The characters are just part of the charm of this cozy Anne of Green Gables remake, but the Cuthberts are at the top of that dazzling list of the best on the show.
Anne With An E is no stranger to having well-rounded characters and several veins of storyline development that manage to capture the attention of a wide audience. Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert are prime examples of this, as they consistently evolved throughout the story.
Though Marilla showed great strength, she also encountered great sorrow. Similarly, Matthew was often burdened by fear, but he also exhibited high levels of bravery. The Cuthbert siblings were two of the most developed characters on the show. From the moment that Matthew bought Anne a dress to the time when Marilla defended her daughter, here are 10 moments that these two Avonleans were the best characters on Anne With An E.
Matthew: When He Bought The Dress
Often times Matthew had a difficult time interacting with other people during social situations or even just expressing himself in general. Despite his fears, he went and bought Anne a dress because he knew it would make her feel magical and happy. It was no easy feat as he struggled to go into the store and talk to the saleswoman. Matthew made more than one venture into the dress shop when things were a bit too overwhelming, and was finally able to make the purchase after seeing the familiar face of an old friend. He was truly determined to help Anne and let her know that her new family listened to her and cared about what she wanted, especially since her past experiences hadn't been so great.
Marilla: When She Told Rachel Off
Rachel Lynde was always outspoken and after a new teacher came to Avonlea, she made known her thoughts about marriage and what women should do with their lives. In order to discourage Miss Stacy from teaching in Avonlea, she questioned Marilla's life choices in the process. After much thought and purposeful deliberation, Marilla was able to finally express her own opinion on the matter and stand up for herself. She saw some similarities between herself and the teacher, and eventually advocated for her to stay in town.
Matthew: When He Took Care Of Marilla
After Marilla got ill in the second season, Matthew helped nurse her back to full health. It was a full-circle moment for the Cuthbert siblings' relationship because usually, it was the other way around in times like this one. It was Marilla who took care of their mother after their brother died, and it was also Marilla who took care of Matthew, as he was still quite young when everything happened.
This time, in a complete role-reversal moment, Matthew helped her get better. He knew how much she worked to make sure that he was taken care of and he showed his gratitude by returning the favor. Sometimes acknowledgment can be a healing force.
Marilla: When She Helped With The Baby
When Mary Anne had a baby, Marilla helped the new parents with things around the house. Whether it was taking care of Delphine or running a bath for Mary Anne, Marilla enjoyed lending a hand to Gilbert's friends. Matthew suspected that it was due to certain maternal urges that she wouldn't fully admit to, but either way, it was a win for everyone involved. It can be a lot to handle when there's a new small human around and an extra set of hands is often useful.
Matthew: When He Took Center Stage
Matthew's shy nature was consistent throughout the course of the show. After a mishap occurred during the Christmas pantomime (a mishap that was a joy for the audience to watch), Billy could no longer participate. It was Rachel Lynde who pushed Matthew into the fray, or onto the stage, to take Billy's place in the owl costume. This moment was somewhat freeing for Matthew, as he was able to face some of his fears head-on. It wasn't that he was suddenly "cured" of the things that weighed heavily on him, but that he was able to experience a wonderful moment of clarity in the retreating presence of his worries.
Marilla: When She Talked To Mrs. Barry
Although Marilla had no biological children of her own, she was perhaps the best mother in Avonlea. Of course, she was probably a mother a bit sooner than most, because she began taking care of her family at a young age. When she saw how worried Anne was about her best friend because she wasn't allowed to go away to school, Marilla encouraged Mrs. Barry to let her go. Marilla helped her to see that the more restriction that she put on Diana, the less her child would confide in her and include her in her plans.
Matthew: When He Reminded Marilla
After Anne and some of her classmates saw Prissy Andrews and Mr. Phillips together through the window, Anne made suggestive comments about the nature of their relationship. It eventually got around to the parents in Avonlea and they were outraged. Most of their indignant anger was fueled by Anne's mysterious and non-traditional upbringing.
The thought that a child with a less than perfect background having the audacity to say anything negative about someone like Prissy Andrews or Mr. Phillips was unfathomable. When things began to get worse and even Marilla began questioning the motive behind Anne's words, Matthew reminded her than Anne was a child. She was an even younger child when she learned things that shouldn't even be on a child's radar.
Marilla: When She Encouraged Matthew
Matthew didn't know how to handle the fact that Anne was leaving for Queen's Academy. He was so afraid to show his true feelings that it seemed to Anne that he didn't care about her impending departure. It was shortly after Marilla's wake-up call that he was able to tell his daughter how he felt. Marilla always seemed to know when Matthew was having a hard time and she encouraged him to work through his emotions.
Matthew: When He Went After Anne
At the very beginning of the show, Anne ran away after she was believed to have stolen something from Marilla. Due to her past, Anne didn't want to stick around if history was going to repeat itself, and if she would have to endure some of the same experiences that still haunted her. Matthew went after her to bring her back home and to let her know that she was part of their family. If he hadn't gone to retrieve her, both Matthew and Marilla would have regretted not doing so for a long while.
Marilla: When She Defended Anne
Gossip traveled quickly in Avonlea, and especially if was about a newcomer with a weird background. Anne's less than appropriate comments about her classmate and teacher were just another reason for the people in the small town to question whether or not she belonged there. Marilla defended her daughter in front of the parents after her brother Matthew reminded her that something wasn't right about Anne having such knowledge in the first place. She called out the hypocrisy of the people in town and brought attention to the fact that Anne was a well-meaning child with an unfortunate past. It was a chance for the audience to see how much Marilla cared for Anne.