#i always say we have been blessed to have Stuart & it’s been refreshing to have not just any actor but a man be rooting for love to prevail

[mirai-desu]

You know, I am really proud of the vast majority of the fandom for rallying around Stuart and realizing that the blame does not lie with him. And it’s also comforting to know that practically everyone is reading between the lines and knows it’s not his fault even though he’s the one walking away from the show. The show and character he genuinely loved. I really hope that he can get on another period drama and play the romantic hero who gets the girl like he’s wanted. He deserves better.

[roadtoavonlea]

Working through 3.02

Well, it’s almost been 24 hours since we were all smacked with the second episode of the third season of Anne with an E.  There was a lot to digest and idk about y’all, but I got MAJOR heartburn from it all, but now after some contemplation, I’m ready to put my thoughts down.

I figure that the best way to do this is to do it storyline by storyline.  So, let’s start with Matthew/Miss Stacy:

This is a dynamic I definitely wanted to see more of since Ms Stacy first emerged in 2.09.  She is an adult version of Anne, just as hopeful and curious about the world around her.  Matthew is so incredibly reserved and shy that whenever he finds a connection with anyone other than Anne, Marilla, and Jerry, well--it’s kind of hypnotizing, tbh.  I loved his conversation with Gilbert in season one in which he offered to help Gilbert with his farm after Gilbert’s father passed away.  It takes a true kindred spirit to get Matthew to open up, and this was one of the shining lights of (what I consider to be) one of the darkest episodes of the series.  It was very refreshing.  And Ms. Stacy--well, I love her more with every passing episode.

I’m very worried about Matthew making it through this season.  He’s said quite a few things that have made me very nervous about the state of his mortality.

Cole and Aunt Jo.  I’ve been waiting over a year to see these two again.  Two of my favorite characters in the entire series and seeing them again is just *chef’s kiss*.  I love all of my found families in Anne with an E, but their dynamic is E V E R Y T H I N G. Can we have a spin-off with these two?  Unfortunately this episode offered very little of my favorite adult in the show, but Cole more than made up for that.

Anne’s journey.  For me, this was the darkest storyline of the episode (and potentially series, depending on which routes Moira takes this season).  We’ve seen flashes of Anne’s past at the orphanage before, not to mention the torment she faced from her peers and authority figures.  For her to go back, to (literally) FACE those who continue to stalk her nightmares--well, THAT is true brave.  Her poise and compassion while staring her tormentors in the eye...honestly...I’ve NEVER been prouder of our girl.  AB indicated that episode two was the most challenging for her this season--and I understand why.  It was so difficult to watch from the “ghosts” she witnessed to watching that father leave his two small children behind (side note: I LOST it during that part. Like openly sobbed, it was so heartbreaking), to proclaiming how pathetic she was for creating all of these fantasies just to survive.  And Cole.  His heart to heart with Anne and telling her that he wouldn’t have survived without her just made me cry even harder because at this point, Anne’s doubting everything.  Cole’s reassurance that she matters and that she’s loved was so powerful.  I knew her going back would be rough but man--those performances just blew me away.

Bash/Mary/Elijah.  Can Bash and Mary just be happy?  I just wanna go back to that happy family in 3.01.  I understand Elijah’s had a tough life and he’s in deep with some stuff, but man...that entire exchange with Mary and Bash hit me almost as deeply as Anne at the orphanage.  The entire time I knew something was going to happen and as soon as they showed Gilbert’s father’s medal, I knew where things were headed.  The pain in Gilbert’s eyes at the end of the episode twisted the knife that was already in my heart.  I hope this doesn’t fracture the Blythe/LaCroix unit.  After reading the brief synopsis of the next episode, I’m really anxious about one of my favorite Avonlea families.

I’m really worried about Mary.

Which I guess leads me to the storyline that shoved the knife in my throat in the first place.  I stumbled upon spoilers about five minutes before the show started and while I had all but figured out where Gilbert’s storyline was headed this season (I thought Ashleigh would be Christine, not a completely new character--which is more frightening tbh), I still wasn’t prepared for what actually happened.  So, *deep breath*, I’m gonna try to work through some of this:

It’s clear that while still hurt from the whole “Take Notice” thing in 3.01, Gilbert was willing to move forward and try to have an enjoyable trip to Charlottetown with Anne because...well...I feel like these two really haven’t been alone a lot between the last two seasons.  In 3.01 they seemed friendly enough, but not quite friends (which honestly, upon deep reflection--has been the most disappointing thing thus far this season...gimmie that friendship, Moira!!).  So, I feel like he was sort of hopeful to be able to have a conversation with Anne and regain some of the rapport they had at the end of season two.  

Obviously, Anne wasn’t quite in the mood given the HIGHLY embarrassing display Marilla subjected her to on the train platform.  Anne’s always considered herself to be fiercely independent (and she is, for the most part), so I can see her point in regards to not needing a chaperone.  Her anger and frustration with Marilla definitely got misplaced onto poor, unsuspecting Gilbert and (once again) she spoke before she really thought about what she was saying.

Only this time she actually said what Gilbert had been thinking for awhile.  She doesn’t need him.  She doesn’t see him in a romantic way.  He realized in that moment that he had been pining over someone who didn’t even deem him worthy to hear what her “mission” was.  Being reminded of his place in her world, that he was merely an acquaintance, immediately sent his defenses up.  We KNOW that he’s still hung up on the “take notice” thing because of that line about what he’s taken notice of.

So, still feeling the sting of her rejection, he goes to Dr. Ward’s office and there’s Winifred Rose.  I’m curious to learn how long these two have known one another and what her role is.  Obviously, he’s charmed by her because she’s a lot like a certain someone who had just rejected him, not to mention the fact that she is pretty.

Ok, so I have issues with this storyline (as do most of you). My issues are:

It seems a little OOC for Gilbert.  This is why I want to know how long he’s known Winifred.  If he’s known her for awhile and has had an infatuation for a bit, then ok...not too out of the ordinary, but for him to go from clear and obvious excitement about traveling with Anne to asking “Miss Rose” to tea...I mean...I got whiplash from how quickly he pivoted from one to the other.  I feel like if we just had one more episode of build up or had an episode of establishment with Winifred, it wouldn’t have been quite so jarring.  I think Moira knows this (because her pacing with the series thus far has been excellent) which leads me to believe that this has to be a rebound kind of thing.

How old is this woman?  I know others have posed that question and I’m in that boat.  I know Gilbert is supposed to be 18, but she seems....quite a bit older than that.  Also, my spidey senses are tingling when it comes to her.  What’s her endgame here?  I don’t trust her (this could be my shirbert soul screaming, but I feel like this needs to be said).

His actions don’t align with Gilbert from the books.  I know that seems like a cop-out because we all stopped comparing the show to the books back in season one (at least, we should have), but I’ve been a Gilbert Blythe stan for most of my life.  The books and the 80s mini-series were my first intro to him and he’s one of my favorite fictional characters--ever, so I can’t help but to think about book Gilbert while watching the show.  I know others have touched on this as well, so I won’t rehash.  I know the show is its own organism, but it just happened so fast.  So. Fast.

I will say that it appears as if Moira has taken a few plot points from Anne of the Island (my favorite book) this season, so it stands to reason that Winifred could be her version of Christine Stuart.  Anne’s quest to learn more about her parents (though just a blip) was also part of that book, sooooo that’s something to consider/keep in mind.

I guess my biggest issue right now is the pacing of it.  I’m all for angst.  I absolutely LOVE it.  It’s where I love to live, but it happened so quickly in the midst of an already emotionally draining episode, so it felt exponentially amplified.

I need to watch it again, but I’m not sure when I’ll have the stomach to because that episode punched me in the face with a lot of emotions I wasn’t quite prepared to handle.

Having said all of that (bless you if you’ve made it this far because i don’t think I’ve added anything of importance), bring on Charlie Sloane.  Make this triangle a square (however non-existent it may be).  Let Gilbert see someone else pursue Anne.  Heck, let’s throw in a few others.  Tilly doesn’t have any problems with multiple suitors (she’s the real MVP right now, let’s be honest), so let’s have someone else show interest in Anne.  The more the merrier.  I’m expecting/hope to have sheer chaos when it comes the fall out of this “take notice” board and the barn dance.  Throw Jerry/Diana/Moody in there too.  I’m totally on board for this kind of chaos.  GIVE ME ALL THE ANGST.