The stars are what I rated the show on a six star basis.
Running time is 600 minutes.
Warning: May Contain Spoilers
Season One
1) The Journey Begins **** (Running Time 55 minutes)
Because Sara Stanley's father, Blair, has been accused of embezzlement, Sara is sent to Prince Edward Island to visit her deceased mother's relatives. Uncle Alec King tells Sara and her Nanny that he doesn't have enough room for them to stay, and sends the meek Sara and feisty Nanny to Rose Cottage. Aunt Hetty King tells Nanny Louisa that she is not welcome to stay and tells Nanny Louisa that she must leave the next morning. A heartbroken Sara watches her Nanny leave and hates her Aunt Hetty. Felicity and Felix King do not like the long lost cousins- Sara and Andrew- and scheme plans to make Sara and Andrew miserable. After a tussle in the hay, Sara must decide whether or not she wants to stay.
2) The Story Girl Earns Her Name *** (Running Time 44 minutes)
The children are excited because a magic lantern show is coming to Avonlea, but Sara accidentally helps the man who was going to do the show run off with the money. Because the money from the show was to help buy books for the Avonlea school, Sara, Felicity, Felix, and Cecily try to raise money by asking people to donate, but have little luck. A teary-eyed Sara runs through a field she discovers “The Awkward Man”. She runs after the Awkward Man and learns that he has enough slides and the equipment to do a magic lantern show and convinces him to help her do a magic lantern show. Aunt Hetty is skeptical that any thing with Jasper Dale (The Awkward Man) will succeed, and she is almost right.
3) The Quarantine at Alexander Abraham's **** (Running Time 44 minutes)
After accepting a dare from Felicity to enter the “Woman-Hater's” house, Sara begins climbing a tree to enter an open window on the second floor. Her dress gets caught on a branch, and Felix climbs up to help her; however, Felix and Sara are to heavy for the branch and fall onto the roof and are then forced to enter the house and leave through the front door. While they are upstairs, they overhear Alexander Abraham, Rachel Lynde, and Dr. Blair arguing and learn that the house is under quarantine. Sara and Felix try to sneak out, but a clumsy Felix ruins their plans and they are quarantined with Alexander and Rachel for a month.
4) The Materializing of Duncan McTavish ** (Running Time 45 minutes)
When Sara asks Marilla Cuthbert if she ever had a beau Marilla replies “I had one once.” Rachel, thinking that Marilla meant John Blythe, tells Sara about him. Marilla is annoyed with the fact the everybody knows everything about everyone in Avonlea and tells the people at the sewing circle that she had a beau in Blakley, New Brunswick. Some people are skeptical that Marilla really had a beau, but think otherwise when Duncan comes to Avonlea.
5) Old Lady Lloyd {aka Song in the Night} *** (Running Time 48 minutes)
Olivia's singing friend, Silvia Gray comes for a visit in Avonlea. Because Silvia is unable to finish college, she is disheartened and tries to face the reality of not being able to fulfill her dreams. In the mean time Sara is befriending the recluse Old Lady Lloyd and tells Mrs. Lloyd that Silvia Gray will be singing at church. Mrs. Lloyd, who hasn't "darkened the church doors" for many years comes to hear Silvia sing and creates quite a stir. Elvira Lawson asks Silvia to be Avonlea's representative for the singing contest held by Andrew Cameron. Unfortunately, Silvia arrives late and Mrs. Lloyd walks in the rain to ask her cousin to listen to Silvia sing.
6) Proof of the Pudding ****** (Running Time 46 minutes)
Alec and Janet, who go to Charlottetown to celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary, leave Felicity in charge of Andrew, Felix, and Cecily. Hetty is afraid that the Kings are going to lose their water rights and leaves Sara in the hands of Felicity leaving the children alone for two days. Felicity makes a schedule for everyone to follow and Felix strongly detests it. He runs off and eats some “poison berries”. Sara and Felicity are also having their quarrels and have quite thee adventure with cherry pie. Aunt Eliza, or so they think, comes for a visit and enjoys a taste of Felicity's marvelous pudding. By the time their parents and Hetty return the kids have learned some valuable lessons.
7) Conversions **** (Running Time 44 minutes)
When a missionary speaks about ministering to heathens, Sara tries to get Peter Craig to come to church. At first Peter drags his feet because he isn't sure whether or he wants to be a Presbyterian or a Methodist, but realizes that just because he would be attending a Presbyterian church doesn't mean he would have to be one. At the same, Olivia is talking Hetty into letting Peter come to school. Finally, Hetty agrees and assigns Edward Ray to help Peter with his studies. Peter catches the influenza from Peter and comes close to dying. Because of this, Peter is treated with more respect- and not only from the children.
8)Aunt Abigail's Beau *** (Running Time 45 minutes)
Abigail Ward, Janet's sister, is unsure about the return of her old beau, Malcolm McEwan. She tries courting him, but gets frustrated with him because he tracks mud into her clean house and showers her with gifts. Abigail accepts his proposal, but becomes angry when Malcolm tells her not to worry about the mud on the floor. She returns the ring and Marlcolm leaves the town. Felicity and Sara take matters into their hands and convince Abigail to rethink.
9) Malcolm and the Baby *** (Running Time 45 minutes)
Felicity and Sara overhear Malcolm and Abigail argue over whether they should have a family. While Felicity and Sara are walking back to the General Store to meet Aunt Hetty, they find a baby and leave him on the McEwan's doorstep. In the morning Malcolm tells Avonlea's constable -Abner Jeffries- and learns that the baby is a relation of Rachel Lynde. An indignant Hetty thinks that she has more claim to the baby than Rachel and proceeds to tell Rachel so. Rachel accidentally locks the doors to Green Gables and in order for her to get back inside Hetty has to climb through a window. Rachel can't get the baby to stop crying and asks Malcolm for help.
10) The Witch of Avonlea ***** (Running Time 51 minutes)
Hetty is preparing the school children for a spelling bee and Felix, who is slightly afraid of Hetty, gets tongue-tied when he spells his words, causing him to have to wear the dunce cap. Felix has a nightmare about wearing the cap and Andrew asks Felix if he was dreaming about the Witch of Avonlea (Peg Bowen) and Felix says “Yes, it was about a witch.” Andrew tells Janet and Janet tells Peg that she is now longer welcome on King land. Because Felix runs away from school, Hetty keeps him after school. A sad Felix begins to walk home, but walks through the woods. A snowstorm comes up and Felix gets lost. Peg finds Felix and takes him into her cabin. She gives Felix a magic crystal that will help him with his spelling. Felix wins the spelling bee at the Avonlea School and is chosen to be the representative for the school. Will he beat the other kids from nearby towns?
11) Felicity's Challenge *** (Running Time 43 minutes)
Felicity's pride is her downfall. She brags that she can make anyone popular, even poor sweet Clemmie Ray. She even makes a bet with Sally Potts and her co-hort Jane Spry that Clemmie will shine at the Harvest Ball. Alec King's principles are put to test when a visiting politician, whom he supports, tries to buy his vote by offering to select Felicity's costume as best as the Harvest Ball. Clemmie is Clemmie and is not popular at the ball , and Felicity, because of her father's decision, does not win 'Best Costume' or her bet with Sally Potts. The children, however, learn about the value of friendship and being true to one's self.
12) The Hope Chest of Arabella King {aka “The Blue Chest of Arabella King} **** (Running Time 45 minutes)
After Janet receives a letter telling her that Arabella King has died, the Kings are able to open her hope chest. Nothing of value is in the chest- or so they think. Sara, who is disappointed, decides that there must be a reason why the chest was kept locked up and discovers that the chest has a false bottom and finds letters. Sara reads the letters and learns that there is a mystery behind why Arabella left. Olivia, who is trying to prove to Mr. Tyler that she is able to work for the newspaper, helps Sara solve the mystery and writes an article that earns her a job at the Avonlea Chronicle.
13) Nothing Endures But Change. **** (Running Time 45 minutes)
Blair Stanley's name has been cleared and he comes to PEI to bring Sara home. Hetty, who has never liked Blair, throws a fit that Sara is to be whisked away so quickly and she begins to fight with Blair. Sara loves her father and Aunt Hetty, but doesn't want to leave her beloved Avonlea. With the help of the King children, Sara hides, hoping that her disappearance will make Blair and Hetty make-up. Sara's hiding place is discovered, but she accidentally falls out of the barn loft- which leads to both Blair and Hetty learning a valuable lesson.