The town organizes a holiday play. Anne is cast as a tree and, struggling with her short hair, decides to lean into a masculine appearance, finding a surprising sense of freedom in dressing as a boy.

" I Protest Against Any Absolute Conclusion " is the sixth episode of the second season of , originally released on Netflix on July 6, 2018. The episode title is a quote from George Eliot’s novel Middlemarch . Episode Overview

Critics often point to Matthew and Gilbert in this episode as models of supportive, non-aggressive male characters.

Flashbacks reveal Matthew’s childhood and his relationship with his deceased older brother, Michael . It is revealed that Michael was the outgoing one who encouraged the shy Matthew, explaining why Matthew sees so much of his brother's spirit in Anne.

When an accident leaves a vacancy in the play, Matthew overcomes his lifelong stage fright to perform, a significant emotional milestone for his character. Core Themes Exploration in S2E6 Gender Identity