Netflix's latest true-story limited series, "Apple Cider Vinegar", centers on Australian convicted scammer and pseudoscience advocate Belle Gibson. Samantha Strauss is the showrunner for the six-episode series based on Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano's book The Woman Who Fooled the World. Jeffrey Walker directs all series episodes, while Strauss collaborates with Anya Beyersdorf and Angela Berizen on the script.
Kaitlyn Dever portrays Gibson, and when we first met her in 2015, when she met with a crisis firm after she was a scammer, it was clear that her character refused to take on any accountability. However, when we look at where society is currently, it makes sense that Dever portrays Gibson in this manner.
The show then goes back and focuses on how Gibson became unlikable.
Dever's passionate portrayal effectively conveys Belle's avarice and cunning nature and her remarkable ability to assess individuals, identify their vulnerabilities, and manipulate them for her own purposes. Although many would find her unsympathetic, she possesses the skill to make others feel positively about her.
In contrast, her wellness industry role model, Milla Blake (Alycia Debnam-Carey), is fundamentally warm-hearted and empathetic. She motivates her audience through genuine faith in her purpose. The series also features other significant characters, including Lucy (Tilda Cobham-Hervey), a breast cancer patient who aspires to emulate Belle by discontinuing her medical treatment, and Milla's close friend Chanelle (Aisha Dee), who gets involved in Belle's operations. Each character embodies a distinct type of victimhood. Lucy's faith in Belle's falsehood leads to considerable physical suffering, while Chanelle discovers she has fallen into a predatory financial scheme.
"Apple Cider Vinegar" should delight viewers with its vibrant aesthetic, which resembles the perfect lives portrayed by the characters on Instagram. The cinematography shows the heights of their wellness journey through vibrant juice cleanses and peaceful yoga retreats but also shows the dark side of their health challenges and the demands of their online presence.
The writing combines sharp wit with satirical elements to expose the ridiculous aspects of wellness culture. The series boldly shows the extreme measures people undertake to achieve validation and success, transforming it into a warning narrative and a captivating drama. The expansion of women's enterprises leads to mounting tension, which results in an intense examination of their life decisions.
"Apple Cider Vinegar" encourages viewers to consider what truth means and how we strive for acceptance and healing. The series stands as an engaging narrative that critically explores a culture that can motivate people but also mislead them, and therefore, it becomes essential viewing for audiences.
Final Grade : B
"Apple Cider Vinegar" will be available to stream on Netflix on Thursday, February 6th."