptations, they cut my favorite part: while they are sitting next to each other, Gilbert gives Anne a candy heart in an attempt to make nice. She responds my taking it, dropping it on the floor, and crushing it. It is really funny.

Later in the series, Gilbert gives her a necklace resembling the candy heart in reference to it.

2. Queen’s Test and Friendship (Anne of Green Gables)

I get that the more people you cast the more expensive it is, but why must these adaptations cut so many of Anne’s friends? Before the Queen’s entrance exam, the Avonlea kids, advised by Miss Stacy to not try to cram, hang out while super stressed. It is a sweet scene where the reader gets to see Anne’s friendships with her classmates, including Jane and Moody.

3. Ruby Rejects Gilbert (Anne of Green Gables)

Okay, so in the book Ruby and Gilbert date. Ruby proceeds, however, to dump him because she thinks he is boring. She even asserts that she isn’t interested in him because he talks about boring subjects and big words like Anne. She says this, in front of Anne. It is this awesome funny moment where she both totally disses Anne and Gilbert while implying they are soul mates.

4. Anne Loses her Patience in School (Anne of Avonlea)

This scene was kind of featured in Kevin Sullivan’s Anne of Avonlea. But, considering the film was such a hodge podge or correct quotes in the wrong context said by the wrong person, I don’t think he did it justice.

L. M. Montgomery establishes that Anne believes in a make-your-students-love-you-then-they’ll-behave approach to teaching. She is successful with this approach except with one obnoxious little boy who doesn’t think women should be teachers. One day, her patience is spent and she disciplines the boy by hitting him (with a ruler I think?). She, of course, is horrified at what she’s done, but it works out because the boy is persuaded by her violence to respect her.

I like this scene because it amuses me and, I think, accurately shows how trying teaching can be.

5. Apple Tree in the Forest (Anne of the Island)

There is this cute part in the beginning of Anne with an Island where Anne is afraid of not fitting in when she goes to college. Gilbert shows her an apple tree that is thriving in the middle of the forest. He tells her that just like the apple tree, which doesn’t belong there in the forest, can grow there, she can (and will) be successful at college despite being from a rural area.

I love this analogy and the way Gilbert always supports Anne and builds her up.

6. Gilbert Visits Anne Despite the Snow (Anne of the Island)

There is this huge snow storm in Avonlea. People cannot leave their houses. Except Gilbert, of course, who somehow manages do visit Anne constantly. She, however, is horrified because she knows she will have to reject him soon.

I like this scene because Gilbert is so sweet to fight the storm to see Anne. He clearly loves her. I also like that Anne is beginning to be forced to deal with the reality that her best friend loves her.

7. Choosing Graduation Flowers (Anne of the Island)

At this point in the story, Anne has rejected Gilbert’s proposal and assumes she will be marrying Royal who she has dated for about 2 years. And yet, when faced with wearing either the flowers Gilbert gave her or the flowers Roy gave her to graduation, she chooses Gilbert.

As a Gilbert and Anne shipper, I like this scene. It is a great example of Anne saying she isn’t into Gilbert, but her heart, and her actions, betraying the reality.

8. Anne Dances with Abandon (Anne’s House of Dreams)

Newly married and living far from the rest of town, Anne takes to the beach and dances wildly. This scene is small but so cute. It is the first time in a while that Anne returns to her character Anne-ness from the first book.

In fact, by the end of Anne of Green Gables, the author notes that Anne has conformed to societal ideals in that she doesn’t talk as much and is more proper. There is something delightful, then, when she returns to her old self for a moment while dancing on the beach.

9. The Pearl Necklace (Anne of Ingleside)

Anne’s son, Jem, saves his money and gets his mom a pearl necklace after hearing her express to her husband that she wants one. It never occurs to Jem that the necklace is fake. When he finds out he is distraught. This leads to a touching scene where Anne explains to him that she knew it was fake and loved it all the same. It is also revealed to the reader that the necklace is especially special to Anne because it reminds her of one Matthew gave her as a girl.

I love scenes where Anne is a great parent. They are enduring and touching. I also love the call back to Anne of Green Gables and the reminder of how Matthew touched Anne’s life.

10. Being their own Parent (Rainbow Valley)

In Rainbow Valley we are introduced to the Meredith family who become quick friends with the Blythe children. Their father is a pastor and their mother has passed away. Unfortunately, their father has become so encompassed in his grief that he has neglected his kids. The children, however, are delightful and responsible and decide to become their own parents, disciplining themselves and one another. When their father finds out, there is this great moment of revelation.

While I generally prefer the scenes involving Anne, I appeciated this one because it was about time someone told this pastor his behavior was unacceptable. Ironically, that message is sent unintentionally by his children who have taken his job of parenting onto themselves. It is very satisfying when Mr. Meredith realizes his wrong.

[carrotsofavonlea]

A Pesky Business

"Cole!" Anne threw her arms around her friend's neck excitedly. He'd grown even more since the last time she'd seen him, if that were possible.

Anne had been on a mission to try and find her origins, and Charlottetown was a close stop to the orphanage. But to her dismay Marilla had been reluctant to let her go alone, that was until they saw none other than Gilbert Blythe at the train station. That was all that was needed for Marilla to march right up to him and ask him to keep Anne safe on the journey no matter how many times she insisted she doesn't need a chaperone. Gilbert had been going to Charlottetown to help his father's doctor who promised to give him an apprenticeship.

Ms Barry had invited them both to stay at her house, refusing to let them pay for lodgings elsewhere.

"Hello, Cole." Gilbert awkwardly stood behind Anne, stretching his hand out for Cole to politely shake.

"Gilbert." They weren't friends, not really. But Gilbert had helped Cole with his wrist and he was one of the few boys at the school that didn't make everyday a living hell for him.

"Is that Anne Shirley Cuthbert?" Ms Josephine Barry stood at the door, carefully climbing down the steps to greet Anne. "And is this the infamous Gilbert Blythe?"

"Pleasure to meet you, Ms Barry." Gilbert bowed his head, taking one of her hands.

"Let's get out of this cold. We can do pleasantries inside in the warm." Ms Barry took Gilbert's outstretched arm to help her up the stairs and Anne rolled her eyes. Of course he was trying to suck up to everyone she knew so they'd like him better than her. Typical Gilbert.

"Has he confessed his undying love for you yet?" Cole whispered to Anne.

"What? No! What are you talking about?" She folded her arms crossly. "We're just friends."

"I told you he has a crush on you." Cole smugly grinned, "And now he's here accompanying you to Charlottetown."

Anne shrugged, "He was heading here anyway to see his father's doctor, he's just doing some practice. And it wasn't my idea it was Marilla."

"Uh huh. Sure." Cole smirked and followed up the steps after Ms Barry and Gilbert.

"You're still wrong!" Anne shouted after him, but he wasn't listening.

////

Ms Barry led them to the ball room to show Gilbert around.

"So how long have you two been…" she looked between Anne and Gilbert.

"Been, what? Ms Barry?" Gilbert furrowed his brows confusedly, glancing at Anne.

"I don't know what you young ones call it these days. Courting?"

Anne's eyes grew wide with embarrassment. "What?! We're not! Us! Gilbert and me? That's preposterous. Utterly absurd and unfathomable we're-"

"Just friends, Ms Barry." Gilbert interrupted softly, his heart sinking a little at Anne's reaction. She didn't have to be so dramatic about it. But of course, she was Anne after all.

"I apologise. I must have misunderstood." Ms Barry held up her hands, but she saw Cole shake his head behind Anne. Clearly he didn't believe them either.

After an awkward moment, Gilbert spoke again. "Your house is lovely Ms Barry." He was in awe at the size of the place, the exquisite decoration of the ceiling.

She smiled, "Perhaps you should join us for the next soirée?"

"I'd be honoured."

Anne opened her mouth to protest but thought the better of it.

"Cole, would you mind showing our guest around?" Josephine nodded towards Gilbert and Cole understood exactly what she meant, intending to have words with Anne.

"I can show you the library? Anne's told me how you always have your nose in a book lately."

Gilbert looked at Anne, a smirk on his face. "She has, has she?"

Anne wanted the ground to swallow her up. Maybe she had mentioned Gilbert in her letters to Cole, but she only meant how annoying he was being lately with his studying and how she needed to catch up. She didn't mean it any other way. Ms Barry had already assumed they were courting but this made it sound like such a lie.

"It is a pesky business." Ms Barry sat down on a chair, sighing.

"What do mean?" Anne sat down on a chair near her, taking off her hat and coat.

"I may be old but I'm not blind...yet." she laughed to herself. "He's the boy you were agonizing over in your little house."

"I wasn't agonizing over him." Anne said defensively. "I was just angry with him because he wasn't listening to me. But it doesn't matter, we're friends now."

"It's complicated. Romance."

"There is nothing romantical happening between Gilbert and I."

"I've only just met the boy and I can see how he looks at you."

Anne shrugged, unable to say anything.

"Enough of this talk about boys." Ms Barry said suddenly, realising Anne needed a change of pace. "Tell me what's going on with you."

////

"You know Anne has a crush on you." Cole turned to Gilbert in the library.

"What? No she doesn't." Gilbert shook his head, "I've only just got her to admit we're somewhat friends."

"That's just Anne being Anne. She's stubborn sometimes."

Gilbert tilted his head, considering this. Somehow that made sense. "We're just friends." He emphasised to Cole, but also perhaps himself.

The last thing he needed was his brain getting his hopes up. Maybe he did kind of like Anne as more than a friend, but there was no way he'd admit that to Bash or even Cole. He could barely admit it to himself.

"You don't sound so convinced yourself."

"It doesn't matter how I feel. Anne has made it clear on multiple occasions she doesn't feel anything towards me further than friendship." Cole hadn't heard Gilbert sound so bitter before.

///

After dinner, Anne walked back to her room bidding Cole and Ms Barry goodnight. But as she made her way down the hall she quite literally bumped into Gilbert, almost falling over before he steadied her by placing both his hands on her arms.

"Sorry." He nervously laughed, dropping his hands from her.

They stood in the hall a moment, staring at each other but unsure what to say. Both were suddenly aware they were in their pyjamas, something Anne never thought she'd see.  

"I should-"

"That was weird earlier." Anne blurted out the same time as him. "About how Ms Barry thought we were...you know."

"Oh yeah, really weird." He scrunched up his face as if he were confused. "Just because we're here together?"

"Exactly. A girl and boy can be just friends."

"Like you and Cole." Gilbert offered and Anne nodded.

"See? Just friends."

They both laughed at how ridiculous it was.

"Cole wouldn't stop badgering me about it." Gilbert shoved his hands in his dressing gown pocket.

"Ms Barry kept questioning me too. As if I don't have more important things to discuss."

"I should get to sleep." Gilbert ran hand through his hair.

"Oh," Anne felt an odd sinking feeling in her chest, as if she were disappointed or something that he was leaving. Not that she did, Gilbert could do whatever he pleases, why should it bother her? It doesn't. "Well, goodnight then Gilbert."

"Goodnight Anne."

////

Anne couldn't sleep that night. Ms Barry had gotten into her head about kindred spirits and romance. For so long she'd tried to keep pushing that further and further down, reminding herself they were just friends and nothing more.

"I'm not thinking about him for one more second." She said to herself, but her brain wouldn't stop shoving Gilbert's face into her mind.

"Brain stop!" She pushed the pillow into her face but it was no use.

She couldn't take it anymore and stood up, trying to get fresh air. She wrapped her dressing gown around her and snuck out into the cold evening. Ms Barry's garden was just as fantastical as the inside of the house, even in winter. There weren't any flowers yet, but there were trees and stone benches and statues that looked like people frozen in time.

"What are you doing out here?"

Anne jumped, expecting to be told off for sneaking out. But instead it was Gilbert. She refused to acknowledge his slightly tousled hair or that fact that even moonlight couldn't hide his smug features. Not that she had paid attention to his face or anything.

"I couldn't sleep." She shrugged and he stepped forward to her.

"I thought I heard footsteps."

"Sorry I woke you."

He shook his head and she just knew he had an annoying smile on his face. "It doesn't matter."

She turned to look up at the moon, anything to keep herself from staring at him.

"It's the same no matter where you are."

"Huh?" Anne looked over at him as he stepped towards her.

"The moon." He pointed up at the sky. "There's something comforting in being hundreds of miles away from home but knowing the moon hasn't changed... that the people you care about are still looking up at the same moon."

She wrapped her dressing gown around her tighter, "That does sound nice."

"I'm sorry if you were uncomfortable today. About Ms Barry."

"Don't be. It's not your fault." Anne shrugged. It wasn't anyone's fault. "She just... doesn't understand."

"Doesn't understand what?"

She sighed, "I don't know, that I'm resigned to a life of never marrying? Especially since I'm so homely. It's funny she thought anyone would ever find me desirable, especially you."

Gilbert raised an eyebrow, "Why especially me?"

She rolled her eyes, "Surely you know almost every girl in Avonlea would jump at the chance to be "Mrs Gilbert Blythe"?"

"That's not true." He laughed nervously.

"You're all any of the girls will talk about. Trust me." She folded her arms, thinking especially of Ruby Gillis. "You could have anyone you wanted."

He raised an eyebrow at her but she didn't pick up on it. "Well, that all depends."

Her hands dropped to her sides slowly, "what do you mean?"

"It depends on her answer." Hesitantly he reached out to lightly touch one of her hands, and when she didn't recoil back in horror he firmly took it in his.

"I know you said we're just friends, but lately I've been thinking... maybe there's something more?"

"More?" She squeaked, but didn't let her hand go from his.

"Anne…" he smiled nervously, making him look years younger. "I'm in love with you."

"What?"

"You don't have to say it back, and I know I've ruined our friendship. But hearing Ms Barry today...I didn't want to lie to you."

"But I'm so homely and plain." She whispered. "And you're... you're Gilbert."

He shook his head, "You're not plain. You're the furthest thing from it." He gently traced a strand of her red hair.

"You don't really mean it." She looked away, but he cupped her cheek so she would look at him.

"I do. I'm in love with you Anne." He slowly closed the gap between them, and Anne had enough time to shove him away, or slap him, something. But she didn't.

She let Gilbert Blythe kiss her, and she kissed him back. Because maybe they were friends, and maybe this complicated that. Ms Barry was right, romance is a tricky business. But if it meant she could always feel like this then maybe she was willing to go through with it.

"Just friends, huh?" Cole watched from the window over looking the garden, seeing Anne and Gilbert smiling at each other with their hands locked.

He saw Gilbert press his forehead against Anne's, and how she tilted her head up to meet him. Finally Cole could rest easy knowing his best friend was happy. But it looks like their union of equals would be called off, for Anne had found her kindred spirit.

[pluviophile-bookworm]

Thoughts/ reaction to AWAE 3x8

I’m honestly afraid of what I might see in this episode. I have been crying almost all week at the mere thought of what last episode did to Anne and Diana and Jerry, and I’m 100% ready to get that all resolved - but I’m afraid it might not happen. Also, with the Shirbert on-off-on-off pattern that has been going on this season, my hopes aren’t very high for those two. Here’s hoping my worries are in vain.

Ka’kwet is back. Unfortunately, she’s not back, if you know what I mean. I hope she gets out of that place - the “White Man’s Burden School”, as I call it - sooner. 

That nun is not acting like a good Christian. Tragically, that is what people really were like - and in some places still are - to people of colour. This cold open is truly nightmarish. I’m starting to fear my worries were not in vain and that I, and the whole fandom as a community, have been set up for much more suffering than any one of us might have expected. 

Looks like Ka’kwet will be back after all. That girl’s really smart, but she’s been through a lot. I hope things might be better for her back at home. 

I see things are still awfully tense between Anne and Diana - and “tense” doesn’t even begin to describe it. I hope this hot mess is resolved by next week - at most. 

I should have been ready for the sight of the schoolhouse burnt to ashes. But I don’t think anything could have prepared me for Anne’s reaction to it. Now I’m crying. I know this is supposed to be a symbol for the end of their childhood or something, but it’s still as devastating as we feared it would be, and then some. 

Once again Miss Stacy proves that the world needs more teachers, nay, more people, like her. Managing to find a silver lining and turn the situation around when she was clearly just as devastated as anyone - that was a true heroic act if you ask me. 

Wait, where is Anne going?

But of course, she’s immediately holding accountable for the situation whoever she thinks should be held accountable - in this case, Rachel Lynde. Interestingly, she didn’t even know what happened. I mean, she was the only woman in a council of men who tried to speak for her fellow women, wasn’t she? Rachel did some good last episode and she is not at fault for that vile act of cowardice and whatever else Miss Stacy called it. 

How is Ka’kwet supposed to find her way back to Avonlea? Is she even going to get back home? I’m worried for my girl.

Everybody being just crammed at Miss Stacy’s is the type of atmosphere and environment that just calls for something bonding and intimate to happen... and Shirbert are there, sitting together, talking... this is like a direct continuation of the porch scene from last episode. I might be clowning, but I think the loop has been broken. Or we might be in for a bigger step backwards next time. I’m clowning. 

Bash’s mum seeing Delly warms my heart. We need more wholesome scenes and less suffering. But we’re probably not getting any of that.

Ok, Ruby really is over Gilbert, so much that it’s like she was never “under” him. The fact that she can now talk to Anne about him and Winnifred - right in his face, at that, is a huge step away from the years and years of crushing. Also, she’s totally right that a person can be studious and romantic at the same time. But I’m not sure our Gil here is the best example of it. 

I sense some parallels between the scene with the class at the Green Gables barn and this scene at Miss Stacy’s - teasing Gilbert about his “fiance” while Anne is listening reminds me painfully of the “does he have  a farm girl” comment about Jerry. And the Anne/ Diana parallel this creates is just pouring salt in the wound their fight gave me last week.

The framing in the next scene is beautiful and reminds me of Shirbert, but I think that’s the only beautiful and romantic thing about it. 

Jerry just won’t stop saying “I’m not good enough for you”, and, frankly, he shouldn’t. I just hoped he’d say more. What I really wanted from this episode was for him to give Diana a piece of his mind on the way she made him feel last episode. 

“Rude and aggressive”? Jerry? I don’t think so. I didn’t really blame Diana for the way she acted last time, but I do blame her for even thinking that. Is he not allowed to have his own feelings and express them? And what is wrong with telling Anne? If anything, it was wrong of both of them not to tell her sooner. She’s supposed to be Diana’s bosom friend and Jerry’s sister, for goodness’s sake! It shouldn’t have taken hurt feelings to finally let her in on the way things are; or rather were, as they’re certainly not anymore. I can’t believe I’m saying it. but maybe it’s for the better. Even if multiple hearts, including mine, got broken in the process. For something to be fixed, it first must be broken, some say. Then so be it. 

Aunt Jo is in Avonlea? Things just got better. And she wants Diana to take the Queens exam. I think she should, too. But it breaks my heart again that she’s apparently not brave enough to try and fulfil her potential. So she was bold enough to kiss Jerry at the fair, thus leading both him and herself on, but not to fight for her own future? I love her and I just can’t sit and watch her do that to herself. But why am I doing this to myself, then?

Mrs. LaCroix acting like a servant and calling Gilbert “Mr. Blythe, sir” was very awkward to watch - for me and Gilbert alike, it seems. But I sort of understand why she did that. Except it’s not making me feel better. It makes me feel worse, if anything. Because I knew she was acting that way because Gilbert is white and she’s not. And that’s not alright. That she’s lived in a society that thought that was alright, was wrong. I hope things get better.

“Uncle Gilby”... Bash has me rolling on the floor laughing once again. And Delphine is still the cutest - she can’t do much more than be cute yet, can she? But I hope she gets to hear a certain love confession about Anne soon. That is the wholesome content we need in these trying times.

Oh my, Ka’kwet, get off that rail! I feel like a worried young mother with this kid. One thing I sure am, and it’s worried. I hope she’ll be safe.

The contrast between the awkwardly stiff atmosphere at the Barry house and the high-level pressure of the class is starker than that between day and night. That’s poetic cinema alright.  

Wait, Diana’s doing it! Is my girl back? My girl’s back. I think. I don’t want to get my hopes up too high. 

So Gilbert never returned Anne’s pen? I can see why. But it put her in a really uncomfortable position. I’ve been there, and I don’t need to tell you what going into an important exam without the proper tools can do to a student’s psyche. But I know Anne knows better than to let that get to her in this very important moment. 

Last episode’s climax left a very big impression on both Rachel and Marilla, didn’t it now?

Are they trying to push Bash and Miss Stacy? I think it would be highly inappropriate. First of all because I don’t think Bash is ready to remarry at all - he might as well never be - and second of all because I don’t think Muriel Stacy of all women needs a man. And I ship her with Prissy now, but that’s another story. 

Now that’s another feeling I know all too well - finishing your exams and celebrating your freedom. And I’m glad Diana got to be part of that. I just hope she and Anne can make up soon. That’s pretty much all I can think of.

If Winnie loves Paris so much, let her go to Paris. She shouldn’t need a man for that. Certainly not one whose mind has been occupied by one girl since the day he first saw her. I ship Shirbert as much as the next person and then some, but I also don’t want Winnie’s heart to be broken at the end of all this. She’s a nice girl. She deserves better. Let her go to Paris. No need to drag Gilbert into this for too long. 

Let me tell you, Anne’s hair flying loose, lit by the fire, is pure  poetry. If I were Gilbert in that scene, I would propose on the spot. But we know that’s not happening. 

Anne’s not making any sense and if this were any other couple in a similar setting, this is where he would shut her up with a kiss... but I’m clowning, ain’t I?

“Will you marry me?” Shirbert, and the ring and the dictionary, and the parallels... I’m nearly speechless. Why can’t they just spit it out? Does Gilbert have to go through with the proposal for the final realisation to come?

And... here we are. Except - we’re really not. “My Aunt is visiting me”. That felt like a firm step back on Diana’s part. Will they ever make up? Or will I have to cry for another week straight at just the thought of everything that played out?

Leave it to Aunt Jo to dish out wisdom... hope she can help Anne in this situation, or else the entirety of Shirbert might be at stake. 

“Asked Anne”? You didn’t ask anything. You just made her more confused than ever and now she feels this great responsibility about her whole life and yours, too. You shouldn’t have made her feel that way. But I can’t blame you. You two are the two most confused individuals I’ve seen in a long time. But I love you both the way you are. And I know you’ll get there someday. 

“She said no”. Seriously, Blythe, were you and I listening to the same girl talk last night? Because I never heard her say no. Or yes. Or give any kind of cohesive answer to the big question you DIDN’T ASK!

Rachel and Marilla are really doing that, aren’t they? And Rachel all cool pouring water while serving one of the most delightfully ironic of ironic echoes I’ve ever seen... “No need to be hysterical”! Ha! #started from the bottom #now we’re here

My, my! Ka’kwet has been through quite the journey... but she’s finally home. Wonder what will happen when the “whites” find out, though. 

Goodness! Minnie May’s really had it, hasn’t she? Honestly, it was about time someone in that family said something about the lives they lead - it was time someone told it like it is, and... why did I actually expect it to be Minnie May? Why does this little girl have to do the grown-ups’ job? I guess it’s just the way of the world. I just hope this doesn’t end in disaster. 

Okay, I’ve been waiting for this all week, and it’s even more beautiful than I could have imagined. Far more beautiful.

Wow, that was some realisation! “I’m in love with Gilbert Blythe”. Took you long enough, Anne! Now go do something about it before it’s way too late. Gosh, we will be clowning so hard next week. 

To sum up what we saw in this episode: Ka’kwet finally escapes the “White Man’s Burden” school of nightmares and takes the long road home; lots of tension between Anne and Diana; the school is ashes and those responsible for it aren’t getting away; Gilbert thinks he’s sure about Winnifred; Derry is dead; lots of parallels, all heavy on Shirbert; Bash’s mum “knows her place” - or does she really?; Diana takes the exams with zero preparation (respect!); Rachel and Marilla tear down the patriarchy; Minnie May does the grown-ups’ job; DiAnne is back; Anne sets us all up for a lot of clowning.

[pluviophile-bookworm]

AWAE 1x3 rewatch: thoughts and reactions

I took a completely unannounced break from posting my reactions to AWAE. How rude of me. But I hope whoever reads these can forgive me, as I’m sure you’d understand that university is no joke. I’m not going to be posting for a while because I simply haven’t got the time to rewatch and write a reaction post, but I’ll be back as soon as I can. For now, I’m leaving you with my thoughts on 1x3 in celebration of the Netflix release of season 3. 

I’m actually really excited to be rewatching this episode since I’ve forgotten quite a bit of its plot details. I do remember it marks the first appearance of Gilbert, all the kids, and the school setting. I’ve told myself many times before that if this show was just Anne and her friends going about their day-to-day life, I’d still watch it and love it. So let’s dive right in.

I’m so happy to actually see Anne smile from ear to ear while getting ready for her first day of school. She’s nervous, but excited, and she deserves something positive after being denied so many joys for so many years. True, it will not be easy at first, but I can’t help admiring her positive disposition even though she is several years behind and is still not exactly accepted into the society of Avonlea with open arms. 

Anne dropping and breaking that cup reminds me of myself on my first day of middle school - even up to the hope that it’s not a sign of how the rest of the day is going to go. However, unlike me, Anne keeps up the positive attitude and, as I already said, I admire her for it. 

As much as I understand why Anne feels the way she does about her looks (she’s only 13 and she’s probably spent all her life being told she was ugly because of her red hair and freckles, and she never found beautiful heroines in the books she read that had those features), I agree with Marilla on this - Anne should find a worthier overriding concern, or indeed feel lucky she doesn’t have to worry about anything bigger than that anymore. 

Matthew and Marilla have only had Anne for what, a couple of weeks? But they already look like typical parents sending their only child off to school. I love them so much as parents. I just love them in general, too. Now that was a beautiful cold open, of the type I call “gold open”.

Talking to the trees as if they were fine ladies and decorating her hat with flowers is such an Anne thing to do... society may find it odd, but I love her for it. What can I say, I love this girl and that’s that. 

As much as Diana wouldn’t admit it because she was raised by her mother, I believe she loved the way Anne looked with the flowers on her hat. I also believe that she would have very much wants to do the same, but would never be allowed to. Just saying that makes me go back to her awesome development throughout the majority of season 3... Anne has been a big influence on her, obviously. 

“It won’t be long until my parents accept you” - well, they did, but they were still very disapproving of Jerry and his family just because they’re poor - which is probably not their fault. And I know it took saving Minnie May’s life for them to accept Anne, while Jerry never did that... but didn’t his family take Diana in when she was (supposedly) so badly injured she couldn’t walk? Isn’t that a good thing? and instead of accepting the Baynards, the Barries were even more terrible to them afterwards. Double standards much? Ok, I got sidetracked. Let’s go back to 1x3. 

The whole scene of Anne meeting Moody and Charlie has me laughing out loud, from the “I’m Moody” - “I’m sorry” exchange, which makes me think that Moody’s name is dad joke material, to Diana’s “Don’t talk to the boys. They’re ridiculous.” And then she mentions Gilbert Blythe in a way that makes me think - am I correct in assuming she had some sort of feelings for him, too? Did every girl have a crush on him but repress it in favour of Ruby? What would Ruby say about that?

These girls have me in stitches, a much needed change from the tragedy and drama of the first two episodes. And then... there were many “started from the bottom” moments in this season, naturally, but I think Jane is an exception to the rule. She actually started out pretty well, standing up to her brother for a social outcast she just met, and then in season three she almost supports him in something much more terrible. She had potential. That’s such a glow-down. But hey, not everybody can be Prissy.

“Never let them know when you like them, either” Is that what you do with Gilbert, dear? Because I don’t think you’re very good at it. But it seems that Anne took that advice a bit too literally. That would explain a lot of her actions throughout the series. 

Wait, Mrs. Andrews was one of the ladies who invited Marilla into the Progressive Mothers? Seems like Prissy turned out to be more her mother’s daughter than her father’s, then. But it’s a bit of a mystery to me how a progressive woman married a man who takes his son’s side when he assaults a girl... Seriously, the whole Andrews family is a mystery to me. First we have Prissy and Billy, who grow up to be like their mother and their father respectively - while being raised by both parents; and then there’s Jane whose character development is in the wrong direction if it’s there at all. I can’t figure them out at all. 

Anne and Diana’s polar opposite reactions to long division is a perfect illustration of their vastly different backgrounds. While privileged Diana is long done with long division, Anne just realises how far behind she is because she’s spent her young life working in abusive households instead of getting the least bit of proper education. It just makes you wonder how she managed to become such an avid reader when she never seemed to have any proper formal education. But there is the case of Matilda Wormwood who taught herself to read even in the worst possible environment, so why not?

I’m glad the age difference between Mr. Phillips and Prissy is at least acknowledged by someone... while I wouldn’t quite describe him as “old”, he’s more than old enough to make a relationship with 16-year-old Prissy wildly inappropriate and an outright crime by today’s standards. I’m so glad things turned out the way they did for Prissy in the end. 

Wait, so people back then used to think that a simple touch between a male and a female meant intimate relations? No wonder the girls reacted the way they did when the time came to dance with boys in season 3. This, along with the entirety of 3x5, is solid proof how badly these young people need proper sex ed... unfortunately, they won’t be getting it. They’re pretty much on their own when it comes to that. 

I have no idea how i’m going to endure seeing Mr. Phillips for the rest of the season. And half of the second one.  He’s one of those people that just make you wonder how on earth they ever became teachers. Like, even if he was somehow convinced he wanted to become one when he was young, how did people responsible for his higher education let him proceed to that profession with a character like his? Internalised homophobia or whatever Freudian excuse people may think of for him is certainly no excuse for the way he’s treating Anne in this scene. But can I take a moment to share a weird observation I just made - it just so happens that Anne starts her acquaintance with both her teachers in the series by spreading rumours - although accidentally.

“Are they in love?” - “When it comes to intimate relations, I’m not sure it matters.” Anne just spoke a dark truth without realising it. Although her knowledge is vague and filled with unusual euphemisms, she seems to have realised something important - love and physical intimacy aren’t mutually required in a relationship - unfortunately. I don’t even want to talk about it. Maybe I’m just not the right person to discuss such matters. 

Talk about abusive household... even Anne, a very young girl with no sex ed, realised Mr. Hammond habitually raped his wife when he would get drunk... imagine the horrors the poor girl has endured in that family - and the horrors the members of the family themselves have had to go through on a daily basis... and now the girls are isolating Anne because of what she’s experienced... let’s skip ahead. 

“Feminism... what exactly does it mean”? Well, ask Anne Shirley- Cuthbert - I’m sure she can explain it to you. Because you ladies insist on calling yourselves progressive, but some of you seem to not understand that true feminism is about treating all, and that means absolutely all women as equal to each other and to men. 

“Especially for those who are unlikely to marry” - what exactly do you mean by that? Is a girl who doesn’t get married before 17 somehow less worthy of respect in your opinion? I don’t know exactly who that woman thinks she is, but I didn’t like the suggestion in her tone...

I’m just glad Anne plucked away the flowers from her hat before Marilla could see them... of course, she should be free to wear as many flowers on her hat and in her hair as her heart desires, but such is the situation that she can’t afford to do it right now. 

Is this the same Rachel Lynde who represented women in a council made up entirely of men? The one who insisted on adding three more women to it? The one who offered Marilla as one of those women? Well, of course you could argue she is not the same Rachel - she was later changed by Anne, like pretty much everyone else in Avonlea. And I’m glad that such a change took place. Because imagine where Avonlea, nay, where the world would be without Anne Shirley- Cuthbert. How dare whoever is responsible for the cancellation take her away from us?

“I reckon every new idea was modern once - until it wasn’t.” Matthew is just about the best man of them all since day one. In Matthew we trust. 

“You know, there’s a difference between having an opinion about something and pronouncing judgement” - Marilla just put Rachel in her place by pointing out the fine line between voicing your opinion and acting like your opinion is the only valid one. Good on you, Marilla!

Anne is so dedicated to catching up and advancing further in her education... no wonder she ended up tying with Gilbert for first place at the Queens exams. Speaking of Gilbert, I just can’t wait to see him for the first time again. Is that coming soon?

I just can’t help admiring Anne more and more with every scene... she’s so optimistic about each new day that it just gives me hope that the sun will, indeed, come out tomorrow. Oops, wrong optimistic red-headed orphan... anyways, if the sun doesn’t come out, there’s still Jerry’s refreshing sarcasm and snarky one-liners.

Billy has some nerve calling Anne out for saying “nasty stuff” about his sister - sure, what she said wasn’t the most innocent of things, but she certainly didn’t mean it that way. Besides, Billy himself will go on to do way nastier stuff to another poor girl - and never realise the dramatic irony. Because he’s the classic straight white entitled man, one of those people you just can’t like. No matter what they do. 

There he is... couldn’t arrive at a better time, could you, Gil? This is one of my top 5 favourite moments of his throughout the entire series. It’s literally the equivalent of seeing a girl being attacked by a guy and talking to him as if he’s a civilised person instead of taking up his own aggressive tone, and I love that they chose to introduce Gilbert in such a context of all possibilities. “Any dragons around here need slaying?” Gilbert Blythe is a true knight in shining armour and he knows it. 

“Miss? What’s your name? Miss?” And thus begins the story of the two most confused teenagers in Canada, the slowest of all slow burns, the love story to end them all. A shaky start, sure, but it’s a start. 

“You can’t talk to Gilbert Blythe. You can’t even look at him.” Can you believe they’ve come from here to the point where they unanimously decided Anne was the only one who could ask Gilbert how babies are made... isn’t it ironic? But, I mean, from this episode all the way to the end, she did a very good job of convincing every one of them, including herself, that she didn’t care a single bit about Gilbert.

I just can’t get over Anne’s reciting... she’s certainly managed to get all eyes on her - but mostly Gilbert’s, with the most expressive pair of eyebrows above them... once again, Anne has made a strong impression... one that some liked and some will surely condemn - but it’s their loss. 

There goes that scene... the notorious apple from the notorious Blythe orchard we never got to see Shirbert in. And I have to say, Anne might have made a good ventriloquist. Too bad she’s not supposed to talk to Gilbert because... girl code is a thing. They won’t accept her as one of their own, yet she must play by their rules. It just seems unfair. 

Do the people of Avonlea have no sense of relativity and context? A bad rumour shouldn’t be taken so dramatically when it is a prepubescent girl who’s spreading it. She should be forgiven on account that she just didn’t know better. Instead, the very same story was repeated years later with Josie, where, again, nobody cared to gauge the circumstances - Anne only intended to defend Josie, not tarnish her reputation. It’s just the skewed priorities of the time that caused things to turn out the way they did. 

And this is the little moment that most likely started the spark in Jerry’s mind about wanting an education - just a simple remark from Anne that happened to contain a word he didn’t understand. They do say that it takes just one spark to start a fire. This little boy of mine is going far. Not without Anne, though. The two of them took their time to warm up to each other, but who could stop them when they finally did?

Gilbert is positively going to waste all of his chalk if throwing it at Anne is how he intends to get her attention. I have to say pulling on her braid was a bit too childish for him based on how he was established, but hey, we all have our moments, and for Gilbert, this is one of the most iconic ones in the source material, so why would anyone change it? Anne’s story wouldn’t be authentic if she didn’t crack her slate over Gilbert’s head. This immortal Anne of Green Gables scene was impeccably delivered by the infinitely talented cast of AWAE. 

Taking away the E and the Cuthbert from Anne’s name was a cruel thing to do. I can’t tell you how I trembled when I read this scene in the book years ago, just because of the E and how it felt like salt in the cuts left by what had just transpired, but now, the Cuthbert, too - the one thing that is solid proof to Anne that she belongs there - that she belongs to someone who finally accepts, maybe even loves her as she is - that, I have to say, is an awfully terrible thing to do to a young orphan if we look at it through Anne’s eyes. And let’s admit it, we all did in that moment if not in any other. 

Storming off is what any sensitive young girl with a strong sense of justice like Anne would do in her place, and, to her credit, she did walk out in dignity at least up to the schoolhouse’s door. I have to say she handled the situation way, way better than I ever could have. 

I mean, I would have reacted the same way as Anne when she said she was never going back to school, but let’s think for a second. There’s a little boy in the barn who would gladly take her place. Because going to school, however challenging at times, is a privilege. She should take a moment to catch her breath and realise that. 

To sum up, in this episode we saw: Anne’s shaky first day of school; the introduction of all of Anne’s schoolmates; the accidental scandal concerning a supposed scandalous accident; the Andrews family never ceases to puzzle me; “progressive mothers” being not so progressive; Marilla and Anne face similar bad treatment from their respective peers; a shaky start to the slowest of slow burns; a spark is ignited in Jerry; a broken slate and more than one broken heart.