Anne with an E: Season 2, Episode 3 (S2E3)
The Green Gables boarders give Marilla and Matthew "the Ick." Anne and Diana prove themselves competent detectives and Jerry faces down some dirty demons.
“Definition of ‘The Ick’: A dating term that refers to a sudden cringe feeling one gets when they have romantic contact with someone and they become almost immediately put off by them.”
―Lynn Painter, Better Than the Movies
Amendment by Beth, your author: “Ick” can also refer to platonic relationships. It has to do more with chemistry, and all of a sudden, that intangible something about someone(s) that leaves you repulsed. It was also referenced in the show “Nobody Wants This,” which was arguably the most memorable aspect of that show. [See 👇]
S2E3 is titled "The True Seeing is Within.” Like this season’s episodes, it borrows a line from George Eliot's novel “Middlemarch”. It ties in nicely with the episode’s central theme, which is trusting one’s instincts and looking beyond surface value to delve deeper into exploring true intentions and feelings. Only when the Cuthberts start to trust the ick they begin to feel creep in regarding their boarders, can they rid Green Gables of these bad guys. Similarly, Anne’s been wary of Nate for a while, ever since she found an embosser in his room and couldn’t see gold in the soil sample he told her had it.
The beginning of Season 2 is deeply rooted in Avonlea’s “Gold Fever” frenzy. The townsfolk, except for Matthew, Marilla, and maybe the Lyndes, have all pooled their money to back the Ponzi schemers-slash-scammers-slash-grifters Nate and Dunlop (whose real name, we learn this episode, is “Jonesy”). They’re supposedly sending soil samples off to a fake location to be tested for gold. Of course, we know it’s a total scam, but unfortunately for the Barrys, they’ve sunk a significant amount of money into Nate’s fake venture.
Beyond the looming financial disaster, this episode also sees Jerry, the Cuthberts’ farmhand, confronting the trauma of being attacked and robbed by Nate and Dunlop last season. He’s finally able to name his attacker and face him, but it doesn’t end well for him.
Marilla: This is a period best forgotten.
[Interrupting Beth: No Shit, Sherlock…]
Anne: Not sure I agree with you. Take this rock as example. It’s fool’s gold. You perceive it in a certain light and it looks real. All we can do is our best with the information we have, regardless.
Escape to Prince Edward Island (PEI) and The Inspo Behind Green Gables
My good friend
(we met on Substack, in fact) sent me a few pictures from her recent visit to PEI, the home of Green Gables and Charlottetown. I’ve been mentioning how a literary pilgrimage to PEI is on my radar, and I’m thinking it will be a treat for when I finish this series, hopefully by next Summer! Since this episode features a visit to Charlottetown and naturally features the Cuthbert’s homestead of Green Gables, it’s a perfect accompaniment to our recap. Thank you so much !
“There’s gold in Avonlea?” - Gilbert, upon receiving Anne’s outdated letter aboard his ship. This was pre-cell phones and ship/pigeon carrier days. Snail mail was REAL.
Read on for this episode’s SONG-SHOW connection, how to combat the ICK, other major subplots, and the people behind the show.
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This episode’s question: Describe a time when you’ve been deceived by someone or something.
Sleepaway Summer camp experience in early middle school years, before I discovered performing arts camp. I was told it would be fun and they’d have all these activities I’d enjoy, plus I had family members going so I wouldn’t be alone. On the surface, it looked like fun, but I ended up feeling sad and missing my home a lot. I barely saw my family members since they were all boys and girls and boys were separated. I felt pretty alone. I made some friends, sure, but I also feared I’d get picked on everyday I was there and counting down the days till home!