Anne With An E: Who Each Main Character Should Have Ended Up With

Romance plays an important role in the story of Anne With An E, but the series was canceled before the characters' journeys could play out. Anne begins as a young girl with an idealized perception of what romance should be, thanks largely to her imagination and the books she reads. As she grows, this perception is deconstructed.

After meddling in Matthew's love life, Anne begins to realize that romance isn't the most important thing in life. She dedicates herself to more pressing issues, like speaking out against sexism, misogyny, and racism. However, by the end of season 3, she realizes that her love story has been right in front of her this whole time. Nevertheless, having lived with Matthew and Marilla, she understands that romantic love isn't the only kind of love there is.

10. Prissy Andrews - No One

Prissy has one of the most empowering arcs that leads her to a very fitting ending in Anne With An E. In seasons 1 and 2 she's preparing to marry Mr. Phillips, who was her teacher in school. However, she comes to realize that he's not a good person and doesn't value her as an individual.

Prissy leaves him at the altar to enjoy what's left of her childhood. In season 3, she returns from college a new, enlightened woman. She has clear goals for herself and marriage isn't one of them. Prissy is more interested in making something of herself and her career, which promises a far more fulfilling life than being married to Mr. Phillips would have.

9. Bash Lacroix - Mary Lacroix

Mary and Bash's love story is one of the sweetest in the show and is unfairly cut short. From the beginning, it's clear that they're meant for each other. After Mary dies, Bash wonders (on a philosophical level) why she died. They were both good people who deserved their joy.

They share a strong connection and have the same goals for their life. Bash is now left to raise their daughter Delphine on his own, but Mary will always be a part of his life.

8. Cole Mackenzie - No One (Yet)

As one of the few queer characters on the show, Cole's journey is a very important one. The only other queer character he knows is Josephine, who lived a happy life with her partner. Cole, on the other hand, is just beginning to figure himself out. Had the series been renewed for a fourth season, he may have met someone he'd liked to have pursued a relationship with.

As it is, Cole is still learning to navigate this new world he's a part of. At the end of season 3, he's living with Josephine in Charlottetown, where he's finally able to accept and be proud of who he is. It's the first place he feels he belongs, and it's a safe environment for him to work on his art. For now, Cole is all right without a romantic partner, but he may be ready in the future.

7. Rachel Lynde - Thomas Lynde

Rachel and Thomas are already long married at the beginning of the show, and their relationship remains strong throughout all three seasons. Even though Rachel's views are conservative, her marriage to Thomas truly appears to be based on a bond of love and care.

After many years together raising their twelve children, the pair has quite a few inside jokes. They know each other better than anyone else and find joy in each other's company. Their marriage appears to be one of the few happy ones in Avonlea. There's no one else in the series who could be a better match for Rachel, as unique and selective as she is.

6. Muriel Stacy - No One

Anne's teacher Miss Stacy first arrives in Avonlea as a recent widow. It's clear that she still loves her husband and that she always will, but she acknowledges that she wouldn't mind a companion. At the end of season 3, she begins spending time with Bash, who has also just lost his spouse.

While their union may have been a happy one, Miss Stacy may be better off on her own. She could easily be friends with Bash, but as one of the most intelligent characters in Anne With An E, she is wise enough to know that she doesn't need a man to fulfill her life. In fact, when Rachel sends her suitors, she turns them all down without giving them a chance. Miss Stacy doesn't seem like she's in the right place for a romantic relationship at the end of season 3, so it's for the best that she focus on herself.

5. Marilla Cuthbert - Matthew Cuthbert

Matthew and Marilla always stand by each other, even when the rest of Avonlea scorns their life choices. This may not be a romantic pairing, but these siblings are happy to share their life and raise Anne without following social conventions. Marilla's decision doesn't make sense to most of her peers, especially the local mothers of Avonlea.

When asked about it, Marilla always says she's happy with her choice not to marry. She does express a twinge of regret in season 1 when John Blythe dies, but ultimately, she's happy with how her life turned out (thanks to Anne). Similarly, Matthew reassures Anne that he's lived a full life and that he doesn't need romance for there to be love in his life.

4. Josie Pye - Jerry Baynard

At the end of season 3, it looks like Josie is beginning a redemption arc, but fans never get to see it play out because of the show's cancellation. Josie has just begun to heal after suffering through a traumatic experience as a result of Billy's unwanted advances. She seems to have come out of the experience with a stronger value of herself as a young woman, and she now has a better idea of what a healthy relationship should look like.

Meanwhile, Jerry has just had his heart broken by Diana. He, too, has come out of this experience having learned a similar lesson to Josie; he shouldn't let others diminish his value as a person, and the relationship should be based on an emotional connection rather than a physical one. Josie and Jerry have both grown a lot in Anne With An E and could make an unexpectedly good couple, having the same desires for a relationship.

3. Ruby Gillis - No One

Ruby spends so long obsessing over Gilbert that she hasn't had much time to focus on who she is. In season 3, she appears to begin a courtship, or at least a flirtation, with Moody. This couple makes sense but is unlikely to last. Ruby doesn't have a strong connection with him and is still a very superficial person.

Hopefully, as she matures, Ruby will come to value herself more. At the conclusion of the series, Ruby had joined Anne and the other girls at college, where it would have been nice to see Ruby focus on herself and her future ambitions.

2. Diana Barry - No One

As a young woman, Diana still hasn't matured enough to be a good romantic partner, as evidenced by her relationship with Jerry. She treats him poorly, thinking herself too good for him. Similarly, Diana worried about her image when her Aunt Josephine proposes she pursue a career as a pianist.

By the end of season 3, Diana has broken away from her parents' rigid expectations and joined Anne at Queen's. As it stands, Diana needs some time to figure out what kind of woman she wants to be, and she doesn't need a romantic partner to do this. However, once she's a little older, someone like Winifred Rose may be a good match for her; they both have a taste for visual aesthetics and luxury, they're well-traveled, and have a similar level of emotional intelligence.

1. Anne Shirley-Cuthbert - Gilbert Blythe

From their first meeting, it's clear that Anne and Gilbert are the perfect match. Gilbert knows this, too, but Anne denies her feelings for a long time. When she finally realizes that romance in real life isn't the same as it is in Gothic novels, she sees that Gilbert has always been more than a friend.

The two begin as academic rivals, which proves that they're matched in intellect. They also have the same sense of humor. In season 3, when forced into tough situations, Anne and Gilbert are usually the ones to lead the charge. Similarly, they find that there's nobody else they'd rather talk to than each other and that nobody else understands them in the same way. Gilbert is one of the only people who truly appreciate Anne's imagination and eccentricity, and it's what made him like her in the first place.

Originally shared via ScreenRant.