Anne with an E: Episode 1 (S1E1)
Titled, "Your Will Shall Decide Your Destiny" reminding us that this show's writing is da bomb (yes, I used this slang) and Alt title: "Oopsies, Never Mind" (from my daughter)
“I like imagining better than remembering.” -Anne in the first episode of “Anne with an E.”
Warning: The first episode of Anne with an E [Netflix] is likely the most uncomfortable to watch, but still a winsome one because you’re instantly drawn to the characters and the writing.
As I mentioned in a previous post [here], the show is about a middle-school-aged orphan named Anne who is adopted by an older couple. It takes place in the late 19th century on Prince Edward Island, Canada. While Anne’s traumatic backstory hasn’t been explored to this extent in prior televised adaptations, this version doesn’t hold back. Instead, it finds ways to contextually incorporate Anne’s painful past at the orphanage into her present day, examining how her past drives her present state of mind.
Given Anne’s propensity for creating stories involving imaginary friends and fantasy world-building, it’s not too much of a jump to figure out that this is a response to the constraints of the harshness of her past and a coping mechanism. Hence, the flashbacks are steeped in visuals of child abuse, both physical and verbal taunting and bullying. While not fun to watch, they serve a purpose in giving us a psychological profile of Anne and why she is the way she is, setting up the series and Anne’s internal conflict well. So, consider yourself warned: It’s not quite as light-hearted or life-affirming as the rest of the series. In other words, make it through the first two heavy episodes, and you will feel the payoff in the rest of the series. You gotta work for it.
Themes of Episode: Love, Chosen Family, Relationships, Rejection, Childhood Trauma, Emotional Resilience, Caregivers, Givers, Social Etiquette and lifehacks 👇