Apples Never Fall

{{Infobox television

| image = Apples Never Fall Title Card.png

| genre = {{Plainlist|

}}

| based_on = {{Based on|Apples Never Fall|Liane Moriarty}}

| developer = Melanie Marnich

| screenplay =

| story =

| director = {{Plainlist|

Chris Sweeney
Dawn Shadforth

}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

Annette Bening
Sam Neill
Jake Lacy
Conor Merrigan Turner
Essie Randles
Georgia Flood
Jeanine Serralles
Dylan Thuraisingham
Alison Brie

}}

| music = {{Plainlist|

Marco Beltrami
Miles Hankins

}}

| country = {{Plainlist|

United States
United Kingdom
Australia

}}

| language = {{Plainlist|

English
Italian

}}

| num_episodes = 7

| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|

Albert Page
Jillian Share
Joe Hortua
Annette Bening
Liane Moriarty
Chris Sweeney
Gregory Jacobs
Melanie Marnich
David Heyman

}}

| producer = {{Plainlist|

Ra'uf Glasgow
Wade Savage
Gina Gonzalez

}}

| editor = {{Plainlist|

Jeff Israel
Jacquelyn Le
Philip Fowler
Nona Khodai
Matthew James Barbato

}}

| cinematography = {{Plainlist|

Robert Humphreys
Laurie Rose

}}

| runtime = 46–66 minutes

| company = {{Plainlist|

}}

| location =

| budget =

| network = Peacock

| released = {{Start date|2024|3|14}}

}}

Apples Never Fall is a mystery drama television miniseries developed by Melanie Marnich and based on Liane Moriarty's novel of the same name. It premiered on Peacock on March 14, 2024.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/01/annette-bening-sam-neill-apples-never-fall-trailer-peacock-premiere-date-1235799899/|title=Annette Bening & Sam Neill's 'Apples Never Fall' Unveils Teaser Trailer, Sets Peacock Premiere Date|first=Bruce|last=Haring|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=January 22, 2024|accessdate=January 22, 2024|archive-date=January 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240122211000/https://deadline.com/2024/01/annette-bening-sam-neill-apples-never-fall-trailer-peacock-premiere-date-1235799899/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/global/annette-benning-mgm-disney-hbo-europe-1235900672/|title=Series Mania Lineup: Annette Bening-Starrer 'Apples Never Fall,' MGM+'s 'Hotel Cocaine' and a Leonard Cohen Love Story |date=February 7, 2024 |publisher=Variety}} It is one of the adaptations of a Liane Moriarty novel that does not involve Nicole Kidman in the production nor in the cast (The other being The Husband's Secret).

Premise

Two tennis coaches, Stan and Joy, sell their school and are ready to enjoy retired life. But when matriarch Joy Delaney suddenly goes missing, her husband Stan appears as a possible suspect, because they had an altercation before her disappearance. Their four children are forced to revisit the image of the perfect couple they had of their parents and family secrets surface.

Cast

=Main=

Annette Bening as Joy Delaney, the Delaney family matriarch and Stan's wife. Her disappearance is the main mystery
Sam Neill as Stan Delaney, the Delaney family patriarch and Joy's husband. After Joy disappears, he becomes the main suspect
Jake Lacy as Troy Delaney, Joy and Stan's wealthy older son and venture capitalist
Conor Merrigan Turner as Logan Delaney, Joy and Stan's younger son who almost became a pro tennis player, but now manages a marina
Essie Randles as Brooke Delaney, Joy and Stan's youngest child and physical therapist
Georgia Flood as Savannah, a woman who shows up at Joy and Stan's doorstep one night
Jeanine Serralles as Elena Camacho, a detective looking into Joy's disappearance
Dylan Thuraisingham as Ethan Remy, Elena's partner who's investigating Joy's disappearance
Alison Brie as Amy Delaney, Joy and Stan's oldest child and spiritual life coach

=Recurring=

Katrina Lenk as Lucia Fortino, Monty's wife who's having an affair with Troy
Nate Mann as Simon Barrington, Amy's 24-year-old landlord and roommate
Ana Maria Belo as Caro Azinovic, Joy and Stan's neighbor who is also Joy's friend
Giles Matthey as Harry Haddad, a tennis star who Stan used to coach
Paula Andrea Placido as Gina Solis, Brooke's fiancée
Pooja Shah as Indira Chaundry, Logan's girlfriend
Madeleine Jones as Claire Delaney, Troy's ex-wife
Timm Sharp as Monty Fortino, Troy's boss and Lucia's husband
Jane Hall as Debbie Christos

Episodes

{{Episode table |total_width= |background=#204F6D |overall= |title= |director= |writer= |writerT=Teleplay by |airdate= |episodes=

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 1

|Title = The Delaneys

|DirectedBy = Chris Sweeney

|WrittenBy = Melanie Marnich

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|3|14}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = 204F6D

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 2

|Title = Logan

|DirectedBy = Chris Sweeney

|WrittenBy = Lijah Barasz

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|3|14}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = 204F6D

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 3

|Title = Amy

|DirectedBy = Dawn Shadforth

|WrittenBy = Kimi Howl Lee

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|3|14}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = 204F6D

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 4

|Title = Brooke

|DirectedBy = Dawn Shadforth

|WrittenBy = Gianna Sobol

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|3|14}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = 204F6D

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 5

|Title = Troy

|DirectedBy = Dawn Shadforth

|WrittenBy = Joe Hortua

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|3|14}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = 204F6D

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 6

|Title = Stan

|DirectedBy = Chris Sweeney

|WrittenBy = Aaron Fullerton

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|3|14}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = 204F6D

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 7

|Title = Joy

|DirectedBy = Chris Sweeney

|WrittenBy = Melanie Marnich & Lijah Barasz

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2024|3|14}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = 204F6D

}}

Production

David Heyman won the rights to the novel in March 2021 to develop it for television.{{cite web |last1=White |first1=Peter |title=David Heyman Scores TV Rights To Apples Never Fall From Big Little Lies & Nine Perfect Strangers Author Liane Moriarty |url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/david-heyman-tv-apples-never-fall-from-big-little-lies-nine-perfect-strangers-author-liane-moriarty-1234721075/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=February 11, 2023 |date=March 24, 2021}} In February 2022, Peacock gave it a straight to series order.{{cite web |last1=Petski |first1=Denise |title=Liane Moriarty's Apples Never Fall Limited Series Adaptation Ordered By Peacock |url=https://deadline.com/2022/02/liane-moriartys-apples-never-fall-limited-series-adaptation-ordered-peacock-1234929723/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=February 11, 2023 |date=February 9, 2022}} In February 2023, Annette Bening, Sam Neill, Alison Brie and Jake Lacy were cast to star.{{cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |title=Annette Bening To Star In Peacock Limited Series Apples Never Fall |url=https://deadline.com/2023/02/annette-bening-star-peacock-limited-series-apples-never-fall-1235247617/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=February 11, 2023 |date=February 2, 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |title=Sam Neill Joins Annette Bening In Peacock Limited Series Apples Never Fall |url=https://deadline.com/2023/02/sam-neill-cast-annette-bening-apples-never-fall-peacock-limited-series-1235254189/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=February 11, 2023 |date=February 9, 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Otterson |first1=Joe |title=Alison Brie, Jake Lacy Join Liane Moriarty Series Apples Never Fall at Peacock |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/alison-brie-jake-lacy-liane-moriarty-series-apples-never-fall-peacock-1235533279/ |website=Variety |access-date=February 23, 2023 |date=February 23, 2023}} In March, Georgia Flood, Conor Merrigan Turner, Essie Randles, Jeanine Serralles and Dylan Thuraisingham were added to the cast.{{cite web |last1=Campione |first1=Katie |title=Georgia Flood, Conor Merrigan Turner & Essie Randles Join Peacock Limited Series Apples Never Fall |url=https://deadline.com/2023/03/georgia-flood-conor-merrigan-turner-essie-randles-cast-peacock-apples-never-fall-liane-moriarty-1235300409/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=March 15, 2023 |date=March 15, 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Otterson |first1=Joe |title=Apples Never Fall Series at Peacock Rounds Out Main Cast With Jeanine Serralles, Dylan Thuraisingham (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/apples-never-fall-series-peacock-cast-with-jeanine-serralles-dylan-thuraisingham-1235568153/ |website=Variety |access-date=June 13, 2023 |date=March 29, 2023}} Katrina Lenk, Timm Sharp and Nate Mann were among six cast in recurring roles in June.{{cite web |last1=Otterson |first1=Joe |title=Apples Never Fall Series at Peacock Sets Six Recurring Guest Stars (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/apples-never-fall-series-peacock-guest-stars-1235633281/ |website=Variety |access-date=June 13, 2023 |date=June 5, 2023}}

Filming began in Queensland, Australia and London, England in March 2023,{{cite web |title=Apples Never Fall To Film In Queensland, Australia |url=https://screenqueensland.com.au/sq-news/media-centre/apples-never-fall-to-film-in-queensland-australia/ |website=Screen Queensland Studios |access-date=February 11, 2023 |date=February 10, 2023}} before it was suspended in July due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.{{Cite web |last=Whittock |first=Jesse |date=July 14, 2023 |title=Australian Union Warns "Limited" Number Of "Offshore" Productions Will Stop During SAG Strike As Mortal Kombat 2 & Apples Never Fall Stand Down |url=https://deadline.com/2023/07/mortal-kombat-2-apples-never-fall-shut-down-actors-strike-sag-aftra-australia-1235437970/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714124034/https://deadline.com/2023/07/mortal-kombat-2-apples-never-fall-shut-down-actors-strike-sag-aftra-australia-1235437970/ |archive-date=July 14, 2023 |access-date=July 16, 2023 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}

Reception

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 46% approval rating with an average rating of 5.9/10, based on 39 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "There's the seed of a strong series in Apples Never Fall thanks to its outstanding cast and intriguing hook, but those promising elements can't quite polish up a rote story."{{Cite Rotten Tomatoes|id=apples_never_fall|title=Apples Never Fall|type=tv|season=1|access-date=April 18, 2024|publisher_hide=y}}{{cbignore}} Metacritic assigned a score of 54 out of 100 based on 21 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".{{Cite Metacritic|id=apples-never-fall|title=Apples Never Fall|type=tv|season=1|access-date=March 15, 2024|publisher_hide=y}}{{cbignore}}

Karina Adelgaard of Heaven of Horror gave Apples Never Fall a 4 out of 5.{{Cite web |last=Adelgaard |first=Karina "ScreamQueen" |date=March 14, 2024 |title=Apples Never Fall – Review |url=https://www.heavenofhorror.com/reviews/apples-never-fall-peacock-series/ |access-date=March 23, 2024 |website=Heaven of Horror |language=en-US}} Matt Roush of TV Insider gave the series a 2.5 out of 5.{{Cite web |last=Roush |first=Matt |date=March 13, 2024 |title=Roush Review: Family Melodrama in 'Apples Never Fall' |url=https://www.tvinsider.com/1126386/apples-never-fall-review/ |access-date=March 23, 2024 |website=TV Insider |language=en-US}}