Reviews (2)

The saga of Felicy King, Gus Pike, and Avonlea finally ends
When Lucy Maud Montgomery wrote about Sara Stanley and her King cousins in "The Story Girl" and the "Golden Road," her readers came to understand that the high and mighty Felicity King was fated to marry Peter Craig, the hired boy on her father's farm. On the television series "Avonlea," (a.k.a. "Road to Avonlea"), the character of Peter Craig was phased out but the idea of the fate of Felicity (Gema Zamprogna) clearly remained the same, although now with Gus Pike (Michael Mahonen), a young fisherman who arrives in Avonlea and decides to stay, smitten with young Felicity and in awe of school teacher Hettie King (Jackie Burroughs). However at the end of season six Gus was believed lost at sea, and when the show came to the end of its seventh and final season, it was necessary to bring their story to a resolution.

The two pivotal episodes are collected on "Return to Me." First up is "Return to Me," which finds Felicity only a few days away from her wedding to Stuart McCrae (David Ferry), the local banker. But then she gets a mysterious phone call that sends her and Aunt Hetty in search of Gus. Amazingly, they find Gus alive in South Carolina. He was not killed in the shipwreck, but he did lose his eyesight. Both Felicity and Hetty insist that Gus has to come home to Avonlea, but he stubbornly refuses. However, there is no way Gus can stand up to two women who are not only more stubborn than he is, but who are the two that he cares most about in the world.

The grand finale is "So Dear to My Heart," where Gus returns to Avonlea and stuns the entire King family. But now the question is whether Felicity will go through with her wedding to Stuart. Meanwhile, in the wake of the disastrous cannery fire, Jasper (R.H. Thomson) and Olivia (Meg Ruffman) have decided to leave Avonlea, which infuriates Hetty so much that she refuses to attend Felicity's wedding. However, this is the final episode of this beloved television series, which means that everybody is going to end up at this wedding (yes, that means everybody including you know who).

Gus being blind is a bit melodramatic for my tastes, but there is such a thing as destiny and the sight of Felicity running through town in her wedding dress to drag Aunt Hetty to her wedding certainly makes up for that. There is really no better final storyline "Avonlea" could have had to bring everything to a close.

A fitting end to a amazing series...
Road to Avonlea~Return to Me, features two episodes from the poplular Disney series Avonlea. Return to Me features two episodes, So Dear to My Heart and Return to Me. Two of the last episodes of Avonlea. In these last two episodes Felicity is engaged to be married to a man named Stuart, when she learns that the love of her life, Gus Pike, is alive. She travels to South Carolina to find him. She then convinces Gus to return to Avonlea with her. A grand wedding takes place in which many characters return to the show. Sara Polley redeams her role as Sara Stanley after a couple years of absence from the show. As well as characters such as Racheal Lynde, Davy and Dora, and Ms Stacy from the Anne of Green Gables Series. This episode is a much have for any fan of the TV show Avonlea or Anne of Green Gables! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Both Felicity King and Aunt Hetty meet young Gus Pike
If you have read "The Story Girl" and "The Golden Road" by Lucy Maud Montgomery, then you know that the fate of Felicity King was that despite her snobbish pretensions and lofty pretensions, she would end up marrying the poor boy who worked on her family farm. In these two episodes from early in the second season of "Avonela," Felicity is introduced to the fork in the road that awaits her, but while the title of the tape is "Felicity's First Date," she is not the character who unites these two episodes:

"How Kissing Was Discovered" begins with Janet King's Great-Aunt Eliza coming for a visit and turning the King household upside down. Meanwhile, Alec discovers that playing cricket is not as easy it was when he was a younger man and Felicity (Gema Zamprogna) has her eye on a young cricket player on the visiting team. After all, she is now all grown up (she is almost a teenager) and has decided it is time to receive her "first kiss." However, Sarah and Felix have made a new friend in Gus Pike (Michael Mahonen), a young sailor recently arrived in Avonlea and looking for work. Alec lets Gus stay in his barn and while Felicity will not give the boy the time of day, it is clear that he finds her rather interesting.

In "Aunt Hetty's Ordeal" the pivotal relationship between Gus Pike and Hetty King (Jackie Burroughs) begins. Given how Hetty treats Sara, Olivia and everybody else in the extended King family, you have to worry about poor, uneducated Gus. The problem is that everybody in Avonlea knows to take Hetty King with a grain or salt. But Gus thinks everything Aunt Hetty says is carved on stone tablets and when Hetty makes a heated offhand remark to the young man it has significant repercussions.

The title of this episode has a couple of meanings. At first we think "Aunt Hetty's Ordeal" is that Muriel Stacey, who has been appointed school superintendent instead of Hetty, is coming for a visit. Hetty thinks it is an inspection, but, of course, it is no such thing. But that does not stop the old hens in town from ruffling Hetty's feathers. Reminded that kids flocked to be in Miss Stacey's school, Hetty goes out to the cannery to recruit and reels in Gus Pike. He can neither read nor write, smokes and plays the fiddle, but he wants to learn and this touches Hetty. Gus had been a minor character in previous episodes, and "Aunt Hetty's Ordeal" is where he starts becoming more important to the show in general (and Felicity King in particular). This is also the point where Hetty King, who tended to be a bit insufferable for my money, started to thaw, because the big difference between Gus and Sara, is that Gus is not family and Hetty ends up opening her heart to him.

These episodes continue the transition from Lucy Maud Montgomery's novels to more original storylines (although clearly Gus Pike replaces Peter Craig in "The Story Girl" and "The Golden Road"). Note: Do not try to figure out how Hetty King and Muriel Stacey are contemporaries and where this all fits in with the Sullivan Productions of the "Anne of Green Gables" books. Hetty has supposedly been teaching forever at Avonlea School and Anne was teaching there a year or two after Miss Stacey. "Avonlea" had a proud history of bringing back both characters and actors from the "Anne" movies and this is just another nice example of the practice.

A WONDERFUL film!
This has two episodes from the 2nd season of ROAD TO AVONLEA which include HOW KISSING WAS DISCOVERED and AUNT HETTY'S ORDEAL. They are two of the best episodes I've ever seen and I recommend this to ANYONE who loves ANNE OF GREEN GABLES or ROAD TO AVONLEA! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Peg Bowen helps Felix, but dad comes to take Sarah home
I do not think Lucy Maud Montgomery ever came up with a more maddening creation that Hetty King (Jackie Burroughs), the self-appointed moral judge of the King clan in Avonlea. Aunt Hetty is in the thick of things for both of the first season episodes of "Avonlea" collected on this third of four videos, "Magical Moments":

"The Witch of Avonlea" is Peg Bowen (Susan Cox), who lives in the woods smoking her pipe and doing whatever she wants with no concern for what the good folks of Avonlea think or say. When Felix King (Zachary Bennett) finds himself unable to spell anything during the class spelling bees because he is so afraid of Aunt Hetty, his nightmares convince him she might be a witch. So he goes off to visit Peg, who gives him a "magic" stone. His confidence restored, Felix wins the school spelling bee and moves on to the next level of competition. If you do not know that he is going to lose the magic stone before the contest then you must be totally unfamiliar with the rules of children's fiction. Meanwhile, the dreams of Felicity (Gema Zamprogna) have their own comeuppance, as events take her down a peg at the same time that Felix enjoys his moment in the sun.

The important episode here is "Nothing Endures but Change," which finds that Blair Stanley, Sara's father, has been acquitted of the scandalous embezzlement charges that forced him to send his daughter to live with her mother's relatives on Prince Edward Island. Blair arrives in Avonlea ready to take Sara (Sarah Polley) back to Montreal, at which point everyone of Sara's King relatives absolutely freaks. None, of course, as much as Hetty, who announces she will not give the child up to her father. Hetty has always blamed Blair for not only taking her sister Ruth away but in living a decadent life (of travel) that resulted in her death (she caught tuberculosis at home in Montreal). Hetty also has a few things to say about what appears to be happening between Olivia and Jasper Dale, which only makes you wonder how Alec ever managed to get away from Hetty's all encompassing powers. Sara wants to say goodbye to all her friends and attend the upcoming skating party she has been looking forward to, but her father wants to get out of Avonlea and as far away from Hetty as quickly as possible. Sara cannot abide the thought that two of the people she loves most in the world cannot even talk to each other civilly, and so she hatches up a plan to force their reconciliation. But these two stubborn adults cannot admit for a second that the other cares as much for Sara as they do, which only means that fate is going to have to take a hand to make things right.

For me the chief charm of "Nothing Endures but Change," certainly the loftiest sounding title in the series, is enjoying Hetty King getting her comeuppance a few times. She really is such an intolerant woman for somebody who does so many unforgivable things. However, her redemption is still down the road, coming in the form of Gus Pike. It is in his unflinching admiration and respect, that Hetty King is finally confronted with a true mirror of her life.

Amazing example of a growing family @the turn of the century
Beautiful two episode tape depeicting the King family's trysts and triumphs at the turn of the century. These episodes were taken from the "Road to Avonlea" television series based on the popular works of Lucy Maude Montgomery. A true and simple tale of an unconfident boy whom enters a spelling Bee, and wins! The latter tale, "Nothing endures but change" tells again of the King family when their beloved and bewitching cousin, Sara Stanley, is taken from Prince Edward island by her father, but runs into an ill-fated accident, which may be the end of our young Sara. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

The trials and tribulations of Rachel and Marilla in Avonlea
I subscribed to the Disney channel just to get to "Avonlea," and even if you have not reading the novels and short story collections of Lucy Maud Montgomery on which the series is "based" you can still enjoy this excellent family series. "Gift of Friendship" is the second of four video tapes from the first season of the series, and contains two episodes featuring the recurring characters of Rachel Lynde (Patricia Hamilton) and Marilla Cuthbert (Colleen Dewhurst), who we first met in the "Anne of Green Gables" mini-series.

"Quarantine at Alexander Abraham's" is one of the best adaptations of a Montgomery short story to the cast of characters on "Avonlea." Standing in for Montgomery's original female protagonist who has to confront confirmed old bachelor Abraham is one of her most beloved supporting characters, Mrs. Rachel Lynde. But this episode is also the first time that Mrs. Lynde takes center stage, which is definitely a treat for her many fans. Mrs. Lynde is put in charge of the boy's Sunday School class and when she finds the young boy who work's Alexander Abraham's farm has gone truant, she heads out to save the boy's soul. Meanwhile, Felix and Sara have run ahead to warn their schoolmate of the impending storm. However, everybody involved is in for a big shock when they all end up in Abraham's home only to discover he has been quarantined because of the small pox. That means this quartet of not too happy individuals are stuck with each other for at least two weeks (to the horror of Felix's mother). Mrs. Lynde decides that she and her two small charges are going to clean the house from top to bottom, no matter what that old curmudgeon has to say, and the war is on.

Next we have "The Materializing of Duncan McTavish," which starts with Sara Stanley not sure she is going to enjoy her first time at the Avonlea sewing circle, since she really does not know how to snow. But then something quite interesting happens. When all the ladies are talking about who had how many beaux way back when, Sara asks Marilla Cuthbert "Did you ever have a beau?" Having endured a lifetime of slurs because she never had a beau after refusing to forgive John Blythe, Marilla defiantly declares "I had one once." In for a penny, in for a pound, Marilla weaves a fantasy about her beau whom she named Duncan, because it is her favorite name, and McTavish, because she sees an advertisement for McTavish Porous Plasters. Everyone is suitable shocked and Marilla cannot imagine what came over her. But as Marilla knows all too well, "if you do wrong, you will be punished for it sometime, somehow or somewhere." Who should arrive in town but Duncan McTavish, to sell his Porous Plasters, and Sara Stanley knows Fate has brought the two former lovers together again. Of course, this is news to the amazed and confounded Duncan McTavish.

Early on with the television series "Avonlea" the idea was clearly to adapt some of Lucy Maud Montgomery's better stories from the two "Chronicles of Avonlea" collections. While something was lost in the translation of "Old Lady Lloyd" from story to television, "Quarantine at Alexander Abraham's" and "The Materializing of Duncan McTavish" are superb adaptations. Plus, you have two of of favorite characters from the Sullivan productions of the "Anne of Green Gables" movies right in the middle of both stories ((Hamilton and Dewhurst were an under-appreciated comedy team when they worked together).

Quality family entertainment!
When our family stumbled upon Tales of Avonlea during it's original Disney airing(1992-96)--we felt like we had struck gold! We purchased 3 of the 4 videos in the prepared set, to add to our family video library, but couldn't find Volume 2--Gift of Friendship--until now, on Amazon Marketplace. Thank you!
The beauty of early 20th century Prince Edward Island sets the stage for lively adventures, and a return to the simple, peaceful life of days gone by. In the first episode of this double feature, young Sara Stanley forges a surprising new friendship, when she and Mrs. Rachel Lind serve as "sisters of mercy together" in unexpected circumstances.
In the second episode, Sara is welcomed into the warm, social "fabric" of Avonlea's ladies' sewing circle--during which a shocking revelation from one of the ladies about a past beau, causes temporary, humorous shockwaves in the town, and also a surprising twist which saves the day.
Each character adds new sparkle and depth to the story, as timeless themes of love, loyalty, friendship, fear and belonging unfold in the lives of these charming Avonlea citizens.

the best tv series
tales from avonlea is the best disney picture ever made

The Entertainer
Having watched this highly-acclaimed show since it's inception in 1990 as a ten-year old boy, I've realized how lucky I truly am to see such fine programming filled with such intriguing plots, unforgettable characters, famous guest stars (Christopher Lloyd won an Emmy for his role in 1992), and touching--but not sappy--moments. My particular favorite episode was when Aunt Hetty went out to "bring in the lost sheep"--and came up with Gus Pike and a HORRENDOUS backache! Unfortunately this series is no longer shown on Disney, but I've recorded almost 40 episodes when they reran some of the episodes in 1996. I promise you this video is worth the money.

Entertaining
Although some of the acting was not as strong as in 'Anne of Green Gables', the two short films presented on the videocassette were charming, and ultimately worth seeing. If you enjoy the Anne series and want more of Avonlea, you will appreciate these films. Not just for children--adults will like them, too. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

An excellent film! A great family friendly show!
This DVD included the first two episodes of "Road to Avonlea" the TV series, or better known in the U.S. as "Avonlea", as aired on the Disney Channel in the 1990's. A touching and family-friendly series about a little rich girl who moves to Prince Edward Island to live with her relatives when her father is accused of embezzlement in his own company. The adventures that this little girl Sara Stanley has with her cousins, (the "King" family) are hilarious and heart-warming! This is definately worth checking out!!

delightful
Excellent for children, found this film to be one you can learn from mistakes,has values presented,happy ending! ... Read more

Amazon.com

It sounds like a joke: a bashful drag queen and a young schizophrenic bring out the best in each other. Robin (Craig Russell) is a hairdresser who hasn't quite gathered the courage to get on stage and do drag. But when an old school friend named Liza (Hollis McLaren) appears at his door in a robe and nightgown, having just run away from a mental hospital where she was voluntarily committed, her manic energy gives him the strength to act on his desires. He in turn gives her a stable, loving home--until he goes to New York to audition for a drag show and his spot-on impressions of Bette, Barbra, Carol Channing, and Mae West make a splash. But as Robin's star rises, a pregnant Liza spirals into misery and madness. Outrageous may sound melodramatic, but in fact it achieves a rare realism. There's no Hollywood gloss on any aspect of their lives, from Robin's sex life to Liza's insanity, which is depicted sympathetically but not as anything easily overcome. Made in 1977, this Canadian cult film is admittedly a bit of a period piece--one look at Robin's audiences, filled with very '70s mustaches, will take more than a few gay men back to their heady, pre-AIDS-awareness days. But Outrageous remains heartfelt, and its sincere and charming performances make it worth seeing today. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Blast From the Past
I've just re-watched this film after 20 years. I was expecting to be only mildly interested since I had seen it so many times in the late 70's and early 80's. I was pleasantly surprised when I got just as caught up as I did in years gone by...This movie is brilliant, touching and a true original. Do yourself a favor and watch it!

OUTRAGEOUSly bad technical quality, FABULOUS movie
I still remember seeing this film in Toronto when it came out in 1977. I was looking forward to seeing it again....but as another reviewer here has written....the transfer to video has been done so carelessly. It's dark, sometimes the characters heads are cut off, and near the end the sound doesn't sync with the actor's mouths! I can't believe a video company would want to sell a product so shabbily put together.
BUT it's a charming moving film from the early days of gay cinema...and no one can beat Craig's brilliance.

Craig Russel Magic
If you have never seen the impersonations of Craig Russel you are in for a treat.
You must see and hear this man of a thousand (women) faces doing his immitations of Streisand,Garland,Mae West and Dietrich.He is simply phenomenal.
The movie is clearly built around his stage performances but still stands on its own.
His friendship with an emotionally unstable girl is very touching and Craig Russell steals the show without killing the movie's rythm.

Great Movie, Poor Quality
Got this video through Amazon auction source, but quality was the worst I've ever seen. The actors' heads were all cut off if you could even make out the scenes, since the contrast or brightness was very dark! Looked as if the auctioner video taped the film at a movie house. Absolutely the worst! Don't use the auctioner that sold me this piece of junk.

Something Dazzling
After seeing bits and pieces of this wonderful film on the late show, I wanted more and needed to find this film. after years of searching, i finally obtained a copy and have watched this warm,real and touching story about being yourself. And having a hell of a GOOD TIME enough times to know that i would gladly introduce anyone to this movie and let them see what being yourself really means. "Something Dazzling" After reading other reviews on this page,I now feel at peace knowing what had become of the main star Craig Russell his too short film,and female impersonation career will be missed by our generation and the next.. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Cousins, family, mischief, tragedy, life and love in Avonlea
"Avonlea" is a show that is of an impeccably high quality, balancing the line between the worlds of adulthood and childhood that sometimes interlap, sometimes don't, but never cliched, never sterotypical, and always maintaining a high level of fun and mischief. It's real life seen through the eyes of the beautiful town of Avonlea and the large extended King clan, which was created by Lucy Maud Montgomery.

It's a lovely show, no overbearing sappiness, but full of honest and varied sentimentality with incredible actors portraying wonderful characters with idiosyncrasies and quirks (sometimes you love em, sometimes you hate em), yet who still feel as though they could become your best friends. And it's these characters that run the show. They grew, they developed, and they become intensely realistic and beloved people with each passing season.

It's not your average series. Every episode is completely believable, and any of the circumstances that occur, or more often, unravel, feel as though they could occur in your own life. And because of it's intelligence and beauty adults may enjoy it more than they expect, though there's plenty of entertaining material for kids to find enthralling (I know many children who devoured this show, try showing them "Proof of the Pudding", I still find it hilarious). In terms of these videos, my one problem is that they don't have all the episodes on video yet. Otherwise you'll have no real problem taking any of the episodes and watching, since the writing is very throrough in making each episode it's own entity, though the whole series through the years developed numerous intricate plots.

And yet, even with the problems of real life barging through from the very first episode (which deals with embezzlement), there's always a warm glow that you will always find a loving place there. For years I imagined PEI, and these people as though I was there, that's a success for these filmmakers. "Avonlea" is full of love and life and eccentricities and tragedy. Yet with all of it's fans, and acclaim, and ratings, and awards through the years, it's real triumph is the fact that it was endearing and beautiful from the first moment to the very last.

L. M. Montgomery's "The Story Girl" comes to "Avonlea"
When her father is threatened with financial ruin, young Sara Stanley is shipped off to her late mother's relatives on Prince Edward Island. Sara arrives in Avonlea with her Nanny Louisa is tow, only to meet up with the formidable King family, headed by the imperious Aunt Hetty, who also happens to be the local school teacher. "The Journey Begins" is the pilot episode written by Heather Conkie for the "Avonlea" television series. Sara Stanley was a character featured in "The Story Girl," which was author Lucy Maud Montgomery's favorite novel, and its sequel "The Golden Road." Along with two collections of short stories known as the Chronicles of Avonlea, these four books are the material from which various episodes were developed for this series.

What becomes fascinating in this first episode is how the premises of "The Story Girl" are redeveloped for this series. In the books Sara would come to visit her King cousins each summer, heading back to Montreal in the fall. However, the situation needed to be altered so Sara was a more permanent part of the Avonlea community. They could have made Sara an orphan, in the grand tradition of Montgomery's most famous literary creations Anne of Green Gables and Emily of New Moon, but it is important that at least on some level Sara WANTS to stay on PEI. At the heart is one of Montgomery's strongest themes, how a young girl forges bonds of affection with a spinster. Aunts Hetty and Olivia certainly recall Emily's Aunts Elizabeth and Laura and there are strong echoes of that novel in this story.

One of the strengths of this series, in addition to its strong ensemble cast of solid character actors, is the casting of Sarah Polley as Sara Stanley. Polley had already proved herself to be one of the best "child" actresses of her generation before she got this role and she only continues to prove in this episode and the rest of the series. I used to have the Disney Channel just so I could watch "Avonlea" and honeymooned last year on PEI, staying at the "White Sands Hotel." So, it is pretty clear that I am just one of countless millions of enraptured fans. Whether you come from "Avonlea" to Montgomery's novels, or the other way around, just be sure you enjoy both.

The Genesis
Well, folks, this was the episode that started it all--"The Journey Begins". We are introduced at first to the palacious estate in which Sara, her father, and her Nanny Loisa lives. We see how extravagant a lifestyle Sara's grown up in, but she seems nonplussed and untainted about her wealth, though we do detect she's a bit spoiled. But when she and Nanny Louisa reach Rose Cottage and encounter the indomitable personage of Hetty King, sparks fly between the two stubborn ladies. What brings Sara and her Aunt Hetty together, though, is the death of Sara's mother. Hetty softens her attitude toward Sara; and everyone by the end of the episode wants her to stay, making it an easy decision for the happy girl! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

L.M. Montgomery's "The Story Girl" comes to "Avonlea"
When her father is threatened with financial ruin, young Sara Stanley is shipped off to her late mother's relatives on Prince Edward Island. Sara arrives in Avonlea with her Nanny Louisa is tow, only to meet up with the formidable King family, headed by the imperious Aunt Hetty, who also happens to be the local school teacher. "The Journey Begins" is the pilot episode written by Heather Conkie for the "Avonlea" television series. Sara Stanley was a character featured in "The Story Girl," which was author Lucy Maud Montgomery's favorite novel, and its sequel "The Golden Road." Along with two collections of short stories known as the Chronicles of Avonlea, these four books are the material from which various episodes were developed for this series.

What becomes fascinating in this first episode is how the premises of "The Story Girl" are redeveloped for this series. In the books Sara would come to visit her King cousins each summer, heading back to Montreal in the fall. However, the situation needed to be altered so Sara was a more permanent part of the Avonlea community. They could have made Sara an orphan, in the grand tradition of Montgomery's most famous literary creations Anne of Green Gables and Emily of New Moon, but it is important that at least on some level Sara WANTS to stay on PEI. At the heart is one of Montgomery's strongest themes, how a young girl forges bonds of affection with a spinster. Aunts Hetty and Olivia certainly recall Emily's Aunts Elizabeth and Laura and there are strong echoes of that novel in this story.

One of the strengths of this series, in addition to its strong ensemble cast of solid character actors, is the casting of Sarah Polley as Sara Stanley. Polley had already proved herself to be one of the best "child" actresses of her generation before she got this role and she only continues to prove in this episode and the rest of the series. I used to have the Disney Channel just so I could watch "Avonlea" and honeymooned on PEI, staying at the "White Sands Hotel." So, it is pretty clear that I am just one of countless millions of enraptured fans. Whether you come from "Avonlea" to Montgomery's novels, or the other way around, just be sure you enjoy both. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Lucy Maud would be proud....
The episodes on this video are How Kissing Was Discovered & Aunt Hetty's Ordeal. I loved both of the episodes. They bring tears to your eyes and joy to you life. I loved the beauty of the scenery If you are a fan of Avonlea movies get this one.

Oh, The Places You Will Go!
It's amazing how much I haven't grown up the past 10 years! Ten years ago, I teared up when Gus played his violin for Miss King (even though he "may wreck the King's english) out of appreciation for her care. Ten years later, I still had the same reaction. Some things prove to me that history only becomes history if you let it. Hetty King is a very strict, often irritating, demanding person, but you really can admire her for the 'hidden' love she shows for others. We see Gus' intro during the first episode, this vagabond in dirty clothes kissing the prim and proper Felicity; this is the beginning of their relationship: "Better than kissing my dog", Gus says! Then, we see the emergence of Gus as a motivated, intelligent young man trying to rise above his soiled past while balancing his ideals of a better future. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wonderful Gay Positive Comedy
This is a really great comedy that many will identify with. Actually there was another version of this on Showtime back in 1980 or 1981 staring scott baio and Danny Aiello which was far superior, but it is not available anywhere that I can find. If anyone has it let me know... ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Peg Bowen helps Felix, but dad comes to take Sarah home
I do not think Lucy Maud Montgomery ever came up with a more maddening creation that Hetty King (Jackie Burroughs), the self-appointed moral judge of the King clan in Avonlea. Aunt Hetty is in the thick of things for both of the first season episodes of "Avonlea" collected on this third of four videos, "Magical Moments":

"The Witch of Avonlea" is Peg Bowen (Susan Cox), who lives in the woods smoking her pipe and doing whatever she wants with no concern for what the good folks of Avonlea think or say. When Felix King (Zachary Bennett) finds himself unable to spell anything during the class spelling bees because he is so afraid of Aunt Hetty, his nightmares convince him she might be a witch. So he goes off to visit Peg, who gives him a "magic" stone. His confidence restored, Felix wins the school spelling bee and moves on to the next level of competition. If you do not know that he is going to lose the magic stone before the contest then you must be totally unfamiliar with the rules of children's fiction. Meanwhile, the dreams of Felicity (Gema Zamprogna) have their own comeuppance, as events take her down a peg at the same time that Felix enjoys his moment in the sun.

The important episode here is "Nothing Endures but Change," which finds that Blair Stanley, Sara's father, has been acquitted of the scandalous embezzlement charges that forced him to send his daughter to live with her mother's relatives on Prince Edward Island. Blair arrives in Avonlea ready to take Sara (Sarah Polley) back to Montreal, at which point everyone of Sara's King relatives absolutely freaks. None, of course, as much as Hetty, who announces she will not give the child up to her father. Hetty has always blamed Blair for not only taking her sister Ruth away but in living a decadent life (of travel) that resulted in her death (she caught tuberculosis at home in Montreal). Hetty also has a few things to say about what appears to be happening between Olivia and Jasper Dale, which only makes you wonder how Alec ever managed to get away from Hetty's all encompassing powers. Sara wants to say goodbye to all her friends and attend the upcoming skating party she has been looking forward to, but her father wants to get out of Avonlea and as far away from Hetty as quickly as possible. Sara cannot abide the thought that two of the people she loves most in the world cannot even talk to each other civilly, and so she hatches up a plan to force their reconciliation. But these two stubborn adults cannot admit for a second that the other cares as much for Sara as they do, which only means that fate is going to have to take a hand to make things right.

For me the chief charm of "Nothing Endures but Change," certainly the loftiest sounding title in the series, is enjoying Hetty King getting her comeuppance a few times. She really is such an intolerant woman for somebody who does so many unforgivable things. However, her redemption is still down the road, coming in the form of Gus Pike. It is in his unflinching admiration and respect, that Hetty King is finally confronted with a true mirror of her life. ... Read more