Anne (Anne with an E): Season 1/ Episode 6 “Remorse is the Poison of Life” – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)

For those wondering what life could have held for Marilla if it wasn’t for her brother’s death, this episode is for you.

The Heart Is a Longing Organ (Marilla)

Gilbert’s dad dies this episode, and it is revealed to us that John once fancied Marilla. In fact, the adventurous young man asked of her to join him on his travels. However, with her brother dead and mom never recovering from his death, she had to stay home. She wasn’t brave enough to abandon it all for the love of a man and it seems she may regret that decision. Especially as she looks over John’s old letters to her.

Commentary

After the reveal of what life Matthew loss, it seemed clear Marilla would be next up. However, who’d imagine it would be so much more devastating. If only because, in a way, you can see that sparkle that was once in Marilla’s eye. That gleam which held possibility, especially as John was there beside her. Yet, now it isn’t necessarily gone but surely lost its luster. Life and the pursuit of survival have become an obligation. So even though Gilbert is the one who deserves pity, it’s hard to not give some to Marilla too. Especially since, even at her present age, she still hadn’t the courage to venture to the man of her dreams.

Grief Is the Price of Love (Anne, Gilbert, and Ms. Josephine Barry [Deborah Grover])

Gilbert is naturally taking it hard that his dad died. Though part of the reason why is because, of his formerly big family, he is all that seems to be left. His brothers are gone, the mother is too, and now his dad died. Of what exactly, it isn’t clear. Heck, it isn’t even 100% fact that they all died and didn’t just have John’s travel spirit and just left somewhere. However, either way you look at it, the boy is now alone. [note]Which seemingly is making him a fish in shark infested waters. For people are already asking about buying his land. Though, from what it seems, Matthew, with the help of Jerry, plan to keep him afloat. But with a boat named Dal Marie going down, and seemingly carrying Matthew’s crops, he may not be able to afford to manage two farms.[/note]

Something Ruby wants to, for a lack of a better term, take advantage of to show how she can be perfect for him. However, it is quite clear Anne is who he wants. For even if she doesn’t know the perfect thing to say to console him, his feelings remain. Hence why, even after her stumble, he defends her name in front of the other boys and punches one who dares call him bud while he besmirches Anne’s name.

Though when it comes to Anne, she doesn’t know how to feel about Gilbert. There is still this rivalry between them and while there are burgeoning feelings, she doesn’t know how to decipher them. Can you believe that? The one who romanticizes everything can’t even see a crush before her little-freckled nose. Which is why Diana’s aunt Josephine couldn’t have come into Anne’s life at a better time.

You see, with Aunt Josephine’s lifelong partner Gertrude dying, she is now living in Diana’s household. And while Diana and her little sister Minnie May don’t like her, Anne’s usual charm warms her right up. If just because Anne is her own person and Aunt Josephine admires that. To the point that Anne sees Aunt Josephine as a role model, a mentor of sorts. For with Aunt Josephine, so she appears, never marrying and just being a lifetime friend of someone, she gives Anne hope.

Yet, Aunt Josephine is clear that Anne need not set aside love as a foreign thing only made for others. For if she truly sees herself as someone like Josephine, she must realize that while it may not be right to, like Diana and ruby, obsess over someone’s love and limit your dreams to the household, there is nothing wrong in pursuing it. For while grief maybe the price of love, all the years you spend with another are worth it. Hence why, even though she is grieving, she has no regrets.

Commentary

I so hope Aunt Josephine sticks around! Not just because she seemingly is queer, but also because she seems like she can be such a good mentor for Anne. I mean, she is sophisticated, reads, clearly has a sense of curiosity, why else would she enter Anne’s little hut thing? Plus, while Matthew is supportive, and Marilla loving in her own way, I do believe Josephine represents what neither is able to give. Not money, but experience. Since it has become clear that with the older brother’s death, both Marilla and Matthew really stopped living. So what Anne needs, more than ever, is to align herself with someone who did live.

That aside, I do wonder what is going to come of Gilbert? With white clothes and benches on tables when Anne visits his home, after being unable to write a letter, does that mean he is gone? Is he off to Alberta to never be seen again? The next episode is the last of the season so I hope we aren’t left too much of a cliffhanger.

Back Together Again (Anne and Diana)

Before I forget, thanks to Anne’s previous experience taking care of children, she saves Minnie May’s (Ryan Kiera Armstrong) life. With that, Eliza Barry, Diana and Minnie May’s mom, takes back any horrible thing she said and now seems to be #TeamAnne. Meaning, the girls are now back to frolicking and being the best of friends.

Commentary

I’m left wondering how much must Anne do so that people see how wonderful she is? She keeps housing from burning down, saves children’s lives, so why are there still people who have such a dislike for her?

That thought aside, can I just say I live for Diana’s facial expressions whenever Anne says something odd or she doesn’t like how someone reacts to Anne? If I was about making .gifs, pretty much I would have a folder dedicated solely to her reactions. Leading me to really hope when these two actresses are older, they reunite in a movie or show. For they have such good chemistry together.