It’s hard to talk about L.M. Montgomery’s world without getting a little misty-eyed. Honestly, if you grew up with the books, you probably have a very specific version of Anne Shirley living in your head. She’s talkative. She’s red-headed. She’s prone to "depths of despair." But when PBS and Breakthrough Entertainment released Anne of Green Gables: Fire & Dew in 2017, it felt different. It wasn't just another retread of the "Anne gets her hair dyed green" trope. It felt like the stakes finally caught up to the whimsy.
This wasn't the 1985 Megan Follows version. It wasn't the grit-and-grime of Anne with an E. It was the third installment in a trilogy starring Ella Ballentine, Martin Sheen, and Sara Botsford, and it took on the most difficult part of the story: growing up.
What Anne of Green Gables: Fire & Dew Actually Covers
Most people think of Anne as a permanent child. We remember the slate-breaking and the raspberry cordial. However, Anne of Green Gables: Fire & Dew shifts the lens toward Anne’s teenage years. She’s headed to Queen’s Academy in Charlottetown. She’s competing for the Avery Scholarship. She’s finally dealing with the fact that Matthew and Marilla are getting older.
The film covers the transition from the carefree "spirit of childhood" to the heavy, sometimes crushing weight of adult responsibility. It’s a period of life Montgomery herself described with such bittersweet precision in her journals. The "fire" in the title refers to Anne’s ambition, her temper, and her burning desire to prove she belongs in the academic world. The "dew" is the softness—the fleeting nature of youth and the literal tears shed when things start to fall apart.
Director John Kent Harrison, who also helmed the previous two films in this specific series, chose to focus heavily on the academic rivalry between Anne and Gilbert Blythe. It’s not just a cute crush here. It’s a driving force. You see two young people pushing each other to be better, even if they can't quite admit why they care so much about the other's opinion.
The Martin Sheen Factor: A Different Kind of Matthew Cuthbert
Let's be real for a second. Playing Matthew Cuthbert is a daunting task. Richard Farnsworth’s performance in the 80s is basically considered the gold standard by every Anne fan on the planet. But Martin Sheen brings something deeply vulnerable to Anne of Green Gables: Fire & Dew.
His Matthew is frail.
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You can see the heart problems written all over his face before the script even mentions them. In this film, the bond between Matthew and Anne is the emotional spine. While Marilla (played with a sharp, guarded tenderness by Sara Botsford) handles the discipline and the practical side of Anne’s education, Matthew is the one who understands her "kindred spirit" soul.
There’s a specific scene where they talk about her leaving for Queen’s. It’s quiet. It’s understated. It’s devastating. Sheen plays it with this sort of "I’m losing my world but I’m so proud of her" energy that makes the eventual climax of the film hit like a freight train. If you don't have tissues ready for the final thirty minutes, you're basically made of stone.
Why the Pacing Feels Different Than Other Versions
If you’ve watched Anne with an E on Netflix, you know it takes huge liberties with the plot. It adds new characters, trauma backstories, and a lot of modern social commentary. Anne of Green Gables: Fire & Dew sticks much closer to the source material, but it compresses it.
Because it’s a TV movie, it moves fast.
One minute she’s studying by a kerosene lamp in Avonlea, and the next, she’s navigating the "big city" of Charlottetown. Some critics felt it moved too fast. I kinda disagree. Life feels like that when you're seventeen. You're rushing toward a future you think you want, only to realize that every step forward is a step away from home. The frantic pace of the scholarship race captures that anxiety perfectly.
The cinematography also shifts. The vibrant greens of the first movie start to give way to more muted tones, reflecting the shift from summer play to autumn reality. It’s a visual representation of the "dew" evaporating.
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Key Plot Points and Accuracy
- The Avery Scholarship: This is the big goal. Anne wants to go to Redmond College. This isn't a fake plot point for the movie; it’s straight from the 1908 novel.
- The Academic Rivalry: The film emphasizes the tie for the bronze medal and the tension of the Queen’s results.
- The Ending: Without spoiling it for the three people who don't know how the first book ends—it deals with the tragedy at Green Gables with dignity rather than melodrama.
The "Fire & Dew" Meaning: Ambition vs. Loss
The title isn't just a poetic phrase pulled out of thin air. It represents the duality of Anne Shirley.
Anne is "fire" because she refuses to be "just an orphan." In the early 1900s, her options were limited. She could be a teacher, or she could be a wife. She wanted more. She wanted the scholarship. She wanted the gold medal. She wanted to be the best. That fire is what gets her through the grueling exams at Queen's.
But the "dew" is the cost. It's the realization that while she was off being brilliant in Charlottetown, things were changing back at the farm. Matthew’s health was failing. Marilla’s eyesight was worsening. The dew represents the morning of her life ending and the "heat of the day" (adulthood) beginning.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Adaptation
A lot of fans dismissed this trilogy because they felt the actors looked "too modern" or the production felt "too clean."
That’s a mistake.
If you actually sit down and watch Ella Ballentine’s performance in Anne of Green Gables: Fire & Dew, she captures a specific type of Anne that we don't often see: the intellectual. She’s not just a dreamer; she’s a worker. She’s studious. She’s focused. While other adaptations focus on her "accidents," this one focuses on her mind.
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Also, can we talk about Gilbert? Drew Haytaoglu plays a Gilbert who is genuinely supportive. He’s not just a handsome face in the background. He’s a peer. Their reconciliation at the end of the film isn't just about a romance—it's about two adults acknowledging their mutual respect. It’s subtle, and honestly, it’s refreshing.
Actionable Insights for Fans and New Viewers
If you’re planning to dive into this version of the story, or if you’re a teacher looking to show this to a class, here is how to get the most out of the experience:
- Watch the whole trilogy: Don't just jump into Fire & Dew. You need to see the evolution of the characters from the first film (2016) to appreciate the emotional payoff here.
- Compare the "Queen's Academy" arc: If you're a literature nerd, compare this film's portrayal of the Queen’s exams to the actual text in Chapter 34 and 35 of the book. It’s surprisingly faithful to the stress Montgomery described.
- Look for the foreshadowing: Pay close attention to Matthew’s interactions with the bank and his physical cues in the first twenty minutes. The filmmakers dropped breadcrumbs that make the ending feel earned rather than abrupt.
- Check the filming locations: Much of this was filmed in Ontario, not P.E.I., which is a point of contention for some. However, the set design for the "Charlottetown" boarding house is exceptionally well-done and accurate to the period’s interior design.
Anne of Green Gables: Fire & Dew stands as a reminder that Anne Shirley isn't just a character for children. She’s a character for anyone who has ever had to choose between their personal dreams and their family obligations. It’s a story about the moment you stop looking at your parents as invincible giants and start seeing them as people who might need you as much as you needed them.
Whether you’re a lifelong Montgomery devotee or just someone looking for a solid period drama, this film delivers the emotional goods without leaning too hard on the "syrup." It’s a bittersweet, grounded look at the end of an era.
To fully appreciate the narrative arc, watch the films in order: L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables (2016), The Good Stars (2017), and finally Fire & Dew (2017). This sequence allows the viewer to track the subtle aging of the actors and the deepening of the familial bonds between Anne, Matthew, and Marilla, which is essential for the emotional impact of the final act. For those interested in the historical context of Canadian education in the late 19th century, researching the actual "Queen's College" (now UPEI) provides a fascinating backdrop to Anne's academic struggles.