Anne With An E: 5 Characters Who Grew A Lot (& 5 Who Didn't)

Though it was canceled two years ago, Anne With An E remains one of Netflix's most popular and most fought-for series. The story is based on Lucy Maud Montgomery's classic Anne of Green Gables books, but with a grittier twist. The diverse cast of characters lives in the unprogressive society of late-nineteenth-century Canada.

Every single character experiences some degree of growth as they struggle to find their place in the world, whether it be the children heading off to Queen's after school, or their parents whose eyes are just opening up to the future. However, some of the characters would rather cling to old traditions and ways of life that suit them.

10. GREW A LOT: Prissy

Prissy is one of the characters who grows the most throughout the show's three seasons. She is introduced as shallow, conceited, and attention-seeking, but changes drastically after her botched wedding.

After going away to college, Prissy's eyes have opened up to the wider world and the opportunities it - and the future - holds. She becomes one of the most proactive feminists in Avonlea, even standing up to her father, and supporting Anne at the freedom of speech rally.

9. DIDN'T GROW: Ruby

Throughout all three seasons, Ruby is a rather shallow, frivolous, superficial person. She shudders at the thought of being associated with Anne in any way, let alone to be thought of as her friend. Over time, this changes, but she still has trouble truly connecting to Anne. For one, she never understands what she's saying, and she's overly preoccupied with "beaus".

When it counts the most, Ruby fails to have Anne's back or support her in the way that others - like Diana and Cole - do. When left to make up her own mind, Ruby thinks Anne has gone too far, like in the case of Josie and Billy.

8. GREW A LOT: Elijah

Elijah is only in the show for one season, but he is one of the characters who grows the most. He is first introduced as a mysterious man who Bash assumes is Mary's lover, but is actually her grown son. Elijah hangs around the wrong crowd and resents his mother for bringing him into the world as an illegitimate child, and for moving on to lead a life without him when he disappears from hers.

When he learns that she has another baby with Bash, he becomes violent and trashes the Blythe household. He ignores Bash's pleas to come home when Mary is dying but regrets his decision when Bash comes to inform him that his mother is dead. He then tries his best to redeem himself, but unfortunately, his arc was cut short when the series got canceled. Nevertheless, his worldview is so greatly changed in just a few episodes that his growth eclipses most other characters in the series.

7. DIDN'T GROW: Tillie

Tillie is one of the first girls Anne meets at school. She's friends with Josie, Ruby, Diana, and Jane, but doesn't play as much of a role in Anne's story as some of the others. She becomes more important as the series progresses, particularly in season 3.

In season 1, Tillie is reluctant to accept Anne into the group when Diana introduces her. She makes fun of her and uses every opportunity to try to put her down. She doesn't catch on to Anne's modern way of thinking or understand Miss Stacy's efforts to get the students up to date with the future. In fact, when Anne tries to defend Josie in season 3, Tillie is the loudest protestor. She insists that Anne should have left well enough alone and that Josie should be grateful to Billy. Though she does eventually change her mind and support Anne in the rally for freedom of speech, it's clear that this at least partly a result of peer pressure.

6. GREW A LOT: Marilla

Marilla is introduced as a stern, severe woman of little patience. Her relationship with Anne doesn't get off to a great start because Marilla is prejudiced and judgemental. She even sends Anne away after mistakenly accusing her of stealing a family brooch.

Later, Marilla learns to deal with Anne's eccentricity and even comes to love her. By season 3, Marilla cherishes Anne above all else, saying she didn't understand what all the fuss about babies was about until then. She's a lot softer, calmer, and more accepting by the end of the series - not just of Anne, but of anyone else who has been othered by society.

5. DIDN'T GROW: Aunt Josephine

Aunt Josephine has no doubt grown a lot in her life, but in the series, she's already so sure of who she is that she doesn't have much room to grow. She acts a lot like a mentor for some of the younger characters, especially Anne and Cole.

Aunt Josephine remains a steady personality throughout the show, always ready to listen to other people's problems, always ready to make room for them at her table.

4. GREW A LOT: Diana

Most of Diana's significant growth happens in season 3. After graduation, Diana's parents plan for her to attend Finishing School, where she may learn how to be a good housewife. Her traditional, conservative parents want her to marry well, but she thinks she wants something more from life. Still, she resists Aunt Jo's attempts to broaden her horizons.

When the time comes, she deceives her family and secretly takes the Queen's entrance exam, which she passes. Her parents still oppose the idea of her getting an education because she may not necessarily find a husband. Nevertheless, Diana takes control of her own destiny and joins Anne at Queen's.

3. DIDN'T GROW: Josie

Josie isn't a main character, but she is still important in the story. In the first season, she's a bully who makes Anne's school life a little less pleasant. As the show progresses, she seems to become a part of Anne's friend group, but the two rarely see eye to eye.

Even after everything Anne does for Josie, especially in season 3, she still finds reasons to bully her and be mean to everyone around her. Her ideas surrounding matrimony and feminism start to evolve, but she doesn't have time to properly express them when the show ends.

2. GREW A LOT: Anne

Without a doubt, Anne grows the most throughout the three seasons. She's the main character, so this is to be expected, but the way she evolves is realistic yet unpredictable, given how outgoing, eccentric, and unique she is in the first episode.

She remains imaginative, adventurous, and daring throughout the series, but certainly seems a lot more restrained, controlled, composed, and calmer in the last season. She considers her words before she speaks, learns to accept reality for what it is, and realizes that hers is not the most tragic tale ever told. Her growth is one of maturity and worldliness.

1. DIDN'T GROW: Rachel

Rachel Lynde has to be the most steadfast character of the show. Through wind or storm, Rachel will remain the same: unmoved. She never seems all that impressed with anything, and her attitude towards Anne remains little changed until the end. She still comments on her temper even after seeing all the good that Anne has done for Avonlea.

Rachel seems also to be stuck in a repetitive cycle of prejudice, rejection, and acceptance. This begins with Anne, continues when she meets Miss Stacy, and again when she first meets Bash. Over time, she begins to accept them, but this is mostly because of the Cuthberts' attitude to these "outsiders" rather than her own beliefs. Rachel will probably never really change in a fundamental way.

[Originally shared via ScreenRant.]