The inaugural episode of Apple TV+'s "The Changeling" sets the stage for a dark, fantastical journey through the complexities of love, parenthood, and the supernatural. Directed by Melina Matsoukas and based on Victor LaValle's 2017 novel, "First Comes Love" introduces us to the intertwining fates of Apollo Kagwa and his wife Emma Valentine, as well as the parallel love story of Apollo's parents, Brian West and Lillian Kagwa.
The episode masterfully weaves two timelines: one in the present day with Apollo and Emma, and another that goes back to 1968, where we witness the courtship of Apollo's parents. In 2010 New York, Apollo Kagwa, portrayed by LaKeith Stanfield, is a rare-book dealer who meets librarian Emma Valentine, played by Clark Backo, at a library in Queens. Their meet-cute is tinged with a sense of destiny, as Apollo is immediately smitten with Emma, despite her initial rejections due to her impending journey to Brazil.
The narrative draws intriguing parallels between Apollo and Emma's relationship and that of Apollo's parents. Brian West, a white New Yorker, relentlessly pursues Lillian Kagwa, a Ugandan immigrant, for nine years before she finally agrees to a date. This persistence is mirrored in Apollo's pursuit of Emma, suggesting a genetic predisposition towards determined romance.
The supernatural elements are introduced early on, with Apollo receiving a box of his father's belongings labeled "Improbabilia," containing a book of dark European fairy tales called "To the Waters and the Wild". This book, with its ominous illustrations and tales, foreshadows the show's central theme of the changeling, a creature from European folklore that replaces a human child.
Emma's journey to Brazil leads her to a lagoon where she encounters a terrifying old woman who ties a red string around her wrist, granting her three wishes. This red string becomes a symbol of fate and the power of wishes, as Apollo, in a bold move, cuts it off, declaring that he will fulfill her wishes.
The episode culminates in the magical birth of Apollo and Emma's son, Brian, on a subway, amidst a dance performance, which is both surreal and grounded in the chaos of New York City. The birth marks a turning point, as the idyllic love story of Apollo and Emma begins to unravel, echoing the tragic end of Brian and Lillian's relationship.
"First Comes Love" is a dark fairy tale that lures the viewer into a world where love, family, and the supernatural collide. The episode is rich in cultural references, from the European folklore of changelings to the African diasporic religion Candomblé, which influences Emma's journey in Brazil. These references add depth to the narrative, hinting at the underlying themes of identity, heritage, and the power of stories to shape our lives.
LaKeith Stanfield and Clark Backo deliver compelling performances, capturing the complexities of their characters' emotions and the sinister undercurrents of their love story. The episode, with its gothic style and nonlinear storytelling, keeps the viewer on edge, anticipating how the various threads will eventually converge.
In conclusion, "The Changeling" Season 1: First Comes Love is a captivating start to a series that promises to be an epic, genre-bending odyssey. It is a story that delves into the depths of human emotion, the bonds of family, and the mysterious forces that govern our lives. With its rich narrative and haunting imagery, "The Changeling" invites us to enter a world where reality and fantasy blur, and where every wish may come with a price.