Search - Emily of New Moon: The Complete First Season on DVD

Samuel K. (Solvanda)
Reviewed on 1/20/2019...

From the Dark Side of L.M. Montgomery comes the Emily Trilogy of books, Anne's alter ego sister, upon which these series are based.

In Anne of Green Gables, the message is: "Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we know all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?" See? Pipe dreams to squander away one's true potential. Guaranteed to end up in some sort of PTSD or therapy later in life.

The message of Emily is, "Isn't life full of sadness and grief? Humans are just so full of unkindness and broken dreams."

Emily deals with: the deaths of both parents (with death symbolized by a black horseman crashing through the wall of her house), rejection by her only relations, verbal abuse, pre-marital pregnancy, illegitimacy, drunkenness, adultery, idolatry, broken engagements, hatred, prejudice, unforgiveness, loose-women, hanged murderers, youngsters being beaten (along with Emily herself), severe child neglect, emotional trauma, child abandonment. At one point, she and her friends try to discover "where babies come from" and get pretty close to finding out. Only the beginning! As there are three, indeed, three more seasons to come.

Any kids you've gotten tired of spanking? Sit em down in front of this little gem! A gem obtained by credits well spent!

Chuck or Frances M. from WHEELING, WV
Reviewed on 12/7/2012...

I loved watching this quaint little series. Not as good as Anne of Green Gables, but then what is? A little girl is orphaned and sent to live with a stuffy aunt who really does not want her but drew her name from a hat, how sad is that? She makes some very good friends, is doted on by a spinster aunt and has some very unusual adventures.

2 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.

Marleen M. from WHEELING, WV
Reviewed on 8/4/2012...

I really enjoyed this series and have moved on to season 2. Different from Anne of Green Gables but still very good.

2 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.

This show has stayed with me for years

Melissa Henstra | Florida | 09/29/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Aired from 1998-2000 and spanning four seasons
Based on Lucy Maud Montgomery's Novel, Emily of New Moon is the brilliant story of a free-spirited orphaned girl who's vivid imagination, passion to write, and romantic nature clash with her strict adoptive family.
I am an avid fan of period TV and movies so, when I stumbled on this show on cable while in my teens it was almost a given that I was going to enjoy it. But I had know idea then what a deep impression it would leave on me. I had heard of L.M. Montgomery and read Anne of Green Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea but had never heard of the Emily books so the series was completely new to me. and I was hooked, I watched as often as I could but the trouble was that the show's time slot Kept changing with the result that I often missed out, which was annoying because the show quickly became my favorite. Everything about it was wonderful, the casting/acting, the costumes and sets, the music especially the music. in short for me it was TV bliss. It wasn't all bad really, withdrawl symtoms from missing the show lead me to read the books Emily of New Moon (Emily Novels) Emily Climbs (Emily Novels) and Emily's Quest (Emily Novels) which to this day are at the top of my list of The Best Books Ever. Eventually I lost track of the show completely, and never got to see the last episodes, but I never forgot about it. If you've seen and enjoyed the Anne of Green Gables movies Anne of Green Gables: The Collection or perhaps the long running Avonlea series Road to Avonlea Season 1 Road to Avonlea Season 2 Road to Avonlea Season 3 - Spin-off from Anne of Green Gables Road to Avonlea Season 4 Road to Avonlea Season 5 - Spin-off from Anne of Green Gables Road to Avonlea Season 6 - Spin-off from Anne of Green Gables Road to Avonlea: The Complete Seventh Volume Emily is along the same lines but darker in tone with a slightly gothic feel. Season one chronicles the first year of Emily's life at New Moon Farm, after the death of her father. As she battles and begins to win over spartan Aunt Elisabeth, brings light and laughter into the sheltered life of fragile, sweet Aunt Laura and finds a kindred spirit in cousin Jimmy who is anything but simple minded. Emily also finds out where the gift of her second sight comes from. We meet llse Burnley, Perry Miller, and Teddy Kent. who will play important roles in the rest of Emily's life, each in their own way.

Like all book to screen adeptations the series has it's detractors. some think that to many liberties were taken and that as the show went on it drifted further and further from the books. This is true, there where a lot of changes and additions not in the original meterial, but in my opinion these did not hurt the series but improved it. If the books had been followed exactly, I don't think the series would have survived long.

Over the years, I had lost hope that this wonderful but little known show would be released on dvd, so I'm overjoyed that Echo Bridge Entertainment has done so, and I can only hope that there are plans to release the next three season's. I can't recommend this series highly enough.

"

Superb stories, excellent casting, excellent DVD quality

Rolandthunder | Georgia R.F.D. | 12/31/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My wife and I stumbled onto the Emily of New Moon television series on Georgia Public Television and loved it instantly. I'm not sure that we were able to catch every episode during its entire run but even if we had I would never regret buying every episode of every season again. Since that initial exposure to Emily, we've already bought almost every book L. M. Montgomery wrote. And, when Amazon sent me an e-mail about the DVD of Season One, I couldn't order or get it fast enough. It was as if a long lost friend had been found again. We're now on our second viewing of it in a week. Casting of the central characters couldn't have been better and the story lines are superb. While some have lamented the spirits who often visited Emily, they miss the point that, above all, this is a character study of a young, imaginative, and creative mind. When I was Emily's age, I must confess that thoughts of such mysterious beings were within the fold of my imagination as well. Today, as a 68 year old retired judge and having lost the capacity myself, I delight now in reviving such lucidity of imagination, albeit if only vicariously through Emily's eyes. If you love good, clean, family entertainment and can give yourself up to enjoying this as an enchanting period piece of life on Prince Edward Island at or about the turn of the last century, this DVD set will be a treasured jewel. And, at the offered price, you won't find so much quality entertainment anywhere at multiples of the price."

Beware the Ghosts

D.M. | 06/16/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I loved Anne of Green Gables. When I found a series other reviewers recommended so highly I jumped at the chance to introduce my children to another of LM Montgomery's worlds. Perhaps I did not read enough of the reviews. As I re-read the reviews I find one that hints at what I wish had been more clear to me before my investment into watching this series. There are some huge themes parents should be aware are in this TV series (1st season).

1) Emily sees ghosts. They call it 'second sight' in the book, but just about every episode has her interacting with ghosts that want her to solve a mystery, to right an injustice or enable them to rest. As a Christian I find this disturbing, and have approached it with my children as 'pretend' or 'like fairies.' The occult is not something kid-friendly, or 'cute'.

2) Real life issues. Emily deals with: death of mother, death of father (death is symbolized by a black horseman crashing through the wall of her house), rejection by her only relations, verbal abuse. She encounters others dealing with premaritial pregnancy, their own illigitimacy, drunkenness, adultery, idolatry, broken engagement due to unfaithfulness, hatred, prejudice, unforgiveness, loose-women, a murderer is hanged in one scene, an American Indian boy is beaten, she is beaten. There are several cases of severe child neglect, emotional trauma, child abandonment, she and her friends try to discover "where babies come from" and get pretty close to finding out.... (to name a few).

One reviewer said the series is 'not for children.' With a sigh I say it has brought some issues about life to my innocent children's minds that they didn't need to know about. Not yet.

But I watch it with my children. And I have been able to explain some things about life to them, as a case-study of sin and deception. It has some light-hearted scenes. But for the most part I would say it is a dark series, where Anne is light and joy.

In Anne of Green Gables, Anne says, "Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we know all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?"

This series is quite the opposite. The message of Emily is, "Isn't life full of sadness and grief? I need to help put these ghosts to rest because humans are just so full of unkindness and broken dreams."

So, if you are willing to put in the time to introduce your children to all the confusing things about life, go for it. If you can help them structure their understanding of the world around these new ideas, watch it.

I am enjoying it myself, from a creative point of view it is an interesting series. But parents beware, there be ghosts ahead!"