The Changeling Review – Becoming The Muse
The Changeling is a 2023 horror fantasy television series created by Kelly Marcel and directed by Melina Matsoukas. It is based on a 2017 novel of the same name by Victor LaValle and premiered on Apple+ on 8 September 2023.
The premise of the story revolves around a book dealer who marries a librarian, who made three wishes that may or may not be playing out unexpectedly. Be careful what you wish for, and brace for a trippy adventure that blurs reality…
The Good
It’s a mystery box type of show that grudgingly teases at the answers while keeping you wondering what exactly you are watching or where its leading, to keep you glued on for the slow building roller coaster ride akin to Alice stepping through the looking glass into a cinematic dream sequence.
LaKeith Stanfield as Apollo Kagwa does not disappoint and pulls off a performance worthy of a god. He really had me wondering if he was indeed somehow a descendant or reincarnation of the god Apollo, drawing me into the unsettling plot and not stop watching till the last credit.
Clark Backo as Emma Valentine, Apollo’s wife is as delightfully enchanting as she is haunting, navigating her character’s trauma, possible postnatal depression, and psychosis which turns into a horrific aftermath.
Adina Porter who plays the part of Apollo’s mother Lillian Kagwa also gets a moment in the spotlight to deliver a haunting performance fitting of a broadway show that practically steals away the series from Apollo and Emma.
The Bad
The show is rather confusing, with each episode leaving you with more questions than answers . It hints at whats going on without actually giving clarity or certainty. I ended up having to look up YouTube tutorials to make some sort of sense of what I had watched.
The storyline does not progress linearly which further muddies up the water, an episode can end on cliff hanger and the next episode be a flashback episode that gives the traumatic back story to a character and all the major characters seem to be bound together by a traumatic childhood and torrid past.
The Ugly
It’s a bit of a creepy show and has a moment of violence which can be particularly disturbing but central to the plot. There’s also some dark themes around depression and psychosis, domestic abuse and immigration.
The story is mostly observed from Apollo’s perspective who is unsympathetic or rather dismissive of what his wife is going through and its not until much later into the series we get a glimpse at the demons and darkness she has had to face.
The season finale episode is shorter than the opening act of Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning. With all things hinted at in the series the finale leaves one with a most unsatisfactory ending and a wait for a yet to be approved second season.
Final Thoughts
The Changeling has a lot of promise with a cast that delivered some solid acting but I feel they may have overplayed their hand at keeping it a mystery box show…
If you are someone who values straightforward plots and narrative satisfaction, then this will be frustrating show, but if you find a certain delight in being unsettled and can waiver your need for answers, you’ll enjoy most of this series.
I am going to be reading the book the series is based on than wait around for the second season to get answers and clarity.
Have you watched it is it something you would watch?
Becoming The Muse 
Your thoughts.. if you will?