Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Four worthwhile episodes., July 22, 2007
"Road to Avonlea" is my favorite series. Seasons 1-5 and portions of season-6 were brilliant. "Anne of Green Gables" was excellent. That brilliance was lost in season-7.
The well-liked and charming original Cecily has been replaced. Chef Pierre La Pierre, who was very good in his small part, does not appear, except for 5-seconds. The well-liked original Malcom and the original Morgan Pettibone have been replaced. Sarah is squeezed into the end of the last episode as a guest at the party. The series has constantly brought in new writers and new directors, and previously was able to maintain a standard of personality, warmth, and humor in the scripts, arising from the excellent writers, Suzette Couture, Heather Conkie, and Hart Hanson. This season's scripts do not carry on that personality, humor, and warmth. Felix and Felicity seem unhappy to be here. They are very serious, in great contrast to their joy, charm, and expressions of earlier seasons. The episodes do not fit together. This season's scripts do not plus comedy on the same thought, or build upon a theme, each script is scattered, unfocused. Maybe the cast and crew became unhappy with new management; or like the producer, became busy elsewhere, and their thoughts were elsewhere. None of the scripts reach the level of "excellent" reached in earlier seasons. This season is disappointing. There is so little on TV that is good, that I give 2-stars for the wholesome format, past greatness, and the 4 pleasant episodes. However, 4-episodes, without the humor and excellence of earlier seasons, should price season-7 at $20 or less.
The "behind-the-scenes" is a preview of the series, "Wind At My Back", and some very short behind-the-scenes that you have already seen if you have bought the prior seasons' DVD's. Nothing new. Someone has truth issues.
Episodes:
1. There are no stories about Felicity and the orphanage for having devoted this whole episode to deciding to start an orphanage. Felicity's dating a new boyfriend does not work with a picture of Felicity and Gus getting married on the cover of the DVD. This episode is like talking about something that is not particularly interesting with someone you like; ok, but uneventful.
2.
Olivia and Jasper display charm, thoughtfulness, and romance in scenic surroundings; which makes the episode worthwhile. The writers should have done more stories with the established, likeable Izzy Pettibone, and Olivia and Jasper. Izzy is quite expressive, but, her boyfriend Felix is impassive (without expression). Thus, Izzy & Felix have none of the chemistry that Olivia and Jasper do. Good morals are promoted between Izzy and Felix.
3.
Davey and the bad carnival people. Davey's infatuation with the carnival mermaid. Written for six year-old minds, unbelievable and mindless. None of the characters are themselves. A poor episode.
4.
Izzy's unusual Aunt comes to visit. A different Morgan Pettibone breaks believability in a story about the Pettibone family. However, this story is interesting about Izzy and her extravagant aunt who owns a shop that sells beautiful hats. Izzy's aunt believes every girl should have a beautiful hat.
5.
Aunt Abigail comes to visit. A different Malcom and Cecily break believability. If the producer was unable to acquire the original actors, he should have left these characters out entirely. The person who decided to replace well-liked actors, has likely had several divorces without a thought. The "humor" is unsuccessful. The story is unlikely. Some may enjoy seeing the characters they like in a script without interest.
6.
Big city Broadway songwriters come to town. Could have been much better, if the songwriters were portrayed more likeable. The second plot with Selena Dale is a second guest-plot, which is one too many guest-plots in a limited time, sacrificing needed depth with the regular characters. They should have brought in good singers for a musical. Needed a better song for Alec, who does sing well.
7.
An older, woman, guest is demanding, which fits in a story about Felix overbooking the hotel; rather than plussing this, the writer then changes this woman to an end-of-the-world, crazy guest, which says we are changing the story to... confusion. An example of the otherwise excellent writer, straying from theme in a story about Felix taking on too much to handle. Promising but uneventful.
8.
Contest between schools. The episode is pleasant, but does not have the charm and humor of earlier seasons.
9.
Two orphans from England pull pranks. Constant, unpleasant disputes prevent this episode from being anything but fair. There is no balance of warmth, fun, and likeable characters.
10.
Ninety-one year-old, Great Aunt Winifred is depressed and troubled and comes to visit. A dreary story. A poor episode.
11.
Felicity and Hetty travel to South Carolina in search of Gus. Worthwhile.
12.
Two townspeople try to persuade the town of Avonlea to sell the cannery to the town of Carmody and move the school there, and move the railroad line for profit for the two. Characters we like in a story that is not bad, but not good.
13.
Felicity marries Gus. Good only because the King family and Sarah are all here, and because Gus and Felicity finally get married. Not as good as it could have been. Sarah is squeezed in at the end, as a guest at the party, in a story about others.
More on what went wrong with this brilliant series, under the "comment" button below. My reviews were shorter and much easier to write for the earlier, excellent seasons.
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DVD ~ Erin Cottrell
DVD ~ Richard Herd
DVD ~ Patricia Neal
DVD ~ January Jones
