Gilbert Blythe returns to Avonlea with his friend Sebastian "Bash" Lacroix. They join the Cuthberts for a Christmas dinner, marking the first time a person of color is socially integrated into a major Avonlea gathering, though Bash begins to sense the town's underlying prejudices.
The town's reaction to Bash highlights the racial tensions of the era. [S2E6] I Protest Against Any Absolute Conclusion
The introduction of Michael Cuthbert provides depth to the Cuthbert family history and Matthew's quiet nature. Gilbert Blythe returns to Avonlea with his friend
Critics often point to Matthew and Gilbert in this episode as models of supportive, non-aggressive male characters. non-aggressive male characters.