★★★★☆
AppleTV+’s The Changeling follows in the footsteps of shows such as Ted Lasso, Silo and Hijack, which have all gone on to become critical and commercial successes for the streamer. While it seems that Netflix is down in the dumps with its original content, AppleTV+ is more ambitious and exciting than ever.
And it doesn’t get much more ambitious than The Changeling. Based on Victor LaSalle’s 2017 novel of the same name, the show is equal measures mesmerising and frustrating, but never anything less than compelling.
Lakeith Stanfield plays Apollo, an antique book dealer, who falls for Emma Valentine (Clark Backo), a local librarian. The first episode tracks the early days of the relationship, as the couple fall madly, deeply in love in New York City. Emma becomes pregnant and dramatically gives birth to the couple’s son on the subway.
Credit: AppleTV+
But motherhood proves to be a challenge for Emma, who begins to believe there is something wrong with their child. She begins to lose her grip on reality, telling Apollo of strange, disappearing texts and ultimately, she vanishes into thin air after she is driven to a terrible crime.
The meat on the bones of The Changeling is Apollo’s quest to find his wife and some answers to what happened. But to categorise The Changeling as a pure mystery show would be a mistake. Without spoiling any of its wild surprises, this is a story that demands your patience, but rarely rewards it in the most traditional of senses. There are a lot of questions at the core of The Changeling, but only a few are ever answered.
Yet, The Changeling is a seductive, unique and altogether singular viewing experience. Showrunner Kelly Marcel keeps reinventing the show, but the themes at the centre remain strong throughout the eight episodes; how far will parents go for their children? Is that madness in itself?
The Changeling benefits hugely from its talented cast. Stanfield, who equally carried Disney’s Haunted Mansion, is magnetic as Apollo. His charisma and empathy not only ground The Changeling, even at its most unbelievable moments, but they bind everything together. Equally, Backo is able to sell Emma’s escalating panic and anxiety, and there’s palpable chemistry between her and Stanfield.
In fact, The Changeling is, at its best, unapologetically romantic. Apollo and Emma’s love story, before it turns to a horror show, is tender and sensual. Their romance is filmed with a delicate eye by Marcell Rév, who always manages to find the most interesting angle to a character’s face.
While The Changeling never really fully succumbs to its fantasy influences, it constantly blurs the line between what’s real and what’s more akin to a dream. While the trailer promised a mystery dripping with fantasy elements and a “fairytale for adults”, the finished product is something much more complex, challenging and indeed, interesting.
The Changeling might slightly suffer from the weekly release format. I devoured the series in two huge chunks, enthralled by its unique tone and powerhouse performances, but for better or for worse, the show often bites off more than it can chew. The sprawling narrative threads are all equally fascinating, but the show quickly runs out of time to explore them.
By the time we get to the last episode, the shortest of the lot, the series has so much to wrap up, it’s an impossible task. The finale is helplessly rushed and the episode is the weakest of the season, but might there be a season 2 on the cards? Even if the show’s distinct boldness doesn’t always work, it is something to admire. Thanks to dauntless, striking narrative choices and an incredible cast led by Stanfield, The Changeling is a series to cherish.
The Changeling premieres on AppleTV+ on Friday 8 September with three episodes, followed by weekly episodes.
