User blog comment:Eikakou/Anne (2017) episode 2 - I Am No Bird, and No Net Ensnares Me review/@comment-4934571-20170330181501

So... this week's exams are finally over and I am sitting down to write my thoughts on the second episode of Anne.

Let's sum up the plot (warning, this will contain spoilers)! The episode begins only seconds after the end of the first one. We see Matthew at the train station in Bright River – he realizes he missed Anne's train, but doesn't want to give up. He asks two men (I think they are named Sam and Sammy) to give him a ride to Charlottetown. That's where Anne gets off her train and is almost kidnapped by a creepy guy who claims he was sent be her family to fetch her. Anne knows he's lying, fiercely lets go off him and runs away. She gets on board of a ferry and travels to Nova Scotia, to her former orphanage (named St. Alban's in this adaptation – Hopetown in the books, Fairview in the Sullivan's live-action film and Grout in the animated film). Meanwhile, Marilla is completely stressed out back at Green Gables.

Anne arrives completely alone in the middle of the night to the orphanage, but doesn't come inside. She sleeps under the trees and when she wakes up, she meets Mr. Avery, the milk delivery man. She tells him the Matron asked him to give her a ride as she needs to go to Halifax to her newly-found wealthy aunt. Mr. Avery is a bit suspicious, but takes her with him. Marilla rushes Jerry to prepare the buggy and she intends to look for Matthew and Anne. Rachel Lynde shows up and prevents her from doing such a thing – she has already sent Thomas. It is obvious that Marilla is very emotional and panics, but Rachel stays rational and takes care of Marilla.

Anne enjoys her ride with Mr. Avery and helps him with his milk delivery. She tells him she was born in Halifax and her parents died in India, serving the queen as her spies (I hope I remember it correctly). Matthew finally arrives to Charlottetown and realizes he must take a ferry to Nova Scotia. Unfortunately, he doesn't have any money, so he decides to sell his pocket watch in the general store. As he walks out of the store, he sees a red-headed girl and mistakes her for Anne. He doesn't pay attention to the traffic and gets hit by a carriage. After the accident, he finally manages to get to the orphanage and sleeps on the porch. Marilla frantically does the chores, cleans the house and tries to keep her mind occupied. We see her completely devastated when she brings some food to Jerry and it is not that strict and serious Marilla we know – she kind of awkwardly hands the plate to Jerry and looks very nervous, timorous, and it seems as though she cannot even speak Jerry's language and has to make these gestures to communicate with him.

Matthew wakes up in front of the orphanage and it is almost a miracle the maid who finds him doesn't think he is a homeless person or drunk (seriously, would you believe a man lying on your porch who looks like Matthew does in that scene?). She tells the matron about his visit and the latter claims Anne didn't return to the orphanage. Fortunately, Matthew meets Mr. Avery who mentions his meeting with Anne the previous day and it is hinted that he tells Matthew about her whereabouts. Anne is at some train station and tries to earn some money by reciting poetry to the passengers. Matthew finds her there, but she is very reluctant and hostile, she doesn't believe that they want her back and claims she is her own family now. One passenger sees their conversation and asks Anne if she's okay – he thinks Matthew wants to hurt her (Again, would you trust him? He might be a creep, a drunk, a kidnapper or an abusive family member - Mr. Thomas kind of person). Matthew says that there is nothing to worry about, she is his daughter. Only after this Anne decides to trust him and cries.

Marillia has done all the chores and is in depths of despair. She cries in the dining room when she hears that Anne and Matthew are coming home. Suddenly, she changes back to the old Marilla and doesn't show any emotion. Anne is very confused disappointed as she thought Marilla would be happy to see her. During the breakfast Matthew notices that something is wrong between the two of them. Anne gradually learns that Marilla was worrying when she and Matthew were gone – she hears it from Jerry to whom she is still very unfriendly and also from Diana who knows about it from her mother and Mrs. Lynde. Anne and Diana are happy they are reunited, but Anne has mixed feelings. Even though she loves Green Gables, she doesn't want to get attached to it in case she'd be sent away again. She also sees Marilla hanging the laundry and looking fondly at Anne's old dress – a nice moment which shows Marilla's soft side.

The Barrys organize a picnic and invite practically the whole village. Anne, Marilla and Matthew meet the Lyndes – the only nice people there. Diana is not allowed to run towards Anne. Rachel mentions she is glad that Marilla is fine after all those worrying. The other people (the Barrys, Andrewses, minister, children) make fun of Anne, gossip about her and judge her. It's too much for Anne who then runs away to the woods. Marilla goes after her and asks for forgiveness.

In the last scene, Marilla tells Anne she and Matthew decided to officially adopt Anne and make her a Cuthbert. The only thing she needs to do it to write her name into the Cuthbert family bible. Anne is excited and wants some kind of ceremony to celebrate the occasion. They drink the infamous raspberry cordial, Anne writes her name into the book (there are several attempts and it's hard to say what is her official name right now) and takes them as her family forever.



I praised the technical stuff in my last review and there is no need to mention it again, everything was flawless. I like how the show keeps in mind all the details – purple flowers on the meadow (even though they filmed it in the autumn), the Union Flag on the ferry, a mention of the queen (Victoria) etc. Mr. Avery kind of reminded me of James Corden. The Barrys are very posh, snobbish and unfriendly – Mrs. Barry was already like that in the books and other adaptations, but it is unusual to see Mr. Barry in that way too. He practically doesn't have any character in the previous works and seems to be a kind, quiet and loyal gentleman. We also meet the Andrews family – the parents, Jane, her brother Billy (who seemed like a rather simple person in the books, but will be the school bully in this series from what I've heard) and Prissy who is their sister in this adaptation (In the books they most likely are related, but it was never menioned how exactly – most likely they are cousins. I think Jane and Prissy were sisters in the anime and the Sullivan's films, but it was rather implied that explicitly said.)

The absolute winner of this episode for me is Marilla. Geraldine does some stellar acting, you can see Marilla literally worrying sick during the first half of the episode. The way she cleans the house, how she rushes to look for Matthew and Anne, how she brings Jerry the food, how she cries before their arrival. And yet, when Anne comes back, she is not capable of showing those emotions again and instead is rather angry it took Matthew so long. I wouldn't say it is out of character, this is a common coping mechanism and pattern of behaviour. Anne is probably too young and stubborn to see it, she just believes Marilla doesn't care much for her and that only Matthew wanted her back. Marilla shows some signs of trying to be nice and kind (when she comes to Anne's room and tells her that she wouldn't need her help), but it is obvious that she doesn't really know what to do and is really confused after what she's been through. We see her fondly looking at Anne's dress as she hangs the laundry and Anne sees it too, but cannot put the pieces together. Only after the picnic the two of them bond and try to find a way to each other.

My rating: 9/10





So far I'm okay with all the additional material, I'm not one of those so-called purists. I've seen and heard too many different adaptations of Anne to be one – as long as the characters are not out-of-character and their motives and behaviour are understandable and similar to their book counterparts. We'll see Anne's first day at school and meet Gilbert in the next episode and I cannot wait!