Apple Cider Vinegar premieres February 6 on Netflix.
Netflix’s Apple Cider Vinegar has all the ingredients for a compelling limited series: a fascinating true story of deception, a talented lead in Kaitlyn Dever, and a timely exploration of wellness culture and social media. Yet somehow, the show squanders its potential at nearly every turn, delivering an uninspired and ultimately frustrating six-episode slog.
The series tells the true story of Belle Gibson, a scam artist who rose to fame in the early days of Instagram by claiming to have cured her terminal brain cancer through alternative remedies, only to have her lies unravel in spectacular fashion. On paper, it’s the kind of juicy narrative that could make for gripping television. Instead, Apple Cider Vinegar flounders, unsure of what it wants to say or how it wants us to feel.
The main issue lies with its central character. Gibson isn’t written as particularly sympathetic, nor does the show succeed in painting her as an antihero worth following. Over six episodes, the series attempts to add layers of complexity to her story, but none of it feels enlightening or insightful. It’s hard to figure out what we’re supposed to take away from her journey, and as a result, her story feels hollow. Dever does her best with the material, even nailing a decent Australian accent, but she deserves much better than this.
Visually, Apple Cider Vinegar could have been a feast, given its setting in the glossy, pastel-filtered world of early Instagram wellness influencers. Unfortunately, the show’s presentation of technology and social media feels uninspired, relying on clunky tropes that don’t do justice to its subject matter. Characters narrate directly to the camera, breaking the fourth wall in ways that feel random and out of place. Rather than adding flair or creativity, these stylistic choices only serve to highlight the show’s lack of direction.
The series also fails to make its mark in terms of commentary. It nods at the dangers of misinformation and the cult of personality in online spaces, but its exploration of these themes is shallow and unsatisfying. For a story with such obvious cultural relevance, it’s baffling how little impact Apple Cider Vinegar leaves.
The show is a good story told in the most uninspired way possible. If you’re looking for a gripping tale of deception and the dangers of social media, you’re better off scrolling past this one.
I give Apple Cider Vinegar a D+.
TV and City 