TL;DR: Anne with an E is the "gritty reboot" of the classic Anne of Green Gables book that your tween is probably obsessed with (or should be). It’s beautiful, intense, and deals with heavy topics like PTSD, systemic racism, and gender identity. It’s a 10/10 for quality, but a 6/10 for "chill vibes"—this isn't a background show.
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See allIf you grew up with the 1985 Megan Follows miniseries or the original Anne of Green Gables books, you probably remember a whimsical, talkative redhead who accidentally got drunk on raspberry cordial and smashed a slate over a boy’s head. It was quaint. It was "cottagecore" before that was a word.
Enter Amybeth McNulty and the Netflix reimagining, Anne with an E.
This version, which originally aired on CBC and Netflix, is a different beast entirely. It’s been out for a few years now, but its popularity among the 11-to-15-year-old crowd has only grown in 2025 and 2026. Why? Because it stops treating "orphanhood" like a quirky personality trait and starts treating it like the trauma it actually is.
If your kid is asking to watch it, or if you’re looking for something that isn't "brain rot" YouTube content, here is the No-BS breakdown of why this show matters and what you need to look out for.
At its core, the plot is the same: an elderly brother and sister (Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert) intend to adopt a boy to help on their farm, Green Gables, but they get a girl instead.
However, creator Moira Walley-Beckett (who was a writer on Breaking Bad, which tells you everything you need to know about the tone) decided to look at the "why" behind Anne’s behavior. Why does she talk so much? In this version, it’s a defense mechanism. Why does she have such a wild imagination? It’s a survival tactic developed in abusive foster homes.
Amybeth McNulty plays Anne, and frankly, she’s a revelation. She doesn’t look like a polished Hollywood kid; she looks like a scrawny, freckled, real-life 13-year-old. She brings a raw, vibrating energy to the role that makes the character feel less like a storybook protagonist and more like a kid you’d see struggling to fit in at a modern middle school.
You’d think a show set in the late 1890s wouldn't resonate with Gen Alpha, but Anne with an E is a staple of "aesthetic" TikTok and Pinterest for a reason.
- The "Outsider" Energy: Every middle schooler feels like an alien. Anne’s struggle to be "normal" while being inherently "too much" is incredibly relatable.
- The Romance: The slow-burn tension between Anne and Gilbert Blythe is legendary. It’s respectful, intellectual, and high-stakes without being inappropriate.
- The Social Justice: This is where the show diverges most from the books. It tackles the history of residential schools in Canada, the plight of Black settlers in the Maritimes, and the existence of "queer" spaces in the 19th century. Tweens today are highly socially conscious, and they appreciate that this show doesn't pretend the past was a perfect, white-washed utopia.
- Amybeth McNulty herself: She’s become a bit of an icon for "weird girls" everywhere. Her later appearance in Stranger Things as Vickie only cemented her status as a fan favorite for this demographic.
If you’re expecting the "sunshine and pigtails" version of Anne, buckle up. This show can be dark.
Trauma and Flashbacks
The show uses frequent, jarring flashbacks to Anne’s time in the orphanage and previous foster homes. We see glimpses of physical abuse, emotional neglect, and bullying. For a sensitive kid, or a kid with a history of foster care or trauma, these scenes can be triggering. They aren't gratuitous, but they are heavy.
Period Talk and Puberty
There is a very realistic (and funny) episode about Anne getting her first period and thinking she’s dying because nobody told her what was happening. It’s a great conversation starter, but be prepared for it.
Social Issues
The show introduces a storyline about a residential school and the kidnapping of an Indigenous girl named Ka'kwet. It is heartbreaking and, historically, doesn't have a "happy" ending because history didn't have one. It’s a vital teaching moment, but it’s a "sit-down-and-talk-about-it" moment, not a "watch-while-scrolling-on-your-phone" moment.
While the show is rated TV-PG, that PG is doing a lot of heavy lifting.
- Ages 5-9: Probably too slow and too intense. They might like the "scenery," but the themes of trauma and the complex social subplots will likely go over their heads or just make them sad. Stick to the Anne of Green Gables (1985) or the animated series.
- Ages 10-12: The sweet spot. This is the age where kids are starting to navigate their own identities and notice social hierarchies. It’s a great co-watch for parents and kids.
- Ages 13+: High engagement. They’ll likely watch it on their own and then spend three hours looking up "Anne and Gilbert" edits on YouTube.
If your child is diving into the world of Avonlea, use it as a bridge to talk about things that actually matter.
- On Trauma: "Why do you think Anne reacts so strongly when Marilla loses her brooch? How does her past affect how she sees the world?"
- On Inclusion: "The show introduces characters like Sebastian (Bash) and Aunt Josephine. How do their stories change your perspective on what life was like back then?"
- On Identity: "Anne is constantly told she's 'too much.' Have you ever felt like you had to tone yourself down to fit in?"
Anne with an E is one of the rare pieces of "prestige TV" for the tween set. It treats its audience with respect, assuming they are smart enough to handle complex emotions and dark history.
Amybeth McNulty’s performance is the anchor that keeps the show from feeling like a history lecture. She makes Anne feel like a girl who could exist in 2026—anxious, brilliant, flawed, and desperately looking for her "kindred spirits."
If you’re tired of the mindless content your kids are consuming on TikTok or YouTube, this is the perfect antidote. Just keep some tissues handy—and maybe a copy of the original Anne of Green Gables book for when they inevitably want to see how the "real" story ends.
Check out our guide on the best historical fiction for tweens
- Watch the first two episodes with them. You’ll know pretty quickly if the "grittiness" is too much for your specific kid.
- Compare and contrast. If they love the show, encourage them to read the original L.M. Montgomery books. It’s a great lesson in how different creators can interpret the same story.
- Discuss the ending. The show was canceled after three seasons (much to the internet's rage), so the ending feels a bit rushed. It’s a good chance to talk about how sometimes the media we love doesn't get a perfect "happily ever after."