The 2017 Netflix adaptation, Anne with an E, immediately proved it wasn’t the cozy, whimsical story people expected. From the opening music, it was clear this version, “Anne 2.0,” was ready to deal with the grit, rain, and trauma behind the classic tale. The pilot, “Your Will Shall Decide Your Destiny,” is a stunning start that focuses more on the emotional scars Anne carries than the charm she creates.
A Verbal Whirlwind Arrives at Green Gables
The episode’s success rests entirely on Amybeth McNulty’s electrifying performance as Anne. The minute she steps off the train, the story is instantly compelling. She’s a rail-thin, verbose whirlwind, equipped with an astonishing vocabulary and an equally astonishing capacity for dramatic declarations. Matthew Cuthbert, the silent, reserved man who arrives looking for a “sturdy boy,” is immediately overwhelmed by this poetic, slightly feral creature. It’s a masterful setup: the most silent man on Prince Edward Island meets the girl who cannot stop talking, instantly losing himself in her “delightful, romantic, and tragical” narratives.
The Crushing Weight of Rejection
The charm quickly fades back at Green Gables when Marilla, all severity and sensible brown dresses, delivers the crushing blow: “I distinctly said a boy.” The instant rejection is agonizing. Anne, realizing her chance at belonging has vanished, unleashes a desperate, heartbreaking torrent of emotion. This is where the series makes its most powerful statement: Anne’s vivid imagination isn’t just charming; it’s a fierce, vital defense mechanism she developed to survive years of neglect and emotional cruelty. The viewer is immediately drawn to her because her grand pronouncements are clearly the armor she wears.
The Necessary Grit and Hope
What truly sets this pilot apart from sunnier adaptations is its unflinching look at the darkness in Anne’s past. We see brief, shattering flashbacks of her life before Green Gables, showing moments of her being bullied, overworked, and effectively invisible. This depth grounds her character, showing that her flights of fancy are a direct result of being in an unbearable world. When she is asked to leave Green Gables, it feels less like a minor disappointment and more like a devastating return to a prison. This pain justifies the grand, magnificent scale of Anne’s hope, making the entire premise feel heavier and more important.
The episode earns its title in the beautiful climax. Though the household is convinced Anne must leave, Matthew cannot shake the image of the girl who loves poetry. In a quiet, powerful act of rebellion against his sister, he drives out to intercept Anne on the road. His small, gruff act of will saves Anne, securing her destiny and setting the stage for a rich, difficult, and ultimately rewarding character study. It’s a perfect, tear-jerking hook.
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