The Changeling (2023– ) User Reviews

Decent actors, terrible pacing

[johndavidson-1 · 5/10 · 7 October 2023]

I've read the book so I think I know where this is going.

What I can't understand, 7 episodes in, is how they managed to get the pacing so badly wrong The first three episodes are pretty good. They actually go faster than the book (which has it's own problems with pace and genre hopping transitions) and set out the stall of magic realism/folk horror from the start, but they've stretched the middle part if the story beyond breaking point, adding in backstory which was not in the books and which killed the pace completely.

I will watch the denouement but my fear is that having wasted two episodes (6 & 7) telling us nothing we needed to know, the ending will be rushed, confused or worse still delayed until a second season.

Should have been a movie instead

[therealjaysmoke · 5/10 · 27 September 2023]

I love the cinematography displayed here. The acting is spot on but just like everyone else has said, the story is just all over the place. It's slow paced and goodness gracious, boring. It's what you get when you take a 'not so great' book and try to turn it into a series. I guess you can call this a thriller, because it's not scary at all.

Just finished watching episodes 1-3 and sadly I am really not excited to continue watching. But affer reading a couple of great reviews here, am kinda curious to see what they talking about. And I truly want to be wrong so am gonna try and watch 4 and see.

Look out for my updated review afterwards.

Update: Nuuh, not for me, episode 4 was just as boring and ridiculous as the first 3. It quickly went from supernatural to just plain old nonsense. Am done.

The film is both intriguing and annoying at the same time⏳⏳⏳

[Democrit · 5/10 · 28 September 2023]

The series is quite controversial, managing to both captivate and disappoint viewers simultaneously. Its intrigue lies in the mystery surrounding the events, although the creators tend to unnecessarily prolong and complicate the plot, detracting from the overall experience. It's comparable to adding excessive details, like an abundance of sauce, to the main dish.

One of the main criticisms towards this show is its occasional boredom and lack of significance. There are moments where it becomes tempting to stop watching and not waste any more time. Episode 5, in particular, created confusion as the main character unexpectedly transformed from a foe to a devoted follower of the "cult" and a faithful puppet to the "witch" (sarcastically speaking).

Episode 6 attempts to present the story from the perspective of the "wife," but skipping this episode wouldn't lead to any significant loss since it merely retells what has already been mentioned with negligible additional information. At this point, the idea of discontinuing the series feels like a reasonable course of action to take.

In episode 7, we witness a performance that lacks true meaning. The actions seem to be influenced by a woman's memories, but the mechanics behind this connection remain elusive. If asked how it works, the answer would be a resounding "I do not know." These hallucinations might be a result of excessive tranquilizer use, making it advisable to avoid the misuse of psychotropic drugs and the creation of such meaningless narratives.

In the end, the series can be considered "average" but is not suitable for everyone. Personally, I discontinued watching after episode 7 as I couldn't stomach the mundane pseudophilosophy presented by a gifted yet neurotic individual.

Dark with an obvious hook but the bait is intriguing

[poppedkernals · 7/10 · 8 September 2023]

It felt more complimentary; not to be spoon fed the whole bowl of porridge and instead puzzle along the pieces of each episode.

Lakeith Stanfield shines in his ability to portray a character that feels grounded and complex. While Adina Porter brings a graceful presence and Malcom Barret provides a warm sprinkling of comedic relief to the uncertain horror.

This series opens with the classic line "Once upon a time" over a ship battling stormy seas. Narration reels the viewer through a flowing multi-current of journeys. Embarking on two similar and (perhaps not obvious) related stories of boy-meets-girl. The progression of both couples relationships is well distinguished by utilising the shifting time periods through sound and visual affect.

The sweet and airy nature of the initial pacing twists itself into a spiral as (Clark Backo's character) Emmy, finds herself caught in a questionable darkness amid a crescendo of unsettling and tense scoring.

I found it neither slow or boring while character connections were established. The light start is littered with breadcrumbs of skillful shots from the director to develop the backstory and engage the viewer.

Kudos to the wardrobe, SFX and set teams as they seem to have been passionate in their work. They complimented the directors storytelling and added differentiating hints of nostalgia and colour theory.

So far it has left me wishing for more.

Do not watch the first episode ...

[hndpmepc · 1/10 · 14 October 2023]

... because you will find the characters likable and become invested in what happens to them.

But this turns out to be a terrible investment to make. You will at no point in the last several episodes be glad that you subjected yourself to this show. But it will be too late for you because you watched the first episode and became invested.

If you disregard this advice and watch the first episode, know this: Nothing that you want from the rest of this series will be given to you. Nothing. Fill in the blank: "I want to watch more episodes to at least ________." Whatever you filled in that blank will not be given to you whether you watch the rest or not. You cannot have that. And the situation that you now want it could have been avoided if you had listened to my advice.

Disappointing show so far

[ahuieric-10031 · 6/10 · 26 September 2023]

I really wanted to like this show . Because i like what Apple usually produces and also because of the cast. Dina is amazing and Lakeith is a special talent. But honestly 5 episodes in out of 8 episodes and the viewer has absolutely no idea what he/she is watching, a lot of flashbacks which i totally understand if they somehow bring the story forward and reveal new elements but nope it's like watching an anime/manga 20 flashback in one episode just to repeatedly tell you what you already know. What's the point of this show ?

Is it a Drama or an Horror/Fantasy!? .. At this point there is no compelling story or compelling character to keep you hooked. I may give it one more try because i still hope that the next episode will bring us something new .. For now it's just an over the head mess.

A Complete WASTE OF TIME

[auricjuice · 1/10 · 14 October 2023]

No, nope, 0, F-; this show is a colossal WASTE OF TIME. This show and it's creators are everything that is wrong with the television industry. They created a show solely banking on a 2nd season in the middle of a strike. The strike was predicted even as they filmed and wrote this. There is NO EXCUSE not to give viewers a complete story. Was it beautiful? Yes. Was the acting adequate to exceptional? Yes. There was a lot to like on the way to the finish line, but boy did they muss it up!!! No way was this season good enough to have the balls to think another season was going to happen. At this point, even if it does, I'm not watching it. This was manipulation. It was pretentious and incredibly presumptuous. I have never been left so actively angry by a work of art. I hope the people involved in the creation of this show never get to work in television again.

This is An Alternative Universe People!

[Mehki_Girl · 7/10 · 14 September 2023]

It says it right in the title. Yes, you have to pay attention. Yes, it jumps around. But it's really not that hard to follow as far as timelines as they are put on the screen for you at least on the beginning.

Hubby and I were invested with the first episode. We then watched two, but saving 3 for later. I find that because I pause movies sometimes to explain some things to him (he's deaf), it helps my understanding.

Possible spoilers: I started noticing some things that were "off", like a sign over a store with a 215 area code, when this is set in NYC. 215 is a Philly area code. Or that she said the baby was now 2 months old and that baby is way too big, more like at least a 5 month old (yes, I know movies often use older babies, especially for newborns, which are clearly no longer newborns), but I think the fact that she states the baby's age is another clue something is off. The other is technology. Now, unless I missed a timeline, there is no way that the phones should be shaped the way they are or computers should have flat screens. More like the old clunky ones and the phones should be flip ones.

These things really threw me and took me out of the show until I realized we're seeing an alternative universe, where, maybe, technology advanced faster and babies can bite you while teething at only 2 months old and looking like a 5 month old. I think the white father's are descendants of the Norwegians on that ship and pursued the women for a specific reason.

Anyway, were enjoying it and my vote is a 7.5.

Would have made a better PodCast than TV show

[gbyzp · 3/10 · 6 October 2023]

The story starts out with an interesting premise. It plants seeds of intrigue. Yet, it meanders so much that I am having a hard time finding a reason to keep watching.

Rather than letting the acting and dialog tell the story, there is an overwhelming amount of narration makes the show BORING. For example try suffering through Episode 7, it is horrible.

In general, the story is ALL OVER THE PLACE. Just when you think you found the storyline and can engage - they jump to another storyline - filled with more monologue and narration.

This would have been better suited as a podcast rather than a TV show.

where is this going ?

[Anta51 · 17 September 2023]

At the moment ( 4th episode) I suspend my judgement.

In the first episode the love story are set and they are very unspecific. The parallele between Appolo and his father's harassment method of seduction without knowing anything about the women they chase is obviously written from a male point of view (which is very dated) since the beginning the story has taken the turn of a weird/horror folk tale and that's what catches my interest. It depicts really well the consequences of secrets and family madness ( where psychoanalysis would be much more efficient than medicines and behavioural therapy ( but that's another debate), I do hope that the mysteries won't turn into a bunch of clichés but into something out of dream logic letting us out of the male gaze to enter in the antic weirdness of pagan dreams.

Season 1 left me confused and frustrated

[valeriejsolis · 6/10 · 4 November 2023]

The production and visuals were great. The dialogue was somewhat corny. In terms of the plot, everything was ok until about halfway through the first season. Nothing made sense. It was as if they expected the viewer to have read the novel prior to watching the show. I was bummed because I wanted to like it but I ended up frustrated. Any uncertainty in the beginning I figured would become more clear throughout the show. But instead there were more questions piling on top of the others. One of the last episodes in first season was dragged out and unnecessary which also felt like a waste of time.

So Underwhelming

[Kimmy_L · 2/10 · 14 October 2023]

I'm not sure what I was expecting from this show, perhaps something like the Angelina Jolie movie "Changelins". I feel ripped off by watching all 8 episodes and not getting any questions resolved. Episode 7, the standalone, was a waste of an hour, moreso than the other 7 episodes. I tried to watch episode 7 3 times and was so uninterested and couldn't follow along that I just gave up and skipped trying a 4th time. The finale was only 30 minutes and had no answers.

Definitely not looking forward to a Season 2 nor will I be falling for this trick again. I'm not sure who is giving this over 2 stars, let alone 9 or 10.

Ummmmmm....

[msorik · 7/10 · 22 September 2023]

Updated review:bit of a mess and tell me why the writers have been rewarded contracts!!! This bad writing is EVERYWHERE, we just cannot escape it. I really tried but when you season finale is 38 minutes only and a dragon eye...well...I mean... we're it not for the acting it's DOA!

First review: She was great in it and the second the older cast left the 100, it sucked bc she was awesome in it! Back to this witchy story...yes it's slow but I feel most shows are slow these days so I have adjusted. They want us to FEEELLLL their pain and the heaviness of the circumstances and it worked but still a bit choppy. The acting is high caliber but the story seems all over the place bc once the 'click' happens the mystery may be gone. The first scene from the boat will certainly have a part later but it's slow...I know but it's worth watching LaKieth bc he is one of the best out there today but we still get the same nothingness all the time...so chill...

How did this get greenlit? Awful.

[jshoop-58800 · 1/10 · 12 October 2023]

This should have been painfully obvious that there is maybe enough plot for two or three episodes or a single movie, but certainly not a full season. I can't begin to tell you how boring and plodding this show is. It boggles my mind that the producer and writers of this show thought this was worthy of bringing to market as is. They set up the story promising us an intriguing mystery, only to completely bail on the interesting aspects of the plot. The writers altogether gave up by episode 7 and gave us possibly the worst episode in television history. There is no point to this show. Just absolutely awful....

1-6

[amithyelm · 6/10 · 29 October 2023]

The first 6 episodes are exciting, gripping, sometimes frightening but always captivating. You want to know why things are happening. The 7th episode, to be honest, the actress who plays the older Lillian (Adina Porter) is very off-putting. This episode could have been better, but all I saw was confusion. The last episode, the 8th... I expected much more from it. Why did they have to ruin the last 3 minutes so much? Just showing glimpses of what Apollo found? They successfully ruined this series as well. It's as if they make every series just to thoroughly mess up the ending. 6/10. That's it..

Brilliant but isn't for everyone.

[billcoxmorton · 8/10 · 8 October 2023]

Brilliantly acted, well shot and confusing as hell.

If your looking for a paint by numbers horror action series this is not it. It is a slow paced non conventional walse into themes of motherhood, abuse and generational trauma to name a few. There are dark horror esque moments and a general other worldly tense theme though out. You are never sure what is real and what is a metaphorical devil or evil within

You will be asked to make your own mind up and draw your own conclusions with this series. There a clues and hints aswell as recurring sayings and images throughout for the eagle eyed viewer. You will not be spoon fed up at all which is why I imagine some of the reviews on here are sayings it's boring. It definitely isn't for everyone but give it ago

If you like American gods, twin peaks, twilight zone and so on you will probably like this.

consistently keeps you guessing

[cupcake_bg-53496 · 6/10 · 3 October 2023]

Indeed, the initial episodes are very slow; the events start picking up after the 3rd episode and are overly complicated. Because I enjoy witchcraft topics, I persevered, and it got better. The story started unfolding differently than I expected. It gave me vibes of 'O. A.' and occasionally delivers spiritual messages. Scene with trees and due to the given messages, it may be possible. It is rare to find a gem such as this nowadays. I liked its mysterious atmosphere. It's like...We won't fully know what's going on now or maybe ever. I don't know how it will turn out with so many clues. The acting is superb. Looking forward to the rest.

What a waste of time and acting talent

[mignonette1 · 1/10 · 15 October 2023]

The first episode or 2 hooks you but then u just hang on the hook. You are introduced to multiple interesting plot points but nothing comes of them because, as someone else said, the creators were banking on a second season. But they forgot they need to pay the audience to come back; the currency being an engaging and satisfying story where some things are answered. Ever.

I sat through the whole season, begrudgingly for the last half of it. The season finale might be one of the worst, most disappointing, finales I've ever watched. Literally nothing is answered, and not even one mystery is resolved. No questions are answered and only one new question was presented, and in the very last scene. For me, it wasn't enough to convince me to watch a second season, and I'm kinda miffed i stayed for the whole first season.

okay so here's the explanation

[e-mantadakis · 9/10 · 21 October 2023]

So mayor spoilers ahead.

The show is about Emma and Apollo. Emma goed to Brazil and meets a witch at a lake she was told by the locals NOT to go to. The witch grants her three wishes sealed by a red string bracelet which she may never cut, it needs to fall off. Back in the states, Apollo waited for her return and cuts the string because "he can make all her wishes come true". They marry (first wish), they get a kid (second wish), Brian. Then things start to go south: Emma develops what looks like postpartum depression but in fact, she does not believe Brian is Brian. It's not a baby, she keeps saying. It's actually a "changeling" a weird type of fairy monster that is switched with a baby. Emma comes in contact with women who are names Wise Ones. They tell her to get her baby back, she must kill the changeling. Emma kills it but does not get Brian back. She meets other women who have been trough the same on an island, Apollo finds the island with the help of William, who is actually Kinder Garten, a group of men who change baby's into changelings. Further in the show there are hints left behind for the women that point to a Norwegian forest (in the beginning of the show, the link to Norway is made). This forest is probably the place where the real baby's are being held, which would mean Emma did not kill her real son and her son is still alive, which probably will be the topic of season two: Apollo finds Emma, he finally believes her, they go to Norway to find Brian.

Accents are all over the place

[flourescentmeep · 7/10 · 10 September 2023]

Really and truly. Can no one do proper accents? I can't even tell where Lillian is from because her accent switches between African, West Indian and American. I can only imagine it's supposed to be a West Indian accent as they play The Mighty Sparrow twice. If you can't do an accent then don't do it, time and time again accents are completely butchered, especially West Indian accents as most Americans think an exaggerated T on words is all that is needed (don't get me started on Daveed Diggs Sebastian in The Little Mermaid).

The show itself has been quite boring so far. I feel myself watching solely because I like the actors and I'm hoping it gets better but I do find myself constantly thinking of other things while watching. There's not enough keeping me hooked in.

The show has so much potential based on actors alone and I'm hoping it gets more exciting than what's been presented so far. Currently It just seems like an extreme slow burn series. I know some people would be like it's showing the parts of motherhood, family trauma and mental health not addressed though there were clear signs it should have been, that being said, I'm sorry...that's not a horror story for me.

Ok. I watched the 3rd episode and I'm back. I had to edit my review that was preciously a 4. After this third episode (honestly they could have shortened both 1&2 to one episode) I'm back and the show turned out to be a good view. BUT this is also after two boring very slow episodes. This really could have been shortened and made into a movie.

So disappointing

[brunoa-11609 · 1/10 · 3 October 2023]

I was very excited to start this new tv series when I've seen it advertised, although I have to regret that I started. So sad because Lakeith Stanfield is one of my favorite actors (luckily he is there to bring a bit of professionalism to the whole thing) but I rarely stop watching a whole serie half way through, I had to stop at Episode 4, I will not finish this, it's a big waste of precious time. It started quite interesting but it's very boring and ridiculous. It's very slow and repetitive, very dark and sometimes you can barely see what is happening, it's not building much of an excitement.

Wut

[dannyrevolution · 2/10 · 26 September 2023]

I really wanted to like this show because the cast is amazing. But it's a dumpster fire. They try to be too clever for their own good and there are so many plot holes. It's a muddled mess.for example, is it a story about witches or post partum depression? Who funds this weird feminist community off NYC? Why did they separate and the wife goes off to Brazil? Why is the narrator speaking Swahili??? It's all a mess. I'm grasping at straws but this show might be a lost cause. Maybe it'll make sense later but 5 episodes in and I'm like "wut" should give anyone some doubt. Would not recommend and I'm surprised they got funding from Apple.

Great acting, story potential, but never lands

[sarahrowlandmoore · 4/10 · 15 October 2023]

I made it to the end. I wanted so badly for it to have that one episode that turns it all around and makes it make sense, but it never got there. It's like trying to have a conversation with a person who is so proud of how smart they are, or like trying to get something done with the government. Lots of info, very little resolution, but you're made to feel it's your fault for just being dumb. And towards the end the editing visually does this with super dark cinematography. I had to strain my eyes to see. Oh, well. I'm definitely a Lakeith Stanfield fan now and can't wait to see more of his work. I would probably suggest someone read the book instead. I haven't read the book but I'm thinking it might be less disappointing.

Need Season 2

[miabethphifer · 8/10 · 11 January 2024]

This book was incredible and it is amazing to see it come to life in this way. This show is so good. Very loyal to the source material which I love. I am guessing most did not read the book that are rating this below what it deserves. LaKeith's acting is amazing too. We need a second season for the answers and to bring us to the end of the book!!

This show is so good. Very loyal to the source material which I love. I am guessing most did not read the book that are rating this below what it deserves. LaKeith's acting is amazing too. We need a second season for the answers and to bring us to the end of the book!!

It's only been 3 episodes, calm down

[moniquerich · 4/10 · 8 September 2023]

Is this show weird? No, it's not. Is it slow? Yes. Confusing at times? Yes. Interesting? It is. My interest is in how this all pans out. The show touches on postpartum depression and how it can affect not only the mother, but the father as well, who is narrating throughout the first 3 episodes.

I'm not really good at telling what happens. So I won't. The characters were great, the acting wasn't bad, and the storyline is intriguing. To me, at least, because I love everything occult. I love mysteries too and this series has plenty of it to go around.

I will say this, though, it has waaaaay too many flashbacks and flashforwards so you have to pay attention to where in time you are. Episode 3 did leave me a bit confused, wondering why they jumped ahead so fast without explaining the ending of episode 2 but maybe it's because it'll be explained in later episodes. Let us pray. Because I need answers.

I'm patiently waiting for more. I think it's a decent show so far, a little slow but maybe it's for a reason. Apple hasn't really disappointed me, so I'm giving this show a chance.

****UPDATE**** Listen, I really tried to stick with this show. No, for real. I tried my hardest! But that ending made me drop 2 stars. It had the nerve to be even more confusing AND leave us hanging! So, there's going to be a season 2 without thoroughly explaining season 1? On god? Yeah, on god fam. *sighs*