Anne of the Island is my favorite book in the series, and unfortunately it is almost completely taken out of this series adaptation. Anne never really goes to Redmond College, instead she's portrayed as suffering for being a "spinster" career woman teacher. Popular, young, and dashing Roy is replaced by a widowed old Morgan whose daughter is being tutored by Anne. All of these added plot points were lacking the luster of the usual Anne of Green Gables storytelling and characters.
Not only that, but Redmond College included great moments with Gilbert that were never included here, leading to almost 90% of this adaptation just not including him at all. Thankfully, a little bit of the best parts with Gilbert are still included, but this movie was a missed opportunity for greatness. Not only was it bad at the surface level, it actually goes much deeper than that.
A woman like Anne going to college for her degree was a bold and feminist plot point of the original books. It showed that she saw the world, saw success, and was BIGGER than just Avonlea told her she could be (JUST a teacher). When she dates the popular and rich Roy, it shows that she has the highest of options, not just Gilbert. And when after gaining her independence, academic success, a career, and the dark tall and romantic and rich boy of her dreams, she still chooses Avonlea and Gilbert, it has such a bigger impact.
Not only that, but Redmond College included great moments with Gilbert that were never included here, leading to almost 90% of this adaptation just not including him at all. Thankfully, a little bit of the best parts with Gilbert are still included, but this movie was a missed opportunity for greatness. Not only was it bad at the surface level, it actually goes much deeper than that.
A woman like Anne going to college for her degree was a bold and feminist plot point of the original books. It showed that she saw the world, saw success, and was BIGGER than just Avonlea told her she could be (JUST a teacher). When she dates the popular and rich Roy, it shows that she has the highest of options, not just Gilbert. And when after gaining her independence, academic success, a career, and the dark tall and romantic and rich boy of her dreams, she still chooses Avonlea and Gilbert, it has such a bigger impact.