I wrote a random drabble today for fan_flashworks and when I popped over to Ao3 to see what the book fandom is called there, I was SHOCKED (read this with full hyperbole) to discover that there are way more Anne/Gilbert fanworks than Anne/Diana. Gilbert! That whatever-you-call-a-love-interest-insert! That wet blanket! Puddleglum has him beat!

Gilbert may or may not have hidden depths and great character or whatever but the books (which I probably read over three times all through) did not really demonstrate that at all. I remember reading a great essay on Anne as well as the Emily of New Moon trilogy about how the interesting (male) love interests inevitably get shelved, and the MC ends up with the cardboard cutout. Wish I knew where that was; I’d like to read it again.

Anyway, I refuse to read the books anymore because they killed off my best beloved Walter, so maybe there are secret hidden depths that older-me could decipher. Whatever.