Unlike most of the other reviewers, I'd never even heard of Emily of New Moon before I stumbled on the TV series. I was amazed and astounded--didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Dead mother; heinous school teacher; father loses job after confronting heinous teacher; father falls off roof and dies trying to catch kitten so it can be taken to new home. Holy crap. And all that happened in the first two episodes. Then on we go to more pain and horror. I've never seen a kid's show with so many thoroughly mean characters, both of the adult and child variety--people totally lacking in compassion. So we have ghosts (I failed to mention them from the first two episodes but they were there), attempted cat murder, a child who is treated in a way that could only be considered abusive (forbidden to read and write except for school work), and then we get into jilted lovers and illegitimate kids and 19th century drug addiction. And yet, it's somehow compelling. Maybe just because you can't believe that so many bad things will continue to occur and you keep hoping for some kind of redemption. I'm only in the middle of the 2nd season, so perhaps redemption is just around the corner, or another 17 episodes away.
20 Reviews
great series, great acting... i recommend u to watch it :)
ronlovesluna5 May 2006
this series is really great. i loved it. the best thing that makes me say that, is that i was really excited to see what would happen in the next episode. it was a normal story about a little girl wanting to make her wished come true. who cares about her friends and family.
sometimes her curiosity drives her to some danger, but she always uses her brain and gets out of it.
she goes to school, tries new ways in life.
she does all she can to help her family.
i think that MANY people can relate to her in a way.
she is smart, she is funny, she is nice and kind, she is everything young :) and full of life
it;s really fun for the family and children, but a great thing to watch for the adults too :) enjoy
i give 4.5 out of 5 =D cheers ,,,
sometimes her curiosity drives her to some danger, but she always uses her brain and gets out of it.
she goes to school, tries new ways in life.
she does all she can to help her family.
i think that MANY people can relate to her in a way.
she is smart, she is funny, she is nice and kind, she is everything young :) and full of life
it;s really fun for the family and children, but a great thing to watch for the adults too :) enjoy
i give 4.5 out of 5 =D cheers ,,,
The Darker Vision
suessis12 November 2010
After having enjoyed Kevin Sullivan's foray into the works of L.M. Montgomery, I was interested to see what Salter Street Films would do. The Emily series is the darker, more realistic vision of life Rural Prince Edward Island and much closer to the life Montgomery herself lead. While the series captures that darker element, there are moments of light and color that make the series charming and delightful. The performance of the regular actors in the series were all very well done. Stephen McHattie, who plays Cousin Joe, was especially a standout for me because I'm used to seeing him play heavies and bad guys. The actress playing the lead character is certainly well cast. She is almost a little too intense.
It would be interesting if the producers did an update movie with the same cast based on the last book in the Emily series. It would be a great closer for a series that didn't last too long.
It would be interesting if the producers did an update movie with the same cast based on the last book in the Emily series. It would be a great closer for a series that didn't last too long.
Looked forward to Emily every Sunday night
leanmean213 August 2005
Even though the episodes became pretty far-fetched as time went on, I really looked forward to Emily each week. To me Chris Dedrick's beautiful theme song alone, with the waves rolling in behind the credits, was worth watching. Every week I got a chuckle out of the caterer's name rolling by--Grilled Cheese, Etc. After the first few episodes I charged out and purchased the Emily paperbacks, to relive my girlhood. I never cared much for the Anne books, but Jane of Lantern Hill, Emily, and The Blue Castle (wish they'd make a series on that one!) were my favorites. Thought the actresses/actors were great and often wonder what some of those younger kids are doing now. This week I've been "rewatching" my Emily tapes in the evenings, as I can find very little worth watching on TV. I'm 72 years old. Thank you.
Wonderful series, kind of based on 3 great books.
mindbird14 March 2012
Warning: Spoilers
I was captivated by the bits of this I've gotten to see (it comes on just before I am leaving for work) and then I was completely taken by the episodes I got to see the few days I was out sick or on vacation.
I confess I was at first interested in the books in order to see how these themes had been covered (the laudanum, kidnapping, etc) and as I suspected they were add-ons, and probably necessary to hold the audience. But the books are absolutely delightful, and the writing about nature is absolutely magnificent.
So: Watch the series, then read the book. (All ages--I am well beyond the original target audience age, I think).
I confess I was at first interested in the books in order to see how these themes had been covered (the laudanum, kidnapping, etc) and as I suspected they were add-ons, and probably necessary to hold the audience. But the books are absolutely delightful, and the writing about nature is absolutely magnificent.
So: Watch the series, then read the book. (All ages--I am well beyond the original target audience age, I think).
Outstanding Family Entertainment
sidneysalgado25 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Regardless of the naysaying bookworms-whom often chuck their self-righteous opinions based on their own interpretation of a book-this series is quietly addicting. I strongly recommend it as wholesome family viewing, given the loud, cynical, and commercially-driven claptrap that's currently being offered on the idiot box.
No, I never read the saga of "Emily of New Moon," but I will NOW because of this meticulously paced, directed, acted, and written for the screen. There are many wonderful and genuine performances on display here, and the story is very riveting.
And, if the book differs from this brilliant production, so be it. They're not supposed to be exact, based on the media being employed here.
It's a period piece, and this is all that matters to me. This is a solid drama depicting an age before the overwhelming and deleterious hold of today's technological age.
'Emily' conveys the ongoing imagination of a uniquely perspective young schoolgirl in a time when teachers disciplined children sternly in the classroom, chores were a routine part of daily life, and poetry mattered. There were no cars, rap music, or phony celebrities, just survival and the trials and tribulations of making it from one day to the next.
Indeed, there's no shortage of annoying and eye-rolling moments of "female issues" in a cast of largely female characters predominant in a drama seemingly befit for a daytime soap opera, but IT WORKS. As I always say, behind every great mass-murderer there's always a mother who failed him and a father who either checked out by fleeing the scene or dying. Yeah, there's some of that, too.
Notwithstanding my societal digression, I still find the series worthy of interest, at least from a historical perspective, when things were simpler, albeit equally dysfunctional.
Even Christopher Dedrick's opening and closing credits musical score is haunting and mystifying.
My rating: *****
No, I never read the saga of "Emily of New Moon," but I will NOW because of this meticulously paced, directed, acted, and written for the screen. There are many wonderful and genuine performances on display here, and the story is very riveting.
And, if the book differs from this brilliant production, so be it. They're not supposed to be exact, based on the media being employed here.
It's a period piece, and this is all that matters to me. This is a solid drama depicting an age before the overwhelming and deleterious hold of today's technological age.
'Emily' conveys the ongoing imagination of a uniquely perspective young schoolgirl in a time when teachers disciplined children sternly in the classroom, chores were a routine part of daily life, and poetry mattered. There were no cars, rap music, or phony celebrities, just survival and the trials and tribulations of making it from one day to the next.
Indeed, there's no shortage of annoying and eye-rolling moments of "female issues" in a cast of largely female characters predominant in a drama seemingly befit for a daytime soap opera, but IT WORKS. As I always say, behind every great mass-murderer there's always a mother who failed him and a father who either checked out by fleeing the scene or dying. Yeah, there's some of that, too.
Notwithstanding my societal digression, I still find the series worthy of interest, at least from a historical perspective, when things were simpler, albeit equally dysfunctional.
Even Christopher Dedrick's opening and closing credits musical score is haunting and mystifying.
My rating: *****
I Apologize For Loving The Television Series!
tnvolorange16 April 2022
I'm sorry and I am not sorry. I caught this show quite some time ago in the early 2000's. I was 30ish and watching early morning tv like The Patty Duke Show, Highway Patrol, Seahunt and Mr. Ed. They weren't shows I had seen as a child bc they were before my time but as an adult I found that I liked them. Eight am rolled around and there was Emily of New Moon. I'd never even heard of the books let alone read them so I had no preconceived expectations. I was instantly caught up in this new to me show. I don't suppose there are lots of people who were watching this show at the age of 30 but I was. The fact it was an import from Canada I liked. I admit it was a bit soap-operish and I was left with a cliff hanger in my lap every Sunday morning but isn't that what most tv series are like? If they weren't they wouldn't be able to hold onto their audience. Nowadays we have so many so-called "reality shows" that are in actuality not that real being that they are scripted. I watched every episode of every season and I loved it. Many people here say they're sorry they even attempted to watch Emily of New Moon bc they had read each of the three books and were disappointed in the tv show. The one thing that I won't ever do is read the books bc it would probably ruin the tv series for me. The only thing that left me wanting was the fact that the series didn't last long enough to cover all of the books. Now Emily of New Moon is offered by Hallmark Movies Now and I'm in the process of revisitation. I've tried googling the actors/actresses in every role of the series and I haven't found much. I wonder what they look like now and what they're doing etc...I've found out the most information recorded is about Martha MacIsaac. I suppose fittingly enough for the lead character. About this particular tv series I can say it seems either you love it or you hate it.
Excellent production values, disappointing script
marcie_jacobsen31 December 2021
I discovered this series as a teenager when it first aired on CBC television and read the books as a result, but I am reviewing it now that I have the proper maturity to appreciate its qualities and flaws. I will mention I only watched the first season and a good part of the second for reasons that will become obvious as you read along. I had begun watching the series when my sister-in-law noticed my interest and lent me L. M. Montgomery's Emily trilogy. I devoured all three books over the summer and Emily of New Moon remains one of my favourite novels to this day. I was raised Protestant in Québec, a post-Catholic secular culture, and had rarely found fiction I could relate to growing up. The Murrays' Presbyterian lifestyle felt familiar and Emily's innocent musings on legalistic attitudes were hilarious and on point. Upon finishing the books, I realized how far Marlene Matthews, the TV series developer, veered from the source material. She took the books' few uncanny events suggesting Emily Starr has second sight and turned the character into a clairvoyant who communes with the dead on a regular basis. She turned kind spinster Laura Murray into a mentally unstable woman with a complex love life. She replaced Elizabeth Murray with a new character after one season. I have read these choices had to do with some of the actors' demands and decisions, but I wonder how a production can claim to be based upon an author's work while resembling fan fiction to such a high degree. I think Montgomery would be offended by many of Matthew's changes as they do not reflect her beliefs and her era. It would have been good to have Presbyterians and historians review the script before going into production. After two seasons, all the series still had in common with the books were the names and places. The trilogy may be considered youth literature, but the series is not suited for children. Too many mature themes and disturbing images. I will still say the cast is top notch, the music beautiful, the costumes and sets splendid. And with Prince Edward Island brilliantly photographed as a backdrop, it is still worth a watch. I am somewhat fond of it because it helped me visualize Montgomery's characters and places while reading her books. I believe it made the experience richer.
Really good
jewelch12 August 2021
Very disappointed
kayspam21 October 2009
I just finished reading the series for about the zillionth time and decided to take a chance on the television series. I read reviews here and thought i should be alright until the second season. I was wrong. I am halfway thru the first episode and have already asked my husband not to bother getting the rest of the dvds on netflix. I am so disappointed. i'm going to try to finish the disk but the massive alterations. So far the only similarities i've found between the book and the series is a girl named Emily and a father named Douglas both with the last name Star. Scenes, characters, location, plot line etc are all changed. Oh wait they did get the names of the aunts and cousin correct but... the cat is wrong.
Sigh. Perhaps if i had never read the books i'd be OK with just watching this as a stand-alone piece. Even Emily's essential personality has been changed from the character i adored in the trilogy.
Sigh. Perhaps if i had never read the books i'd be OK with just watching this as a stand-alone piece. Even Emily's essential personality has been changed from the character i adored in the trilogy.
Should be renamed "Emily Starr, Ghost Whisperer"
juliroo25 January 2012
Not only does this series utterly fail to stay true to the characters, plot lines, and simple joy and beauty of the novels, it also fails to stay true to the time period in which it is set, and to the basic tenets of good story-telling and film-making. After I watched the first episode or two alone, my roommate asked if we should watch an episode together one night. I said, no, it was late and the episodes were too long. Imagine my surprise when it was revealed that they were only ~45 minutes each. My response: "Well, at least, they feel too long."
Perhaps if the writers weren't trying to jam-pack each episode with divergent plot lines, abrupt changes of mood and character motivation, and (silliest of all) some ghostly mystery or other for Emily to "solve", this series would be bearable. As it is, it's an unholy mess. To make matters worse, more often than not I find myself wondering if the best Canadian actors all go to Hollywood, as that would help to explain the acting, which typically ranges from wooden to melodramatic to simply awful. I give it two stars rather than one only because, every once in a while, one of the actors (usually one of the children) manages to do something legitimately endearing.
Perhaps if the writers weren't trying to jam-pack each episode with divergent plot lines, abrupt changes of mood and character motivation, and (silliest of all) some ghostly mystery or other for Emily to "solve", this series would be bearable. As it is, it's an unholy mess. To make matters worse, more often than not I find myself wondering if the best Canadian actors all go to Hollywood, as that would help to explain the acting, which typically ranges from wooden to melodramatic to simply awful. I give it two stars rather than one only because, every once in a while, one of the actors (usually one of the children) manages to do something legitimately endearing.
should have stuck to the books
waivedwench27 March 2005
Warning: Spoilers
As a longtime fan of Emily of New Moon (much better than that Anne girl!) I was looking forward to this series when it first aired. I wasn't disappointed by the first season because they stuck quite well to the book and the characters were all believable and well-done. But the rot began to set in after Aunt Elizabeth died at the beginning of the second series. The screenwriters basically rewrote the whole story and it wasn't good. There were some good episodes, but some of the stories must have come out of a not-very-good-magician's hat. In the end I gave up on it. It would have been a lot better if the screenwriters had either gone on with the rest of the series, using the books, or just left it at the end of the first season. I must say, though, the kids playing the parts were good.
Season 1 had its moments but it's all wackadoo in season 2!
bowieec1 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I've made it a little more than halfway through the entire run of the series and I don't know if I can continue. While the first season definitely had it's share of what the heck is this show supposed to be moments, it also had some really interesting stories, heartfelt moments and was at least partly in touch with reality. But season 2 is just ridiculous and the writers decided to continually up the ante in each episode. Like a few other reviewers, I keep watching, thinking there will be some sort of redemption of certain characters or maybe Emily will finally have a "good week", but alas. It's all drug addiction, devils and death. Oh and Emily's short, super annoying screams have multiplied since first season. There seems to be one in every other scene now. And could the townsfolk be any more horrid? I mean outside of Emily and some of her family members and her best friend, almost every other character is consistently nasty, mean-spirited, petty, classist, racist, you name it. Maybe I'll just start in season 4 which seems to have the best reviews and pretend seasons 2 and 3 never happened. I was really looking forward to binging this entire series, but I just don't think I'm going to be able to stomach it.
Little House on the Prairie without the family
watchtiger126 September 2011
Warning: Spoilers
I have never read any of the books nor knew they existed until I read some of the reviews.
This is a poorly written tail of an orphaned girl that encounters characters stolen from "Little Women" and then turned into the USA TV network, NBC program (now in syndicated reruns) called "Little House On The Prairie.", while the characters have different names and have different rolls they are a direct rip off.
Also with the era of this show was portrayed to be in, a girl of this age would not know of witches or dragons. Especially with the expense of books and literature at that time. Her knowledge of these things exceeds the flow of that time.
Do not let your kids watch this terrible show.
This is a poorly written tail of an orphaned girl that encounters characters stolen from "Little Women" and then turned into the USA TV network, NBC program (now in syndicated reruns) called "Little House On The Prairie.", while the characters have different names and have different rolls they are a direct rip off.
Also with the era of this show was portrayed to be in, a girl of this age would not know of witches or dragons. Especially with the expense of books and literature at that time. Her knowledge of these things exceeds the flow of that time.
Do not let your kids watch this terrible show.
Cast of "Emily" makes the show worth while.
gmnstx21 February 2005
I have to say, that I have only recently begun to watch Emily and have fallen in love with all of the characters over again. Although the books are truly amazing pieces of literature, I must admit that the actors portraying the beloved characters are what drew me into watching the show. I am truly amazed at the raw talent coming from Canada and an glad to see that many of these great performers are being recognized. I would also like to say, that although the television show does take some liberties and has added story lines and details that were not in the novels the stories do draw you into the trials and tribulations of the community of Blair Water and the family, and extended family, of New Moon.
strange, haunting, disturbing
geraldk20 March 2004
after the relatively lighthearted tales of life around the turn of the century in rural Prince Edward Island, brought to the viewer in Anne of Green Gables, and Road to Avonlea, it was almost hard to watch, to have to endure the dark depressing episodes in the life of young Emily Murray and her misbegotten family in this new and (thankfully) short-lived series from the works of E M Montgomery...
a series filled with incidents covering madness, murder, treachery, ghosts, religous intolerance, betrayal, disease, lost unrequited love, such as hasn't been seen since the novels of Charles Dickens... The mood of most of the episodes being so intense, it seems to have been reflected in the performances themselves, with the result that it was so rare that any of their characters were allowed even a brief moment of happiness and when it came, you were left waiting, watching for the moment when that moment would be shattered by even more doom and gloom...
Viewers obviously did not take to this series as happily as they did Avonlea and Green Gables...it may have reflected a much more realistic portrayal of a way of life in bygone rural Canada, but unrelenting misery is not a promising premise for family viewing...
a series filled with incidents covering madness, murder, treachery, ghosts, religous intolerance, betrayal, disease, lost unrequited love, such as hasn't been seen since the novels of Charles Dickens... The mood of most of the episodes being so intense, it seems to have been reflected in the performances themselves, with the result that it was so rare that any of their characters were allowed even a brief moment of happiness and when it came, you were left waiting, watching for the moment when that moment would be shattered by even more doom and gloom...
Viewers obviously did not take to this series as happily as they did Avonlea and Green Gables...it may have reflected a much more realistic portrayal of a way of life in bygone rural Canada, but unrelenting misery is not a promising premise for family viewing...
good book, not good show
jellybelly2460112 July 2004
It's a shame that people will see the t.v series and think that what happened there, in the show, is what happened in the book. The sub-stories with-in the books (there were 3 books in total) and the characters are so different and so much better in the book trilogy. The makers of the show for some reason did the book a dishonesty by making the series trashy and more adult oriented than it was meant to be. Lucy M. Montgomery wrote those as children books. Yes, the books were somewhat darker than the Anne of Green Gables and Road to Avonlea but they were still well written and very enjoyable. Please don't follow the show, read the books instead.
horrible disappointment
judibruc5 September 2005
I caught an episode of this show on satellite cable and was just horrified. Having read and truly loved the books as a child, I was at first very excited to see that there was apparently some interest in producing a film/television version, but in comparison with the books the characters and stories presented in the TV series are completely unrecognizable and also came across as a little bizarre. It's even more disappointing considering what a beautiful job was done creating the "Anne..." films (the first two, anyway). The "Emily" series could make just as wonderful a transition but was, in this case, handled very VERY badly.
Love this show
kriya-harrigan26 August 2012
I must say that this is one of my favorite shows on TV. Whether or not the show follows the story presented in the books, which I haven't read, this is a far better young adult option than 99% of anything I've seen on Nickelodian or even Disney.
In the show the life of a young writer is portrayed with dead-eye accuracy. Maybe not the way adults perceive these "dark and disturbing" plot lines, but nevertheless accurately. The life of a writer is not the same as the life of a non writer and I would recommend this show to ANY child or even young adult in less than a heartbeat, knowing that it will encourage them to be themselves, despite the undying efforts of Aunt Elizabeth types who squash dreams like bugs. Or fall victim to The Aunt Laura's spaghetti backbone. Their use of archetypal characters and imagery is phenomenal- nothing like it on TV these days. I wish Netflix would get more than the first 2 seasons. I discovered this show late, whenever the US made the switch to all digital broadcast.
In the show the life of a young writer is portrayed with dead-eye accuracy. Maybe not the way adults perceive these "dark and disturbing" plot lines, but nevertheless accurately. The life of a writer is not the same as the life of a non writer and I would recommend this show to ANY child or even young adult in less than a heartbeat, knowing that it will encourage them to be themselves, despite the undying efforts of Aunt Elizabeth types who squash dreams like bugs. Or fall victim to The Aunt Laura's spaghetti backbone. Their use of archetypal characters and imagery is phenomenal- nothing like it on TV these days. I wish Netflix would get more than the first 2 seasons. I discovered this show late, whenever the US made the switch to all digital broadcast.
strange, haunting, disturbing
geraldk20 March 2004
after the relatively lighthearted tales of life around the turn of the century in rural Prince Edward Island, brought to the viewer in Anne of Green Gables, and Road to Avonlea, it was almost hard to watch, to have to endure the dark depressing episodes in the life of young Emily Murray and her misbegotten family in this new and (thankfully) short-lived series from the works of E M Montgomery... a series filled with incidents covering madness, murder, treachery, ghosts, religious intolerance, betrayal, disease, lost unrequited love, such as hasn't been seen since the novels of Charles Dickens... The mood of most of the episodes being so intense, it seems to have been reflected in the performances themselves, with the result that it was so rare that any of their characters were allowed even a brief moment of happiness and when it came, you were left waiting, watching for the moment when that moment would be shattered by even more doom and gloom... Viewers obviously did not take to this series as happily as they did Avonlea and Green Gables...it may have reflected a much more realistic portrayal of a way of life in bygone rural Canada, but unrelenting misery is not a promising premise for family viewing...
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