The Changeling - General Discussion

[BetterButter]

 

[AnimeMania]

The Changeling is an 8 episode fantasy/horror TV Series with the first three episodes streaming on Apple TV+ on September 8, 2023. The Changeling is based on the 2017 novel by Victor LaValle about a father who is pulled into a strange, scary journey shortly after the birth of his baby boy.

The Changeling TV Series is a modern day fairy tale that weaves a story about the horrors of parenthood and the perilous nature of New York City. Apollo and Emma’s love story seems like a fairy tale until Emma starts to act oddly after the birth of their son, Brian. Exhaustion, anxiety, postpartum depression, what causes Emma to commit a horrific act and then vanish? Apollo must find his wife and child, his only lead is a mysterious stranger who claims to have information about Emma’s whereabouts. This results in a quest that takes him to a fantastical New York City he didn’t know existed. Apollo is once again experiencing the strange recurring dreams he had as child when his father disappeared, leaving behind only a box of books stamped with the word IMPROBABILIA.

Adina Porter as Lillian Kagwa, the single mother of Apollo

Alexis Louder as Young Lillian Kagwa

Jared Abrahamson as Brian West, Lillian Kagwa’s husband, a parole officer

Lakeith Stanfield as Apollo Kagwa, a used book dealer in New York City, scraping by by scouring estate and garage sales for rare first editions

Clark Backo as Emma, wife of Apollo, a librarian

Amirah Vann as Kim Valentine, Emma’s sister and last remaining family member

Malcolm Barrett as Patrice Green, Apollo’s best friend, ex-veteran and fellow book enthusiast

Samuel T. Herring as William Wheeler, a man who befriends Stanfield’s Apollo in a quest to win back his wife and child

Victor LaValle (The Author of The Changeling) as The Narrator

Edited August 9, 2023 by AnimeMania

[AnimeMania]

[AnimeMania]

The Changeling      September 8, 2023   Apple TV+        

Episodes 1-3   Titles and Descriptions

Spoiler

S01.E01: First Comes Love

A bookseller from Queens meets a librarian from Virginia. They fall in love, marry, have a baby—and trigger an unimaginable series of events.

S01.E02: Then Comes a Baby in a Baby Carriage

The exhaustion of new parenthood is taking its toll on Emma and Apollo. To make matters worse, Emma starts getting strange texts.

S01.E03: *

Emma does the unthinkable. Apollo tries to find meaning in the aftermath—and finally decides what to do with his valuable book.

[Anela]

This was jumping around too much, at first, but I got into it.   It’s good, and creepy. Very triggering in certain ways, so not for everyone.  

[AnimeMania]

S01.E04: The Wise Ones

Apollo and Patrice make a sale to William Wheeler, who later gives Apollo stunning news.

Premiere Date: September 15, 2023   Apple TV+   

[AnimeMania]

S01.E05: This Woman’s Work

The mysterious washerwoman’s ominous words leave a lasting impression. Apollo comes face-to-face with his true enemy.

Premiere Date: September 22, 2023   Apple TV+   

[AnimeMania]

S01.E06: Aftermath

Emma finds Cal and the Wise Ones on North Brother Island, where she pieces together clues to locate a special place.

Premiere Date: September 29, 2023   Apple TV+  

[Mindthinkr]

I’m sticking with this so far; it it’s definitely pinged my creepy radar. 
 

Spoiler

How Emma intends to find the one Norwegian Spruce is beyond me. How will she even know if it’s the right one? 

The pace of this seems deliberate and building yet at other times seems to slog. 

[AnimeMania]

S01.E07: Stormy Weather

Lillian reckons with a dark night from her past and records a message for her son, Apollo.

Premiere Date: October 6, 2023   Apple TV+     

[Mindthinkr]

I’m going to watch this episode this morning, but with some hesitancy. It gave me a lot of nightmares over the past week. Anyone else? 

[Anela]

On 10/6/2023 at 6:00 AM, Mindthinkr said:

I’m going to watch this episode this morning, but with some hesitancy. It gave me a lot of nightmares over the past week. Anyone else? 

No, but this episode spends a lot of time in a dark motel room, with lighting that makes me feel ill, so I've started and stopped it, three times. My head space isn't the best, so I'm more in the mood for something like Ted Lasso. 

[AnimeMania]

S01.E08: Battle of the Island

(Season Finale)

Kinder Garten’s fury rips across the island, sending Cal, Apollo, and the others out into the darkness.

Premiere Date: October 13, 2023   Apple TV+        

[Mindthinkr]

Ok. I watched this ending. Am I stupid or did I just miss the whole point of this? 

[Maurina]

4 hours ago, Mindthinkr said:

Ok. I watched this ending. Am I stupid or did I just miss the whole point of this? 

If you're stupid then so am I  - What exactly happened here? Do I need to watch the whole thing over, maybe pausing each scene to see what I missed?

Is there going to be another season? Did I forget to watch an episode that makes sense of the ending?  What is my name again?  How did I get here?

In all seriousness though, I am so confused.  There's so much genuinely intriguing stuff going on here, along with great acting and many allusions to all kinds of ancient mythology and urban mythology but I just can't make sense of the plot.  Help, someone, please.

[TexasGal]

Dragons?  Fairies?  Did they all help the Norwegians make their trip to America?  Sigh.  What is happening?

Apparently there will be a second season.  https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/the-changeling-showrunner-author-season-2-interview-1235618467/